The Hoboken Zephyrs, a perennial losing minor league team is given a big boost when pitching sensation Casey (Robert Sorrells) shows up under the guidance of his benefactor, Dr. Stillman (Abraham Sofaer). The team's manager, Mouth McGarry (Jack Warden), can't believe what he's seeing. Every pitch Casey throws is over 100 MPH and he's striking out opposing batters by the bushel-load. Casey, of course, is a robot and he's programmed to become the greatest pitcher since Cy Young himself. Although McGarry discovers the truth about his ace hurler early on, he keeps it to himself. Why rock the boat when the team is on a winning streak? With Casey on the mound and tossing serious heat, the Zephyrs quickly climb up the standings and McGarry has never had it so good---until the inevitable happens. Casey finally breaks down due to a mechanical glitch and the doctors at the local hospital find out that his "injury" has nothing to do with his rotator cuff (since he doesn't really have one). The poor fellow is disallowed to continue his career now that it has been determined that he isn't human. But there is a way out of this dilemma for Casey and his teammates. If a real human heart is transplanted into his main CPU, Casey will become an official "human being" and be able to take the mound once again. After Dr. Stillman performs this difficult procedure, Casey resumes his career, but without his previous success. Instead, every hitter tees off on every pitch he throws and it's soon apparent that Casey is washed up for good. But his ineffectiveness has nothing to do with his pitching mechanics. "I just can't strike these poor guys out anymore, Mr. McGarry," he explains. "I have a heart now. I just can't ruin their livelihoods. I'd feel real bad if I struck them all out. They have families to feed." It is then decided that Casey can no longer be a professional baseball player since he's now more suited for "social work."
"The Mighty Casey" is played for obvious laughs and there are quite a few funny moments. Jack Warden is at his best as the befuddled manager who spends most of his time scratching his head. Sorrells (as the robot Casey) has an out-of-this-world look about him and seems to have come straight off the assembly line. Creator Serling closes the show with a few punch lines himself. He informs the viewers that Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale might have been manufactured at the same laboratory as the Mighty Casey. Spoken like a true Giants fan.
"The Mighty Casey" is played for obvious laughs and there are quite a few funny moments. Jack Warden is at his best as the befuddled manager who spends most of his time scratching his head. Sorrells (as the robot Casey) has an out-of-this-world look about him and seems to have come straight off the assembly line. Creator Serling closes the show with a few punch lines himself. He informs the viewers that Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale might have been manufactured at the same laboratory as the Mighty Casey. Spoken like a true Giants fan.