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Screwball
SNL’s Beck Bennett performs Screwball, a wildly funny and wistful take on Babe Ruth’s little-known stint in the minor leagues, from one of America’s funniest writers, Simon Rich.
Before he was “Babe” or “The Sultan of Swat” or “The Great Bambino”, George Herman Ruth was just another teenage misfit at St. Mary’s School for Boys. But Ruth has something the other boys don’t, and when Baltimore Orioles manager Jack Dunn watches him throw a baseball over a building, Ruth gets the chance to punch his ticket out of the orphanage. All he has to do now is make the team.
For help navigating life in the Minor Leagues, good-natured Ruth is paired with another rookie, one Jack Dunn, Jr., the coach’s son. Even though they’re the same age, Ruth looks up to his new pal and roommate. But despite his encyclopedic knowledge of the game and austere work ethic, “Junior” (as his teammates mockingly refer to him) can’t field a ground ball to save his life. When Babe makes the roster and Junior doesn’t, their budding friendship feels the strain.
As Ruth’s otherworldly on-field abilities - and cringeworthy off-field antics - become the focus of the Orioles’ best season yet, jealous Junior resolves to sabotage the naïve and unsuspecting Babe. It’s a choice that could prove catastrophic for not only the young phenom, but also Junior, his father and the entire sport of baseball. Told from Babe’s point of view, the hilarious and heart-felt Screwball is a classic story of friendship, envy and a legend in the making that listeners will find impossible not to love.
Before he was “Babe” or “The Sultan of Swat” or “The Great Bambino”, George Herman Ruth was just another teenage misfit at St. Mary’s School for Boys. But Ruth has something the other boys don’t, and when Baltimore Orioles manager Jack Dunn watches him throw a baseball over a building, Ruth gets the chance to punch his ticket out of the orphanage. All he has to do now is make the team.
For help navigating life in the Minor Leagues, good-natured Ruth is paired with another rookie, one Jack Dunn, Jr., the coach’s son. Even though they’re the same age, Ruth looks up to his new pal and roommate. But despite his encyclopedic knowledge of the game and austere work ethic, “Junior” (as his teammates mockingly refer to him) can’t field a ground ball to save his life. When Babe makes the roster and Junior doesn’t, their budding friendship feels the strain.
As Ruth’s otherworldly on-field abilities - and cringeworthy off-field antics - become the focus of the Orioles’ best season yet, jealous Junior resolves to sabotage the naïve and unsuspecting Babe. It’s a choice that could prove catastrophic for not only the young phenom, but also Junior, his father and the entire sport of baseball. Told from Babe’s point of view, the hilarious and heart-felt Screwball is a classic story of friendship, envy and a legend in the making that listeners will find impossible not to love.
1 pages, Audible Audio
First published July 4, 2019
7 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Simon Rich
29 books1,072 followersSimon Rich (born 1984) is an American humorist whose first book, Ant Farm and Other Desperate Situations, was published by Random House in April 2007.
Rich is an alumnus of The Dalton School and a former president of The Harvard Lampoon, and the son of The New York Times editorialist Frank Rich. He received a two book contract from Random House prior to his graduation from Harvard University in 2007.
His first book, Ant Farm and Other Desperate Situations, has been described as a collection of "giddy what-if scenarios". Excerpts of the book were printed in The New Yorker's "Shouts and Murmurs" column. His second book, Free Range Chickens, was published in 2008. His first novel, Elliot Allagash was released in May of 2010, followed by What in God’s Name and most recently, The Last Girlfriend on Earth, a collection of short stories about love.
He is currently a writer for Saturday Night Live.
Rich is an alumnus of The Dalton School and a former president of The Harvard Lampoon, and the son of The New York Times editorialist Frank Rich. He received a two book contract from Random House prior to his graduation from Harvard University in 2007.
His first book, Ant Farm and Other Desperate Situations, has been described as a collection of "giddy what-if scenarios". Excerpts of the book were printed in The New Yorker's "Shouts and Murmurs" column. His second book, Free Range Chickens, was published in 2008. His first novel, Elliot Allagash was released in May of 2010, followed by What in God’s Name and most recently, The Last Girlfriend on Earth, a collection of short stories about love.
He is currently a writer for Saturday Night Live.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
November 20, 2020
A relatively short - 39 minute - Audible Original story narrated by Scott Aiello and SNL’s Beck Bennett for fans of Babe Ruth and / or, America’s favourite pastime - baseball.
Based on Babe Ruth’s time in the Minors, this shares the story of his life as he begins his career in baseball. For those who are old enough to remember watching him play, or who love baseball, this will be an entertaining story to listen to.
