The Dean Martin Show (TV Series) Celebrity Roast: Leo Durocher (1974) User Reviews

"I'm retired, not deceased!"

[kevinolzak · 8/10 · 27 August 2013]

Hall of Fame baseball manager Leo Durocher provided one of the funniest early roasts, despite the small cast of 7 guests on the dais. First up is the just retired former Dodger Maury Wills, who announces that Leo "makes Howard Cosell look like an introvert." Bobby Riggs, then infamous for his legendary defeat in a 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match with Billie Jean King, bails out Leo by showing up: "you're such a loser, you'll make everybody else look better by comparison." Hall of Famer and former teammate Dizzy Dean (who died six months after this broadcast) praises Leo's competitive spirit: "one time there was a high bouncing ball, and I swear Leo leaped 8 feet in the air. And if I told you where the ball hit him, you'd know why!" Chuck Connors, former Dodger ("tax and draft," according to Jack Carter), brings up specific baseball signals that originated with Durocher, then Alex Karras reassures Leo that he can count his real enemies on "the fingers of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!" Jack Carter performs a hilarious impersonation of Dizzy Dean's Southern-accented baseball broadcaster days: "I was in the Army at the time, I thought we were captured!" Bringing up the rear as usual, and stealing the show in the role of baseball umpire, is the peerless Foster Brooks, who announces that it's an honor to pay tribute to "the one and only Leo Ducockroacher." Leo even gets a wire from Mae West, who agrees with his famous quote, "nice guys finish last!"