Favorite Baseball Movie [Archive]

handyman11

02-10-2006, 06:46 PM

Nothing like Field of Dreams , for any player who ever had a catch with his father ,although the Natural is a classic .... if anyone needs to know the worst baseball movie of all time , go find 'Murder at the World Series' from 1977 ..... I had the privilege of playing one of the Oakland A's ( with 15 of my Houston summer league teammates ) along with the real Astros , and the movie turned out so bad , I could'nt even finish watching it !.....

wilkerson_rulz-06

02-10-2006, 07:10 PM

Field of dreams...Kevin Costner is awesome!:o
Eight men out...in my heart:o

Yankeebiscuitfan

02-10-2006, 07:22 PM

Two others I like very much are Fever Pitch and The Sandlot.

theAmazingMet

02-10-2006, 10:27 PM

The Natural!
5207
5208
5209

hellborn

02-10-2006, 10:31 PM

Bang the Drum Slowly, by a longshot.
Sandlot is great, and better if you're watching with kids.

runningshoes

02-10-2006, 10:42 PM

My favourite is Field of Dreams but I think my favourite could be a properly made movie of Babe Ruth's life.

theAmazingMet

02-10-2006, 10:47 PM

My favourite is Field of Dreams but I think my favourite could be a properly made movie of Babe Ruth's life.
Just rent Caligula and pretend he is the Babe.:laugh

wilkerson_rulz-06

02-11-2006, 07:24 AM

Two others I like very much are Fever Pitch and The Sandlot.
"Fever pitch"
Ha!:D

Gashouse6

02-11-2006, 03:07 PM

Has anyone seen Mickey? That is a pretty good movie. The ending is a little strange, though.

2007wschamps

02-11-2006, 05:10 PM

I just bought the Field of Dreams and The Sandlot DVD's last night , but I have to return The Sandlot, because when I went to take the disc out the case, it split in half on me. I was furious.

SABR Steve

02-11-2006, 05:14 PM

"Long Gone"

k2king

02-12-2006, 01:58 AM

Fever Pitch, '61 and Major League 2

brooklynboy

02-12-2006, 02:58 PM

The original "Major League"....Ueker alone is worth watching the movie

:clapping

Francoeurstein

02-12-2006, 03:16 PM

61 and Babe Ruth

soxfan49

02-12-2006, 07:59 PM

A League of Their Own, Field of Dreams, and The Sandlot.

the pyromaniac

02-14-2006, 09:45 PM

The original "Major League"....Ueker alone is worth watching the movie

:clapping

I too raise my glass to the original Major League! :clapping

Tigerfan1974

02-15-2006, 09:49 AM

Field of Dreams, no question.

A League of Their Own is a close second.

cavalier1968

02-17-2006, 11:15 PM

3...Field of dreams
2...The Natural....the ending still makes my eyes water
1...61.........wow

Cav

christian gentleman

02-18-2006, 09:16 AM

Bull Durham
Field of Dreams
Bang the Drum Slowly
The Natural
8 men out
the bad news bears
cobb

in no particular order.

Sberl

02-19-2006, 12:50 PM

My favourites:
Major League (how fun...the first baseball movie I've ever seen)
Bull Durham (great)
61 (I didn't know this movie until I watched on pay-tv...fantastic!)

I also saw Fever Pitch...funny! I have to rent Field of Dreams...many of you speak well about this movie!

crzblue

02-24-2006, 07:24 PM

In no order

Field of Dreams
The Pride of the Yankees
A League of their own
For the Love of the Game
Major League
Bad News Bear
It Happened every Spring
Bull Durham
The Natural
The Sandlot
the Stratton Story

moldyoldie

03-05-2006, 07:54 AM

Favorites in chronological order:

The Winning Team (1952) - Ronald Reagan and Doris Day. Story of Grover Cleveland Alexander's rise, descent, and redemption.

The Kid From Left Field (1953) - Dan Dailey and Anne Bancroft. One of the "guiltiest" of guilty pleasures.

Fear Strikes Out (1957) - Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden. Powerful story of Jimmy Piersall overcoming mental illness.

Tiger Town (1983) - Roy Scheider and Justin Henry. Made-for-TV movie that strikes close to home.

The Natural (1984) - Strange but intriguing interpretation of the Malamud book. Not entirely satisfying, though I always watch it when it's on.

Bull Durham (1988) - Lots of fun, great script!

Eight Men Out (1988) - Fine ensemble acting and direction, worthy of its subject matter.

Field of Dreams (1989) - A modern feature-length Twilight Zone episode that never fails to get to me.

