Task: Story Composition
Input (English): Fact1: Stan Ross is franchise player of Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, Fact2: Brewers retire Ross number, Fact3: top Brewers executive citing large attendance at agrees to bring Ross back during September roster expansion Ross number retirement ceremony and fact, Fact4: team 's know of Ross as self-centered player, Fact5: Manager Gus Panas refuses to speak to Ross because of abrupt retirement
Output (English): Stan Ross is the franchise player of the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team. After recording his 3,000th hit, the selfish, narcissistic Ross immediately retires, leaving the team without one of its star players in the middle of the 1995 playoff race, showing every bit of disregard for his teammates feelings. During the next nine years, Ross uses his nickname as a business tool, owning several profitable properties under the name Mr. 3000 that make him increasingly wealthy. In 2004, the Brewers retire Ross number so they can get rid of Ross for good, and also draw a large crowd. Although many fans come to the ceremony, other players, including teammates and fellow stars Robin Yount, Cecil Cooper, and Paul Molitor, stay away. Only his best friend Anthony Boca Carter and a middle relief pitcher from his early days in the majors named Bill Big Horse Berelli attend, and the expitcher chastises Ross for his arrogant attitude. Ross learns that, due to a clerical error, he retired with 2,997 hits instead of 3,000. The error also partially contributes to Ross not being voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and makes his Mr. 3000 marketing gimmick inaccurate. Ross seeks to return to the game at the age of 47 to get three more hits, secure his place in the record books, and keep his local postcareer marketing gimmick intact. A top Brewers executive, citing the large attendance at Ross number retirement ceremony and the fact that the Brewers are out of playoff contention, agrees to bring Ross back during the September roster expansion. The teams younger players only know of Ross as a selfcentered player, and team superstar Rex TRex Pennebaker, who is pompous and arrogant like Ross, sees him as unneeded and too old to play. Manager Gus Panas refuses to speak to Ross because of his abrupt retirement, and the sportswriters continually criticize him. Despite his predictions to the contrary Ross struggles to regain his baseball form. He goes hitless in his first 27 atbats. His comeback is reported by television sportscaster Maureen Mo Simmons, who resumes a former romantic relationship with Ross. He gets two hits, including a home run, to increase his career total to 2,999. Ross becomes a mentor to the younger players and urges Pennebaker to learn from his own mistakes as a baseball star and to be a team player, so that Pennebaker will not end up like him – all alone. This inspires the Brewers to a lateseason comeback and a respectable finish. Ross attempts to become serious with Simmons and make her a permanent part of his life, but she is reluctant to believe he is a changed man, particularly after he skips a team practice to go on national television with Jay Leno and begin boasting again. In his last atbat of the season, with a chance to be a hero, Ross has a vision of his earlier years, when he was considered always dependable for the team. It inspires him to sacrifice his last chance with a bunt instead so the team can win a game and finish third in its division. Although Ross never reaches the 3,000 milestone, his newfound generosity and attitude gets him inducted into the Hall of Fame. He renames his businesses Mr. 2,999.