Fred Graham was working in the MGM sound department and also played baseball semi-professionally in his off-time. He was hired to tutor star Robert Young in baseball techniques. He was also hired to double Nat Pendleton in his scenes as a catcher, thereby beginning an almost 40-year career as an actor and stuntman.
Filmed at L.A.'s Wrigley Field and the old Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Several ballplayers appear, including the Cardinals' real center fielder Ernie Orsatti, who is shot "by the camera" as he crosses the plate.
Late in the film, about 50 minutes, there is a scene at a hot dog stand. One of the hot dog vendors is Walter Brennan.
Franchot Tone was initially cast in the role of "Larry" but was replaced by Robert Young prior to the start of production.
This film received its initial television broadcast in Los Angeles Tuesday 7 May 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11), followed by Miami Tuesday 14 May 1957 on WCKT (Channel 7); it first aired in Chicago 1 June 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), followed by Altoona PA 14 June 1957 on WFBG (Channel 10), by Hartford CT 1 July 1957 on WHCT (Channel 18), by Tucson 16 July 1957 on KVOA (Channel 4), by New York City 1 October 1957 on WCBS (Channel 2), by Seattle 28 October 1957 on KING (Channel 5), by Portland OR 13 November 1957 on KGW (Channel 8), by Honolulu 19 December 1957 on KHVH (Channel 13), by Philadelphia 19 January 1958 on WFIL (Channel 6), and by San Francisco 7 June 1958 on KGO (Channel 7).