My boys all played baseball when they were young, but only the youngest one had dreams of playing professionally, or any career in that field. Over the years, we went to lots of professional baseball games, and I have many fond memories of their joy of meeting their heroes, getting them to sign a baseball, or shake hands with their idol. If nothing else, I enjoyed this for the memories.
July 14, 2019
Short audible original about babe Ruth's time in the minor league. Very short and a little crude but entertaining non the less. More myth than reality. Find it hard to believe that Ruth was so utterly naive. I mean we're talking strait from the farm dumb. Ruth's patrayel did have a certain charm.
July 8, 2019
Picked this short story (~30 min) up as one of my free Audible member's picks for the month of July 2019. Wasn't sure if it was based on fact or purely fiction; after listening to it decided definitely fiction because I've never read that Babe Ruth had low intelligence. In this story, he comes across very "Forest Gump" like. I found the story very entertaining and the narration was perfect. If you are a fan of baseball you might like it too.
July 9, 2019
The jokes got a little old sometimes and some of the storytelling wasn't great in parts but overall had fun with it.
The narrators: 4 stars. Weren't for them I would have stopped this before the end.
Story/characters: 3 stars
The narrators: 4 stars. Weren't for them I would have stopped this before the end.
Story/characters: 3 stars
August 3, 2019
An Audible Original. 39 hilarious minutes. Thank you Audible.
January 5, 2020
3.5-4 stars
This was a really good free audiobook. There were laughs shared multiple times between me and my spouse. Mr. Bennett's narration was really well done! He really sells the simpleton tone that is a part of Ruth's character in this audiobook. Those who are protective of how Babe Ruth is portrayed may not like that for comedic effect they made him a bit more simple than he may have been in reality. Truthfully, I don't know enough about the legend to care how he is portrayed in a comedy fiction novella, but it might get on the nerves of those looking for a more realistic view of his time in the minor leagues. As a listener, you have to come into the story knowing it’s a comedy the flow of the story is really well done. We were very pleased that we got this book for free and wouldn’t mind paying a little amount for it if it came up as an Audible Daily Deal.
This was a really good free audiobook. There were laughs shared multiple times between me and my spouse. Mr. Bennett's narration was really well done! He really sells the simpleton tone that is a part of Ruth's character in this audiobook. Those who are protective of how Babe Ruth is portrayed may not like that for comedic effect they made him a bit more simple than he may have been in reality. Truthfully, I don't know enough about the legend to care how he is portrayed in a comedy fiction novella, but it might get on the nerves of those looking for a more realistic view of his time in the minor leagues. As a listener, you have to come into the story knowing it’s a comedy the flow of the story is really well done. We were very pleased that we got this book for free and wouldn’t mind paying a little amount for it if it came up as an Audible Daily Deal.
July 9, 2019
Great if you want 39 minutes of Babe Ruth written as a complete idiot and as much crass humor as they could possibility fit into that time.
July 5, 2019
Baseball icon Babe Ruth as buffoon
Review of the Audible Studios audio short story (2019)
I was expecting something a bit more inspirational from a 4th of July release. This short story (39 minute audio) tells a fictional tale of Babe Ruth's days with the minor league Baltimore Orioles prior to his being signed by the Major League Boston Red Sox in 1914. Ruth is portrayed as being oblivious to the machinations of his friend Jack Dunn Jr. (a fictional minor league teammate) who is jealous of Ruth's baseball talent. Of course there is a surprise redemption ending, but it doesn't wipe away the bad taste of the screwing and shitter jokes.
Screwball was one of the Audible Originals free audiobooks for members in July 2019.
Review of the Audible Studios audio short story (2019)
I was expecting something a bit more inspirational from a 4th of July release. This short story (39 minute audio) tells a fictional tale of Babe Ruth's days with the minor league Baltimore Orioles prior to his being signed by the Major League Boston Red Sox in 1914. Ruth is portrayed as being oblivious to the machinations of his friend Jack Dunn Jr. (a fictional minor league teammate) who is jealous of Ruth's baseball talent. Of course there is a surprise redemption ending, but it doesn't wipe away the bad taste of the screwing and shitter jokes.
Screwball was one of the Audible Originals free audiobooks for members in July 2019.
December 23, 2020
I loved this little story about Babe Ruth's beginning. I need to get more books about his life because I realized that I know very little about him.
This story was read to make it seem like Babe Ruth was really dumb, so I need to find out if it was true.
I really enjoyed the story and the fun of it.
This story was read to make it seem like Babe Ruth was really dumb, so I need to find out if it was true.
I really enjoyed the story and the fun of it.
Read
July 22, 2025Love Simon Rich. Felt a lot of Swartzwelder influence in this one.
January 26, 2020
It was very short.
September 20, 2020
My husband is a big baseball fan. I picked up this Audibles Original last year with the idea that he and I would listen to it together. We finally had an opportunity to do so today.
