Writer:	Ken Levine, David Isaacs
Director:	Mark Kirkland
Star:	Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson, Grampa Simpson, Barney Gumble, Krusty the Clown, Groundskeeper Willie, and others),  Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Waylon Smithers, Kent Brockman, and others),  Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson, Patty Bouvier, and Selma Bouvier),  Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson),  Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, Todd Flanders, and others)
Recurring Role:	Hank Azaria (Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Lou, and others),  Pamela Hayden (Milhouse Van Houten, Rod Flanders, Jimbo Jones, and others)
Guest Star:	Ken Levine (Dan Horde),  Daryl L. Coley ("Bleeding Gums" Murphy),  Tom Poston (Capital City Goofball),  Tony Bennett (Himself)

The story telling sequences inside Moe's tavern were not originally planned as part of the episode and were added late in production. This is why the actual dialogue does not match up with the lip movements in these scenes. (edit) This is the first episode to have a guest star play as their real self. The guest star being Tony Bennett. Bennett also makes an appearance in episode 14-3, "Bart vs. Lisa vs. the Third Grade." (edit) Writer Ken Levine used to be a minor league baseball announcer, and not only wrote the dialog, but voiced the commentators you hear in the episode. (edit) First Appearance: Springfield Isotopes, Capital City, Capital City Goofball, and The Rich Texan. (edit) Blackboard Joke: I will not trade pants with others.
Couch Gag: They all fit, with Maggie poking out of Marge's hairdo. (edit)

Homer: As my son would say, I'm one sad ape-like dude. (edit) Homer: I have to convince my supervisor to give me a leave of absence.
Supervisor: Sure! How long would you like, four years? Five years! (edit) Man: Get on the bus, Dancin' Homer!
Homer: Will you shut up, I'm trying to think of a name! (edit) Homer: D'oh, Marge, sitting next to the boss! The best night of the year and it's ruined!
Marge: All this means is you can't wave your fanny around in public.
Homer: Oh, yeah, rub it in! (edit) Employee: You're an inspiration to all of us in waste management, sir.
Mr. Burns: Well, take your mind off contaminants for one night and have a hot dog! (edit)

Capital City has restaurants named "The Penny Loafer" (shaped like a penny loafer), and The "Original Frenchies". (edit) Signs on the outfield wall at Springfield War Memorial Stadium include: "Royal Majesty-Clothing For the Obese or gangley Gentleman", Moe's tavern-Hit This Sign and Win a Free Well Drink", "Girdles 'N Such-Fancy Lingerie", "The Sprinfield Mall", and "The Jerky Hut". (edit) Sign seen at Springfield Stadium:
$pringfield $avings
Safe From
1890-1986
1988- (edit) During the Capital City montage, the Army Reserve is honored by a statue of a soldier holding a briefcase and a rifle with the caption, "To the Brave Men of the Army Reserve." (edit) Goof: During the end of the Capital City montage, Marge's dress turns from green to red and her necklace turns from red to white. (edit)

The Phillie Phanatic:

The Capitol City Goofball is a spoof of this Philadephia Phillies mascot. (edit) Lisa: Whatever doesn't kill me can only make me stronger!
Although it is a familiar adage, this phrase had been recently re-popularized in the 1989 film Steel Magnolias by Olympia Dukakis' character, who uttered a very similar line. (edit) Baseball Broadcaster: The Isotopes win a game! The Isotopes win a game!
This is a reference to the famous, "The Shot Heard 'Round The World" radio call of the deciding game of the 1951 National League Pennant Playoff series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants. The line was cried out by Giants broadcaster Russ Hodges, after Bobby Thomson's walk-off home run. (edit) New York, New York
The "Capital City" song by Tony Bennett, is a bit of a parody of the Frank Sinatra song, "New York, New York." (edit) Homer: But today, as I leave for Capital City, I consider myself the luckiest mascot on the face of the earth.
Homer's farewell speech pays homage to Lou Gehrig's infamous farewell speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4th, 1939. Lou Gehrig had been diagnosed with ALS or, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and was forced to retire from professional baseball. (edit)