Eight Men Out (1988)

David Strathairn: Eddie Cicotte

Photos 

Quotes 

• Eddie Cicotte : I always figured it was talent made a man big, you know, if I was the best at something. I mean, we're the guys they come to see. Without us, there ain't a ballgame. Yeah, but look at who's holding the money and look at who's facing a jail cell. Talent don't mean nothing. And where's Comiskey and Sullivan, Attell, Rothstein? Out in the back room cutting up profits, that's where. That's the damn conspiracy.

• [the Sox have just won the AL penant and are in the clubhouse. A row of champagne bottles are sitting on a table] 

  Eddie Cicotte : What's the scoop, Harry?

  Harry : Mr. Comiskey sent these down for you. His congratulations for a successful pennant race.

  Eddie Cicotte : He didn't happen to mention when we can expect that bonus he promised us if we took the flag, did he?

  Harry : This IS your bonus.

  Swede Risberg : Cheap bastard.

  Kid Gleason : Look, fellas, if it was up to me...

  Eddie Cicotte : Kid, we got no beef with you.

  [opens one of the champagne bottles - nothing happens] 

  Eddie Cicotte : It's flat.

• Eddie Cicotte : You said if I won 30 games this year there'd be a $10,000 bonus.

  Charles Comiskey : So?

  Eddie Cicotte : I think you owe it to me.

  Charles Comiskey : Harry, how many games did Mr. Cicotte win for us this year?

  Harry : 29, sir.

  Eddie Cicotte : You had Kid bench me for two whole weeks in August. I missed five starts.

  Charles Comiskey : We had to rest your arm for the series.

  Eddie Cicotte : I would have won at least two of those games. You knew that.

  Charles Comiskey : I have to keep the best interests of the club in mind, Eddie.

  Eddie Cicotte : I think you owe me that bonus.

  Charles Comiskey : 29 is not 30, Eddie. You will get only the money you deserve.

• [Eddie Cicotte is warming up before Game 7] 

  Kid Gleason : Put it away, Eddie. I'm going with Wilkinson today.

  Eddie Cicotte : Why?

  Kid Gleason : You haven't had your stuff lately, have you?

  Eddie Cicotte : But I feel right today, Kid.

  Kid Gleason : I can't take any chances, I'm sorry.

  Eddie Cicotte : Like I can't lose, that's how right I feel.

  Kid Gleason : Sure you do, Eddie.

  [He starts to walk away] 

  Eddie Cicotte : Kid! I can't miss.

• Abe Atell : [When the players meet with him to accept the money before the first game]  It's all out on bets.

  Chick Gandil : [Shoves him]  That's not good enough!

  Abe Atell : Hey! Don't worry, you'll get the money soon enough.

  Chick Gandil : When?

  Swede Risberg : And how much?

  Abe Atell : 100 grand, like I said. 20 after each game.

  Hap Felsch : Wait a minute, that's 5 games. I thought we were just dumping a few.

  Abe Atell : No, you lose the first 3.

  Eddie Cicotte : Kerr's pitching the third, he's not with us.

  Swede Risberg : So what? We don't hit for him, he'll fold. He's a busher!

  Abe Atell : After that, we got to play it by the ear. We gotta make this look good, fellas!

  Eddie Cicotte : [Aside to Chick]  Hey, Chick. Where's the money you promised me?

  Chick Gandil : Look under your pillow.

  Eddie Cicotte : What?

  Chick Gandil : Compliments of Sports Sullivan.