Take Me Out to the Holosuite

A baseball field of the University where the holosuite scenes were filmed

"Take Me Out to the Holosuite" is the 154th episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the fourth episode of the seventh season. It was first broadcast on October 21, 1998. The title refers to the 1908 song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", the unofficial anthem of North American baseball. The episode aired during the 1998 World Series.

The episode develops the recurring motif of Captain Benjamin Sisko's love of baseball, which was established in the pilot episode "Emissary".^[1] Sisko accepts a challenge from a physically superior Vulcan crew to a game, and forms a team from his regular staff members in short order.^[1]

The DS9 team is called the "Niners",^[1] which in turn became a term for fans of the series.^[2]

In this episode, Deep Space Nine staff plays a game of baseball with the crew of visiting starship in a holosuite.^[3] This episode was written by Ronald D. Moore and directed by Chip Chalmers.^[4] Guest stars include Greg Wagrasky as Solak, Chase Masterson as Leeta, and Penny Johnson as Kasidy Yates.^[5]

Plot

A Starfleet starship docks at Deep Space Nine. Sisko recognises its captain, Solok, as a former classmate and longtime rival. Solok believes that his all-Vulcan crew are superior in every respect, and challenges Sisko to a baseball game in the holosuite. Sisko accepts, even though this gives him only two weeks to form a team into shape, and his son Jake is the only other potential member who has played the game before.

Sisko's team trains hard and suffers injuries. Impatiently, he dismisses Rom from the team, and the squad nearly quits in protest. Sisko admits to Kasidy Yates that he is taking Solok's challenge so seriously because Solok beat him at a wrestling match back at Starfleet Academy. Kasidy was amused that Ben would have even challenged Solok, because Vulcans are three times stronger than humans. Since then, Solok would use that incident to constantly write papers about proving Vulcans are superior to humans, which carried on even after graduation. And now Sisko refuses to let Solok beat him at his own game. Sisko makes Kasidy promise to keep this between them, but she immediately tells the truth to the whole team, making them understand just how much this means to Sisko.

When the game is played, the Logicians (Solok's team) immediately build up a good score. Sisko gets into an argument with the umpire, security chief Odo, and is thrown out for laying a finger on him.

Near the end and 10-0 down, the Niners (Sisko's team) are desperate to score a run. Rom's son Nog makes it to third base. In consideration for Rom's feelings, Sisko sends him into the game. Rom accidentally hits a perfect bunt, which brings Nog home, giving the Niners their only run in a 10-1 loss. The team's celebration confuses Solok, who protests to Odo, but also touches him so Odo throws him out too.

After the game, the DS9 crew relax at Quark's bar, toasting the triumph of team spirit over Vulcan superiority. Kira throws Sisko a baseball that his whole team has signed.^[6]

Background information

• Actor Cirroc Lofton, who plays Jake Sisko, is the nephew of Major League Baseball veteran Kenny Lofton.
• The game scenes were filmed at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
• Joey Banks, who served as the actors' baseball coach in this episode, is the son of veteran Chicago Cubs player Ernie Banks. Joey also played one of the Vulcan team members.
• Max Grodénchik, who plays Rom, is actually a baseball player in real life and considered going pro before deciding to become an actor. Grodénchik had to play left-handed in order to give a "bad" performance (since Rom is the worst player on the team).
• The Federation national anthem is heard for the first and only time in this episode. (see also List of Star Trek composers and music)
• Actual baseball terminology in show's script
  • Flyball
  • Bunt (baseball)
  • Grand slam (baseball)
  • Umpire (baseball)
  • See also Glossary of baseball and/or Baseball rules

Production

The outdoor scenes (in the holosuite) were shot at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California (USA).^[7]

References

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Take Me Out to the Holosuite

• Take Me Out to the Holosuite on IMDb
• "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" at TV.com

• Take Me Out to the Holosuite at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

• Niners at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)
• Niners at Memory Beta