Elliott Ashley, bat boy for the New York Yankees, explains his duties before, during and after a game and narrates segments describing the preparations of a major league team such as working out at training camp and warming up before a game. Ashley is seen at Yankee Stadium getting ready for a game by sorting helmets, racking bats, and making the all-important resin bags. He notes the seriousness of the game and the traditions which are followed, such as autographing the baseballs that will be used for lucky fans. The Yankees are shown warming up; young Ashley joins them and receives batting and fielding tips from Coach Frank Crosetti. The episode shows the team at its Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, training camp, exercising and playing. Ashley explains the players? eating habits and, in a brief segment at Ashley?s biology class at Long Island University, the subject of nutrition is discussed. Conveying the enthusiasm and dedication of young fans, Ashley is shown coaching sand-lot players in his neighborhood and, like the Yankee greats he serves, handing out his autograph. What?s New: ?A Boy and His Job? is a NET production. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) What?s New is a children?s series that ran from 1961-1973. The early seasons typically consist of multiple segments, each from an ongoing series on a specific topic. Each segment was produced by a separate educational broadcasting station, and the linkage between the segments was produced by WHYY and hosted by Al Binford. In episodes from later seasons the format varies more, with many episodes focusing on one story or topic throughout the entire 30 minutes. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