A short 39 minutes, this was an entertaining performance. We’d give the story three stars, but the narration bumps it up to a four-star read, er, listen.
My husband says to note that this is not a story for children.
A short 39 minutes, this was an entertaining performance. We’d give the story three stars, but the narration bumps it up to a four-star read, er, listen.
My husband says to note that this is not a story for children.
December 25, 2019
I'm curious how much of this is truth. Interesting, quick, a little funny.
July 9, 2019
This is a short-form release from Audible that sends up some of the more titanic myths of early baseball legends. SNL cast member Beck Bennett plays Babe Ruth, a village idiot who happens to be very good at baseball without realizing it. Bennett jumps from comedic misunderstanding to comedic misunderstanding - some silly and funny and others just silly and stupid - before the Babe is eventually discovered by the Boston Red Sox and catapulted into infamy. Not clear this gets made without Bennett’s star power, as the tale is largely frivolous and frankly libelous against the collective recollection of one of baseball’s largest legends.
July 8, 2019
This is a very short listen (I think 40 minutes). I'm a huge baseball fan (which is honestly why I chose this book as my original Audible pick of the month). The narrator did a great job and the story was funny- it told a side of the Babe that not a lot of people know. I highly recommend to my baseball loving friends. Even if you don't like baseball, I think you might enjoy the listen.
**side note: there is a little language and some "adult situation" talk, so you might not want to listen with small children around.**
**side note: there is a little language and some "adult situation" talk, so you might not want to listen with small children around.**
October 7, 2019
Kratka simpatična audio knjiga koja govori o početku bejzbol igrača Babe Ruth. Priča je stvarno zabavna i glupasta, dobio sam je besplatno zbog preplate na Audible i stvarno se isplatilo ovo poslušati. Sam tekst nije nešto (bliže lošem nego dobrom), ali SNL-ov Back Bennet spašava stvar koji svojim preuveličanim govorom (doslovno vikom) opisuje prekomične i skoro nerealne događaje.
July 8, 2019
What??? Nevermind if this was an honest account of young Babe Ruth...what?? Why is Babe such a happy-go-lucky oblivious asshole of a friend? And why is his friend Junior a manipulating sad piece of work who renews his friendship in a flash?
July 22, 2019
This was a very good, and very short audio drama of Babe Ruth's life. Well produced, good story, enjoyable experience. I honestly thought there was going to be more baseball, but there wasn't much baseball in it. It was worth the 40 or so minutes it took to listen.
December 19, 2019
A very quick read. Fun and funny. I was starting to feel bad for one of the characters, but it all got cleared up for me. A breath of fresh air in the midst of heavier reading.
July 6, 2019
This was amusing but clearly apocryphal. Babe was never this dumb and I totally don’t buy that Dunn—whoever he was—was this evil.
July 15, 2019
A quick listen. Not sure if this is true or not; however, it was an engaging listen. Babe Ruth comes off as extremely naive in this short, short story, which also, may or may not be true.
July 15, 2019
Really short little play about the beginning of Babe Ruth’s career and his friendship with Dunn.
July 27, 2019
Mostly one-note humor throughout, but still very entertaining. A novel way to tell a biographical story. Bennett does an excellent job narrating. [AUDIBLE]
August 29, 2019
Most notable for the Beck Bennett narration, but still a breezy, funny Audible Original. I laughed quite a few times, despite the somewhat repetitive jokes. Definitely worth your 39 minutes.
November 7, 2019
Funny but it’s Babe Ruth as Forrest Gump in the minor leagues.
June 1, 2023
I’ve had this one on the pile for a couple of years. I thought that an audiobook about baseball, narrated by Saturday Night Live family favorite Beck Bennett, might win the family over to listening on long drives. Maybe as much as three years later, I’ve thrown in the towel and just listened to it myself.
And that’s a good thing, because my plan would not have worked.
In the end (and the beginning) this is a one-joke story quickly told and with little at stake.
Babe Ruth is a rube who’s trying to get to the majors from his spot on the minor league Baltimore Orioles. He has no sense of his own gifts. He gets embarrassed, for instance, when his coach asks him to bunt and he instead hits a home run. And he thinks he’s screwed up when he fires a throw from center field past the cutoff man to nail a runner at home.
I might be OK with such a joke (might be OK) if there were anything else going on, but there isn’t. We don’t get much of a glimpse at old-time baseball, and we get a barely one-dimensional Babe Ruth who wants to eat as much as possible and have sex as often as possible. He doesn’t even seem to understand baseball.
Look, be as lighthearted as you want, but be funny. If not, then be thoughtful. Babe Ruth was an extraordinary talent. But make no mistake; he certainly knew the game. A knowing character here could have set up much more fun.
