Eddie Waitkus is the baseball player who inspired the novel "The Natural" by Bernard Malamud, which was made into the movie The Natural (1984), starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs. Waitkus was a top defensive first baseman and left-handed line-drive hitter.

Who is Eddie in The Natural book?

Eddie is the porter working on the train to Chicago in the opening of the novel. He is fond of Roy. He is Hobbs' first fan, kissing his hand and calling him “My Hero,” albeit jokingly. His behavior foreshadows the behavior of many Knights' fans, who can be crazed and obsessive in their love of the sport.

Why was Roy Hobbs shot in The Natural?

Roy was a big shot as a teenager, and he believed he had a promising future ahead of him. Harriet thought so, too, which is why she only shot Roy after he answered her question about whether being the “best there ever was,” was an accurate assessment. Roy doesn't hesitate, confirming he would be the best in baseball.

What is the true story behind The Natural?

In Real Life: This incident is modeled on the shooting of Phillies first baseman Eddie Waitkus, which took place in a Chicago hotel room very late on the night of June 14, 1949. Waitkus had gotten a note in his room from a "Ruth Ann," and he thought the note was from a girlfriend of that name.

What happens at the end of The Natural?

At the end of the game, Hobbs sees he has a chance to win and wants to take it. He comes to bat against Herman Youngberry, a brilliant young pitcher similar to Hobbs at the same age. Youngberry strikes out Hobbs, ending the game—and with it, the season for the Knights.

Eddie Hall Natural As a Teen?

Did Memo poison Roy in The Natural?

Not knowing that Memo poisoned him, he nonetheless realizes she's playing against him. Injured and recovering from the poison, Roy struggles during the play-off game for the pennant. Iris, in the stands with her son, sends him a note telling him he's the father.

Does Roy Hobbs have a son in The Natural?

Finally, Hobbs has just found out from his old hometown girlfriend Iris (Glenn Close) that Hobbs is the father of her son Ted. With all that in place, here is the script to the final sequence in The Natural.

Why does Roy eat so much in The Natural?

It is significant that after Roy decides not to pursue Iris, he suddenly develops a great craving for food. He is attempting to fulfill himself in a way that Memo and his own self-centered playing cannot; only Iris has the ability to provide the true fulfillment that would end his desire for both food and Memo.

Who is the bad boy in The Natural?

Savoy, played by George Wilkosz, was the bat boy in Redford's movie “The Natural.”

What happened to Eddie Waitkus?

Remarkably, Waitkus returned to play with the Phillies in 1950, where he was the leadoff hitter for the National League pennant winners. He went onto play through the 1955 season. Waitkus died in 1972 of esophageal cancer at age 53.

How old was Robert Redford supposed to be in The Natural?

The two eras of the film show Roy Hobbs at age 19 and age 35. Robert Redford was 47 at the time of filming.

Did Roy Hobbs actually strike out?

*OK, I'll spoil it for you: Hobbs does strike out in the book version. So maybe having the umpire say “strike” on that first pitch was Levinson's homage to the book. I should ask him about that. *There are those who point out that before 1950, the home team had the option to bat first.

Who is bump in The Natural?

Bump is the Knights' star player before Hobbs arrives. He is as arrogant as the Whammer and is known for his rude antics off the field with Memo, his girlfriend, Pop, and the other players.

How old was Roy Hobbs when he died?

Roy Hobbs , a former WAGA-TV anchor from 1996 to 2003, has died in West Palm Beach, Fla. He was 64.

How old is Roy Hobbs in the beginning of The Natural?

Now 19 years old, Hobbs heads to Chicago for a tryout with the Chicago Cubs, leaving behind his girlfriend, Iris.

Is Eddie related to Catherine?

Catherine is Beatrice and Eddie's niece. They have raised heras though she were their own daughter.

Is The Natural based on a real baseball player?

According to Wikipedia, Author Malamud, supposedly not a baseball fan himself, created “the Natural” story and his Roy Hobbs character from the real life of Eddie Waitkus, a major leaguer in 1941 and 1946-55.

Who is the lady in black in The Natural?

The Whammer has caught the interest of a young lady by the name of Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershery), who is also on the way to Chicago.

Who is red in The Natural?

The Natural (1984) - Richard Farnsworth as Red Blow - IMDb.

What is Roy's tragic flaw in the natural?

Tragic Flaw

Roy struggles to be a hero, not realizing that his desire for success and women is destroying him. His ego—his unyielding lust for fame—proves to be his biggest flaw. Because he cannot overcome this flaw, his story becomes a tragedy. Roy's ego is first shown during his interaction with Harriet in Pre-Game.

What happened to Roy in the natural?

Hobbs was shot by a mysterious woman dressed in black he met on the train to Chicago. In the movie, Harriet Bird had evidently been stalking and shooting athletic heroes and she was on the train to shoot The Whammer, a baseball legend.

Why does Roy reject Iris?

The woman is Iris Lemon and she and Roy meet after the game. They walk along the lakeshore, and eventually make love. But when Iris tells Roy that she is a grandmother, Roy rejects her, and returns to his longing for Memo.

Did Robert Redford do his own hitting in The Natural?

I loved playing baseball and I loved the Boston Red Sox and Ted Williams and I wanted to go in that direction [as a ballplayer] if I could, but never could until this.” Johnson confirms that Redford did all of his own batting for the film, and made some solid hits.

Who does Roy Hobbs end up with?

We then follow the flight of the ball to Hobbs back home on the farm, playing catch with his carbon-copy blonde son as Iris (Glenn Close), presumably now his wife, affectionately looks on. Roy smiles, finally content.

What does the end of The Natural mean?

This is the tragic end of our hero. Roy's lost his honor and his self-respect. He can't look his fans in the face, and he surely can't go back to baseball. He finally realizes that it was his own mistakes that brought him to this point, but that realization is too little and way too late.