When the record book closed on Boston Red Sox outfielder Jimmy Piersall's career, it showed 17 seasons in the major leagues and an impressive lifetime batting average of .272. But before he racked up those numbers, Piersall faced a foe much tougher that a 90-m.p.h. fastball: mental illness. Anthony Perkins stars as Piersall in this powerful true story. Fear Strikes Out also marks the filmmaking debut of Alan J. Pakula and Robert Mulligan, the team whose credits include To Kill A Mockingbird. From top to bottom, the film fields a stellar lineup of talent. And the result is a drama of unflinching force and effectiveness.