To its credit, this is very short, and it made me laugh a few times. Plus, I enjoyed hearing Beck Bennett’s voice again. But there’s not enough here to salvage this.
And that’s a good thing, because my plan would not have worked.
In the end (and the beginning) this is a one-joke story quickly told and with little at stake.
Babe Ruth is a rube who’s trying to get to the majors from his spot on the minor league Baltimore Orioles. He has no sense of his own gifts. He gets embarrassed, for instance, when his coach asks him to bunt and he instead hits a home run. And he thinks he’s screwed up when he fires a throw from center field past the cutoff man to nail a runner at home.
I might be OK with such a joke (might be OK) if there were anything else going on, but there isn’t. We don’t get much of a glimpse at old-time baseball, and we get a barely one-dimensional Babe Ruth who wants to eat as much as possible and have sex as often as possible. He doesn’t even seem to understand baseball.
Look, be as lighthearted as you want, but be funny. If not, then be thoughtful. Babe Ruth was an extraordinary talent. But make no mistake; he certainly knew the game. A knowing character here could have set up much more fun.
To its credit, this is very short, and it made me laugh a few times. Plus, I enjoyed hearing Beck Bennett’s voice again. But there’s not enough here to salvage this.
April 9, 2024
I got this back when Audible was giving away 2 free Audible Originals a month a few years ago, Seeing as how I've never really had any serious interest in baseball other than collecting cards I got for free when I was young and hearing things in passing from other people talking about it It doesn't come as a surprise that I wasn't really in a hurry to listen to this though I did know a bit about Babe Ruth.
As the original is short only around 40 minutes I finally decided to listen to it today and was surprised that I actually enjoyed it, I don't know how accurate the portrayal of Babe Ruth is in this despite doctors speculating he had ADHD and some learning disabilities but it brought this larger than life historical figure into a better perspective of the average person and made him more relatable. I'm pretty sure whoever wrote this accounting of Babe has read Flowers for Algernon as it represents ignorance is bliss in the same true to life way.
Overall despite expectations I enjoyed this and recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in Baseball, Babe Ruth or just someone with 40 minutes to fill with an interesting story.
As the original is short only around 40 minutes I finally decided to listen to it today and was surprised that I actually enjoyed it, I don't know how accurate the portrayal of Babe Ruth is in this despite doctors speculating he had ADHD and some learning disabilities but it brought this larger than life historical figure into a better perspective of the average person and made him more relatable. I'm pretty sure whoever wrote this accounting of Babe has read Flowers for Algernon as it represents ignorance is bliss in the same true to life way.
Overall despite expectations I enjoyed this and recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in Baseball, Babe Ruth or just someone with 40 minutes to fill with an interesting story.
January 23, 2021
This was a free book on audible that I downloaded way back when. Decided to give it a listen while Bear was playing at the dog park since it’s only about 40 minutes long. This is definitely a book geared towards young adults, which is outside of what I usually read.
I don’t know a ton about Babe Ruth other than what we’ve learned growing up, so not sure how accurate this book would have been or if it’s just a very loose interpretation/comedy. The narrator, Beck Bennett, was really great and made it an enjoyable listen. Definitely a story full of rowdy banter, comradery, and scheming as Babe Ruth begins in the Minor Leagues before moving up.
I don’t know a ton about Babe Ruth other than what we’ve learned growing up, so not sure how accurate this book would have been or if it’s just a very loose interpretation/comedy. The narrator, Beck Bennett, was really great and made it an enjoyable listen. Definitely a story full of rowdy banter, comradery, and scheming as Babe Ruth begins in the Minor Leagues before moving up.
January 11, 2022
Sometimes fun, but quite adolescent book (the title should have warned...) about Babe Ruth's minor league season with the Baltimore Orioles, including how he got the nickname. It reminded me somewhat of living with young fighter pilots.
It did have two points of value: the story of his being lost in Quebec ("everyone is saying, 'Bonjour this' and 'Bonjour that'"). Also, it's also more of a short story than book. For those who are counting titles (and you know who you are), it's almost a freebie. Very well performed by a professional comedian.
It did have two points of value: the story of his being lost in Quebec ("everyone is saying, 'Bonjour this' and 'Bonjour that'"). Also, it's also more of a short story than book. For those who are counting titles (and you know who you are), it's almost a freebie. Very well performed by a professional comedian.
May 15, 2020
This was a free Audible book. Otherwise, I probably would never have sought it out. It was entertaining to some extent, but I don't know enough about Babe Ruth to know if this portrayal is at all (even exaggeratedly) accurate. It shows him as so extraordinarily naive that he comes across as rather stupid. It also gets a bit crass for no apparent reason. The narration almost felt like a middle grade novel, but it clearly is not content-wise. It just didn't sit right with me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews