6.7/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 6.7/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Just Pals remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Should you actually watch this ancient Babe Ruth short today? Yes, but only if you have ten minutes to spare and love old baseball history or weird vintage shorts where athletes try to act. It's great for anyone who finds 1930s sentimentality charming, but modern sports movie fans who want real drama will probably hate how incredibly simple it is. ⚾
The whole thing is basically Babe Ruth being the ultimate nice guy to some orphans. It starts with Babe showing up at an orphanage, and the headmaster—who looks like he belongs in a silent film—asks him to umpire a game.
During the match, this poor kid named Freddy strikes out with the bases loaded. The other kids are absolutely brutal to him, just laying into him for losing the game. 😢
Freddy runs off crying, and Babe goes to comfort him. This is where the movie gets *really sweet*, even if Babe's acting is... well, he's a baseball player, not an Oscar winner.
He takes Freddy to a park to teach him how to hit. There is this great, super specific bit where Babe explains the difference between a choke hitter and a swing hitter.
You can tell Babe actually cared about teaching the kid. It feels less like a scripted scene and more like a guy just sharing his love for the game with a sad kid.
The next day, there's another game. The team manager—another kid who is way too bossy—doesn't want Freddy to bat because he thinks he'll ruin it again.
But Freddy insists, uses Babe's advice, and hits a massive home run. Everyone cheers, including the bossy kid who suddenly acts like Freddy's best friend. Talk about fake friends! 😂
The ending is pretty funny because Babe goes back to his car and its literally overflowing with children. He just shooes them out like they're stray cats and tells them he'll be back for another game.
If you've seen other tiny shorts from this era, like Join the Circus, you already know how these things go. They aren't high art, but they have this weird, dusty charm you just can't replicate today.
Don't expect some grand masterpiece. Just enjoy Babe Ruth being a giant, friendly guy who just wants kids to enjoy baseball.