the Heavenly Choir team shortly. Guffy also wins over Jennifer, and they plan to adopt young Bridget. Cast Paul Douglas as Guffy McGovern Janet Leigh as Jennifer Paige Keenan Wynn as Fred Bayles Lewis Stone as Arnold P. Hapgood Spring Byington as Sister Edwitha Bruce Bennett as Saul Hellman Marvin Kaplan as Timothy Durney Ellen Corby as Sister Veronica Donna Corcoran as Bridget White Jeff Richards as Dave Rothberg John Gallaudet as Reynolds King Donovan as McGee Don Haggerty as Rube Ronson Paul Salata as Tony Minelli Fred Graham as "Chunk" James Whitmore as Angel (voice) Judy Nugent as Margaret (uncredited) In addition, short cameos by people playing themselves are "interviewed" regarding the angels: Bing Crosby, at that time a part-owner (approximately 15%) of the Pirates; retired baseball Hall of Famer Ty Cobb; active player (later a Hall of Famer) Joe DiMaggio; and Hollywood songwriter Harry Ruby. Uncredited members of the real Pittsburgh Pirates, at that time, include Ralph Kiner (hitting a home run and playing first base), George Strickland, Ed Fitz Gerald and George Metkovich, as well as coaches Sam Narron and Lenny Levy. Production Development MGM originally purchased the story as a vehicle for Spencer Tracy, who was later replaced by Clark Gable. When Gable chose instead to make Lone Star, MGM attempted unsuccessfully to borrow James Cagney from Warner Brothers before settling on Paul Douglas. Two years earlier Douglas had played a catcher in another baseball comedy film, It Happens Every Spring. Although he had no background in baseball, Bruce Bennett (billed earlier in his career as "Herman Brix"), who portrays a veteran Pittsburgh pitcher, in real life had played football in the 1926 Rose Bowl and won a silver medal in the shot put at the 1928 Summer Olympics. Casting Three athletes, two former and one then-active, have credited roles in the film: Jeff Richards, who appears as Rothberg, had been a minor-league baseball player before becoming an actor; Fred Graham, who appears as "Chunk", had been a semi-pro ballplayer; and Paul Salata, who appears as Tony Minelli, played professional football from 1949 to 1953. Locations The film contains extensive baseball action shots, most of which were filmed at Forbes Field, the former home of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Steelers, demolished in 1971, the year after the Pirates and Steelers moved to Three Rivers Stadium. The opening credits acknowledge "the kind cooperation of the Pittsburgh 'Pirates'