Rewatching DuckTales! Two stories in one episode? What is this madness?!? Episode 51 is both “Magica’s Magic Mirror” and “Take Me Out of the Ballgame.”

Here’s what happens: In “Magica’s Magic Mirror,” Scrooge and the boys are at the ballgame when a mysterious woman leaves a magic mirror in Scrooge’s hands for safekeeping, saying she’s in danger and pursued by a mystery man. This is all a trick by Magica Dispell, however, in her latest plot to steal Scrooge’s lucky dime. She has an identical mirror, through which she can trick Scrooge and the boys into thinking the mirror can see the future. Through convoluted circumstances, she convinces Scrooge that the only way to save his diamond mines to give his lucky dime to the mystery woman (a.k.a. Magica) from earlier. The nephews figure out what she’s up to by peering into the mirror just a little too long. They then use the mirror to show Scrooge the truth. In an attempt to zap Scrooge, she accidentally zaps herself and teleports herself far away.

Then, in “Take Me Out of the Ballgame,” Huey, Dewey, Louie, Webby, and Doofus are playing in a Junior Woodchucks baseball game. Scrooge is going out of town, so he leaves his butler Duckworth in charge of coaching the kids’ team. Their opponents are the Beagle Brats, with Ma Beagle as their coach. Duckworth’s old-fashioned style of coaching doesn’t mesh well the rough n’ tumble kids way of playing, and the Woodchucks lose their lead. Then the Beagles start cheating, making matters worse. When Doofus breaks his glasses, he manages a home run thanks to Duckworth’s newfound understanding of having the game be fun, rather than prim and proper. The boys win the game, and the home run ball flies so far out of the ballpark that it hits Launchpad in the head as he and Scrooge fly back to town. 

Humbug: It might seem odd that Scrooge would bring his valuable lucky dime to a ballgame, but remember that he almost always keeps it on him, while the dime on display in the mansion is a fake (sometimes).

Junior Woodchucks: In addition to being a Boy Scouts-type organization, the Junior Woodchucks double as the local Little League. That’s quite a racket they’ve got going.

Fasten your seatbelts: One Magica’s predictions is that Launchpad will crash his incoming plane. But isn’t the joke that Launchpad always crashes? (Magica’s plan makes no sense.)

Maid and maiden: Webby is on the boys’ baseball team, using her doll as a catcher’s mitt.

Do the doo: Doofus is able to hit the home run by imagining the ball as a delicious dessert. Sigh…

Fowl fouls: It appears that the Beagle Brats’ names have never been revealed. The Disney wiki states that are “relatives” of the Beagle Boys, suggesting that Ma Beagle is not their actual mom.  

Down in Duckburg: Baseball must be hugely popular in Duckburg, as we see a huge stadium for the pro team, and a smaller ballpark for the kids.

Reference row: The song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer debuted way back in 1908, and has since become one of the most well-known works of music in history. The part we all know is the chorus. The additional verses tell the story of a baseball fan named Katie Casey, who wants nothing more than to go to the ball game and cheer for the boys on the team.

Thoughts on this viewing: An inconsequential slapstick episode, feeling more like two comedy skits rather than either being an engaging story. Amusing, but not essential DuckTales viewing.

Next: Future events such as these will affect you in the future.

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