Tired of being treated like a slave by team owner Sallison Potter (Ted Ross), charismatic star pitcher Bingo Long (Billy Dee Williams) steals a bunch of Negro League players away from their teams, including catcher/slugger Leon Carter (James Earl Jones) and Charlie Snow (Richard Pryor), a player forever scheming to break into the segregated Major League Baseball of the 1930s by masquerading as first a Cuban ("Carlos Nevada"), then a Native American ("Chief Takahoma").
They take to the road, barnstorming through small Midwestern towns, playing the local teams to make ends meet. One of the opposing players, 'Esquire' Joe Calloway (Stan Shaw), is so good that they recruit him. Bingo's team becomes so outlandishly entertaining and successful, it begins to cut into the attendance of the established Negro League teams.
Finally, Bingo's nemesis Potter is forced to propose a winner-take-all game: if Bingo's team can beat a bunch of all-stars, it can join the league, but if it loses, the players will return to their old teams. Potter has two of his goons kidnap Leon prior to the game as insurance, but he escapes and is key to his side's victory.
As it turns out, there is a major league scout in the audience. After the game, he offers Esquire Joe the chance to break the color barrier; with Bingo's blessing, he accepts. Leon glumly foresees the decline of the Negro League as more players follow Esquire Joe's lead, but Bingo, ever the optimist, cheers him up by describing the wild promotional stunts he intends to stage to bring in the paying customers.
Play | Title | Artist |
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The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings
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Signifyin' On the Diamond
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Leon In High Gear
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Bean Ball Blues
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Polka Dot Jitterbug
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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All-Stars On Parade
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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With Love from Sallie Potter
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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The Band of Detergents Boogie
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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The Bingo Long Song (Steal On Home) (William Goldstein & Thelma Houston)
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Baseball Magic
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Enter the Goons
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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The Amazing Esquire Joe Catch
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Reprise (Steal On Home)
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Razzle Dazzle
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Buenos Knockers Señora (William Goldstein & Thelma Houston)
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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If You Cut Me, Who's Gonna Play Right Field
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Razzle Dazzle (Reprise Instrumental)
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Bye, Bye Rainbow Blues
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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No Ball Fours for Leon
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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The Mighty Midget (Reprise Razzle Dazzle)
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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Esquire Joe, Major Leaguer
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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The Bingo Long Medley (End Title)
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William Goldstein:
Performer
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