Richard
10-27-2009, 08:24
Although I am not a huge fan of Major League Baseball, I do enjoy the minors and some of my favorite movies have baseball themes to them. To break the monotony of the on-going political debacles and economic downers, it might be fun to take a break and think of some of the baseball films which inspired or merely entertained us.
Mine include:
The Rookie (2002)
Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) once dreamed of becoming a big leaguer. But an injury to his pitching arm while playing in the minors forced Morris out of the game. Twelve years have passed and Morris, now coaching a last place high school baseball team. Seeing that Morris still has some juice left in his arm, his team makes a deal that forces Morris to try out for a Major League team. After throwing a 98mph fastball, the aging Morris is signed to a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays giving him a second shot at "the Show". The scenes of his debut in the majors at The Ballpark in Arlington are memorable.
Sandlot (1993)
Scotty Smalls is new to the neighborhood, but his lack of baseball talent is making it hard for Smalls to fit in. When Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez recruits Smalls to play with his neighborhood gang at a nearby sandlot, a whole new summer experience awaits. The pool scene where Squints bogarts a kiss from lifeguard Wendy "the hottest girl in town" Pepperkorn is an adolescent's dream scene.
Field of Dreams (1989)
Struggling Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) obeys a voice telling him to replace part of his cornfield with a baseball field. Soon thereafter Ray experiences the appearance of Shoeless Joe Jackson and seven other 1919 Chicago White Sox players. Ray continues to hear voices which leads him to a reclusive author to help him interpret the meaning of the messages and the field.
A League of Their Own (1992)
Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) has been hired to coach in the All-American Girls Baseball League of 1943 while the male pros are at war. Dugan, now a drunk has-been, unexpectedly discovers these girls can play ball! Now Dugans must manage the Rockford Peaches as they try to swing their way to a World Series title. This film is based on a true story.
Angels In The Outfield (1951)
Guffy McGovern, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager, is the most foulmouthed, hard-hearted manager in the league. To make matters worse his Pirates are in last place and trying to break a losing streak. McGovern begins to hear voices promising to help his team if he can clean up his act. However, a young orphan girl tells a reporter she sees angels helping out the Pirates, giving away McGovern's secret of success. Now can McGovern keep his temper in check long enough for the Pirates to win the pennant?
The Babe Ruth Story (1948)
Historically flawed, but William Bendix, who plays Ruth in this film, was a batboy for the New York Yankees at 15 years old while the real Babe Ruth was still playing for the Yanks. Ruth attended the premiere of this film but had to leave shortly after it started because of feeling so ill from the cancer he was fighting. Ruth died less than a month later.
Pride of the Yankees (1942)
The life of Lou Gehrig (Gary Cooper), famous NY Yankee first baseman who was nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for playing in 2,130 consecutive games. Gehrig eventually falls to a deadly nerve disease (ALS), which has since been name after him. This classic takes you from Gehrig's childhood in New York, through his playing days, to his famous 'Luckiest Man Alive' farewell speech in 1939.
Any others? :confused:
Richard's $.02 :munchin
Mine include:
The Rookie (2002)
Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) once dreamed of becoming a big leaguer. But an injury to his pitching arm while playing in the minors forced Morris out of the game. Twelve years have passed and Morris, now coaching a last place high school baseball team. Seeing that Morris still has some juice left in his arm, his team makes a deal that forces Morris to try out for a Major League team. After throwing a 98mph fastball, the aging Morris is signed to a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays giving him a second shot at "the Show". The scenes of his debut in the majors at The Ballpark in Arlington are memorable.
Sandlot (1993)
Scotty Smalls is new to the neighborhood, but his lack of baseball talent is making it hard for Smalls to fit in. When Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez recruits Smalls to play with his neighborhood gang at a nearby sandlot, a whole new summer experience awaits. The pool scene where Squints bogarts a kiss from lifeguard Wendy "the hottest girl in town" Pepperkorn is an adolescent's dream scene.
Field of Dreams (1989)
Struggling Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) obeys a voice telling him to replace part of his cornfield with a baseball field. Soon thereafter Ray experiences the appearance of Shoeless Joe Jackson and seven other 1919 Chicago White Sox players. Ray continues to hear voices which leads him to a reclusive author to help him interpret the meaning of the messages and the field.
A League of Their Own (1992)
Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks) has been hired to coach in the All-American Girls Baseball League of 1943 while the male pros are at war. Dugan, now a drunk has-been, unexpectedly discovers these girls can play ball! Now Dugans must manage the Rockford Peaches as they try to swing their way to a World Series title. This film is based on a true story.
Angels In The Outfield (1951)
Guffy McGovern, the Pittsburgh Pirates manager, is the most foulmouthed, hard-hearted manager in the league. To make matters worse his Pirates are in last place and trying to break a losing streak. McGovern begins to hear voices promising to help his team if he can clean up his act. However, a young orphan girl tells a reporter she sees angels helping out the Pirates, giving away McGovern's secret of success. Now can McGovern keep his temper in check long enough for the Pirates to win the pennant?
The Babe Ruth Story (1948)
Historically flawed, but William Bendix, who plays Ruth in this film, was a batboy for the New York Yankees at 15 years old while the real Babe Ruth was still playing for the Yanks. Ruth attended the premiere of this film but had to leave shortly after it started because of feeling so ill from the cancer he was fighting. Ruth died less than a month later.
Pride of the Yankees (1942)
The life of Lou Gehrig (Gary Cooper), famous NY Yankee first baseman who was nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for playing in 2,130 consecutive games. Gehrig eventually falls to a deadly nerve disease (ALS), which has since been name after him. This classic takes you from Gehrig's childhood in New York, through his playing days, to his famous 'Luckiest Man Alive' farewell speech in 1939.
Any others? :confused:
Richard's $.02 :munchin