Who's On First

When I was 16 or 17 years old and my parents took my brother and me to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. That's where I first watched Abbott and Costello perform "Who's On First". I thought it was absolute genius!

The comedy routine, "Who's On First", originally evolved from an early 1900s burlesque sketch called "The Baker's Scene. The bake shop is on Watt Street and the owner's name is "Who Dyed".

Another 1930s version was performed by comedian Will Hay. He plays a school teacher talking to a boy named Howe who lived in Ware, but now lives in Wye.

Bud Abbott actually did "Who's On First" with another partner before teaming up with Lou Costello. Abbott said he got the idea from an old routine named "Who's The Boss".

"Who's On First" became a big hit in 1937 when Abbott and Costello did the routine in a traveling Vaudville act called the "Hollywood Bandwagon".

A gold record of "Who's On First" was placed in the National Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1956.

A board game was created in 1970 by Selchow and Righter.

Time magazine named "Who's On First" the best comedy routine of the 20th century in 1999.

In the Abbott and Costello version, the right fielder is never mentioned. But in the board game his name is "Nobody".

The player's in the routine are:

First Baseman "Who".

Secondbaseman "What".

Thirdbaseman "I Don't Know".

Left Fielder "Why".

Center Fielder "Because".

Pitcher "Tomorrow".

Catcher "Today".

Shortstop "I Don't Give A Darn".

Watch the entire Who's On First video

Who's On First Collectible Baseball