Old Time Radio Westerns

Episode: “Baseball At Frenchmen’s Ford” | Dr. Sixgun

Original Airdate: Unknown (Podcast Release: Jan 9, 2026)
Host: Andrew Rhynes

Episode Overview

In this digitally restored episode of Dr. Sixgun, the unlikely subject of baseball comes to the rough-and-tumble town of Frenchmen’s Ford, blending the genteel traditions of eastern universities with frontier grit and humor. When Harvey Braithwaite, a proudly Princeton-educated Easterner, visits town, he inadvertently sparks a bet with local cowhand Randy Stewart over the possibility of staging a proper baseball game. What follows is a collision of cultures, filled with misunderstandings, slapstick, and sly commentary on professionalism and sportsmanship in the Wild West.

Key Discussion Points and Story Highlights

Setting the Scene – Arrival of Harvey Braithwaite

• Pablo, the gypsy peddler, introduces himself and narrates how genteel “sport” is a rarity in the Territory, where pastimes normally involve drinking or gunplay, not eastern games like baseball.

  “In the Territory there is laughter and gay, but sport in the sense of the east is notoriously absent.” — Pablo (03:14)

• A visitor from Princeton, Harvey T. Braithwaite, quickly makes his education known to the locals, comically referencing his collegiate background and social status at every turn.
• Dr. Sixgun (Dr. Gray Matson) and Pablo, both “men of the world,” gently mock Harvey’s exalted self-image and the reverence he has for his university.

The Spark: A Bet Over Baseball

• Randy Stewart and Harvey Braithwaite, after a bout of drinking, debate the absence of “sport” in Frenchmen’s Ford. Harvey asserts the need for baseball for true gentlemen, while Randy boasts the town could field a game.
• Their banter results in an outsized wager:

  “All right, I’ll bet you, Randy... The wager is on.” — Harvey Braithwaite (16:04)

• Alcohol-fueled bravado leads Randy to bet he can organize a proper baseball match by Saturday, with $1000 at stake—a massive sum for a cowboy.

Organizing America’s Pastime on the Frontier

• Randy cobbles together a ragtag team of locals, including former volunteers, livery staff, and willing townsfolk—most of whom barely understand the game’s rules.
• Dr. Sixgun and Pablo observe the preparations with wry amusement, well aware that none of the players, let alone the umpire, truly grasp baseball.
• Harvey insists on proper decorum—even as he remains blissfully ignorant of the rough frontier spirit.
• Comical moments abound as cowboys misuse equipment, misunderstand the rules, or demand to play while keeping their guns on:

  “Alvin Merrel won’t play unless he can carry his gun. …he says he ain’t had it off since he was 12.” — Randy Stewart (22:01)

The Game (Baseball, Sort Of)

• The game commences with Harvey in a flamboyant umpire get-up, in a corral freshly vacated by horses.
• The teams are the Pintos and the Wranglers, and chaos reigns from the start—players miss balls, ignore positions, and tempers flare.
• The defining moment: a dispute at bat erupts into a full-blown, barroom-style brawl, with beer barrels cracked and even the umpire (Harvey) caught up in the melee.

  “It was a free for all that would have done justice to the Bull Run on a Saturday night.” — Pablo’s narration (26:31)

Denouement: A Gentleman’s Principles

• The next day, Harvey gently explains to Dr. Sixgun why his report home will not be favorable to western cattle investments:

  “I discovered that Mr. Stewart had paid those men $3 a piece to play in the game. ...That’s professionalism. ...A sport in general—and baseball in particular—are to prosper, will never do so with a taint of gross professionalism upon it.” — Harvey Braithwaite (29:02)

• The ultimate snub is not the violence, chaos, or drunkenness—but that the players were paid.
• Harvey offers a final, tongue-in-cheek toast to the Princeton Tiger and leaves town.
• The town, unlikely to field another baseball game, celebrates the outcome with weekly toasts at the Bull Run Saloon.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

Pablo on Territory Entertainment:

“If you ask the average citizen of the town of Frenchman’s Ford what was the great American game, he would answer ‘bubble’ and complain that the shooting was bad that season.” — Pablo (04:00)

Randy’s Hangover and Regrets:

"You sure you got nothing for this here disease I have in my head, Doc?” — Randy Stewart (17:42)

Harvey on Professionalism:

“...It’s hardly a fit place for a gentleman. ...A sport in general—and baseball in particular—are to prosper, will never do so with a taint of gross professionalism upon it.” — Harvey Braithwaite (29:02)

The Mayhem of "Baseball":

“As a matter of fact, between O’Shea’s beer and the light, pleasant breeze, the game went on in a happy fashion until the seventh inning. ...It was a free for all that would have done justice to the Bull Run on a Saturday night.” — Pablo (26:31)

Harvey’s Final Toast:

“At least it was refreshing to meet one university man in this wilderness. ...When you down your spirit, remember me. I give a toast to the tiger.” — Harvey Braithwaite (30:27)

Key Timestamps

• 03:14 — Pablo’s introduction and commentary on ‘sport’ in the Territory
• 05:00 – 12:00 — Harvey’s arrival, Princeton pride, and cultural misunderstandings
• 14:00 – 17:30 — The drunken bet is made between Randy and Harvey
• 18:00 — Randy scrambles to form a baseball team, Dr. Sixgun and Pablo banter
• 22:00 – 27:30 — The baseball game: slapstick misunderstandings, escalating chaos, and eventual brawl
• 29:00 — Harvey explains his principle of “amateurism” to Dr. Sixgun, delivers his final assessment and toast

Tone and Style

The episode, typical of Dr. Sixgun, mingles dry wit, gentle irony, and affection for both the rough-and-tumble Westerners and the high-minded, naive Easterner. The story pokes fun at social pretense, the concept of “gentlemanliness,” and the unpredictability of transplanting “civilized” institutions onto the frontier. Listeners are treated to energetic performances, vivid period language, and a playful exaggeration of both the cowboy and Ivy League archetypes.

For those who love both vintage westerns and sharp, character-driven humor, “Baseball At Frenchmen’s Ford” is a charming, laugh-filled exploration of what happens when the Old West tries (and fails) to play by new rules.