Among others, Bang the Drum Slowly was too much like a Brian's Song of baseball. Cobb was too dark and morose. A League of Their Own was too "chicky". Angels in the Outfield was too "cheesy". 61 was ok. Other films touted by other posters are those I could take or leave.

Haven't seen For Love of the Game.

POLO GROUNDS 1957

03-05-2006, 08:57 AM

Tiger Town is a movie that i have not seen in years.it was filmed in detroit and tiger stadium.i wish it would be released on DVD soon.

moldyoldie

03-05-2006, 09:57 AM

Tiger Town is a movie that ...was filmed in detroit and tiger stadium.
I know; that's why it strikes close to home.;)

redbuck

03-05-2006, 08:22 PM

Field of Dreams would be, but after reading Kinsella's original version of Shoeless Joe, I see how much Hollywood ruined the book with all that hippie nonsense and incorrect information. They display an inaccurate depiction of joe and alter the pieces of the book that made it flow together so well. By the way, Moonlight Graham played in 1905, not 1923. You'd know if you read the book.

Anyway:

At http://sportparks.org/ (http://sportparks.org) I have a comparison of the 21 best baseball movies

ElCaminoSS

03-06-2006, 12:10 AM

Please.....please.....lay off the Favorite baseball threads

vasprtsfn

03-12-2006, 12:48 PM

Eight Men Out. Honorable mention for me would be Fever Pitch and the Major League Trilogy.

RedSoxVT92

03-12-2006, 01:13 PM

The Natural is the best. Great movie.

Gashouse6

03-12-2006, 02:39 PM

I just watched The Pride of the Yankees. It was a great movie about Gehrig.

FrenchyLefebvre

03-14-2006, 10:35 PM

Sandlot
Pride of the Yankees
Major League

Honest, true story:
Wesley Snipes was filming "Drop Zone" down in Key Largo in March-April, 1994 and, during filming, was staying in a home in the community where I -- as well as the recently widowed Barbara Jacobs (as in Field) - lived. I was spontaneously invited to the "wrap up party" at this home (by somebody else involved with the film).

So I promptly chewed Wesley out for not being in the (upcoming) "Major League 2".

Making a long story short: Later, we're standing on the back lawn ... I look to the left (right there along the canal/boat docks) and realize/remember just who's living in the corner white home --DIRECTLY next to the property which we are having a conversation on!
When I told him who lived there (Mrs. Jacobs), pointing at the house, he wouldn't believe it -- thought I was pulling his leg. I told him to go knock, say "HI" ... she was home, as I'd seen her that day (winters there). Plus, her lights were on.
Eventually convinced him, though. Somebody went & looked at the mailbox.
Talk about ODDS!

Astro

04-06-2006, 09:17 PM

1. 61*
2. Eight Men Out
3. Field of Dreams

Honorable Mentions: Bull Durham and Cobb

BadKarma

04-07-2006, 05:05 AM

Pride of the Yankees, The Natural, Cobb, and Bang the Drum Slowly are among my favorites.

Trot2millah

04-07-2006, 08:36 AM

Both Sandlots (You're killin me Smalls!;) ) and Field of Dreams. The new Bad New Bears is kinda funny though.

Yankeebiscuitfan

04-07-2006, 12:02 PM

Both Sandlots (You're killin me Smalls!;) ) and Field of Dreams. The new Bad New Bears is kinda funny though.

Two Sandlots? I only know the version where the new kid in town gets into trouble after playing ball with a ball signed by Babe Ruth.

What is the second one about and what is the exact name?

Captain Cold Nose

04-07-2006, 12:12 PM

Two Sandlots? I only know the version where the new kid in town gets into trouble after playing ball with a ball signed by Babe Ruth.

What is the second one about and what is the exact name?
The other one was direct to video, released last summer.
The new kid in town learns baseball, and this time there are girls on the team. Another dog, and a rocket model, and the new kid kept talking about the best boy player and best girl player and himself as if the three of them were all part of something no one else understood.
I don't know,it didn't do it for me. Nowhere near the charm of the original. It's called Sandlot 2.

Yankeebiscuitfan

04-07-2006, 01:22 PM

The other one was direct to video, released last summer.
The new kid in town learns baseball, and this time there are girls on the team. Another dog, and a rocket model, and the new kid kept talking about the best boy player and best girl player and himself as if the three of them were all part of something no one else understood.
I don't know,it didn't do it for me. Nowhere near the charm of the original. It's called Sandlot 2.

OK. Thanks for the info.

runningshoes

04-07-2006, 01:23 PM

I have an article from the New York Times about Moonlight Graham is anyone wants to read it, I'll put it up.

Yankeebiscuitfan

04-07-2006, 01:32 PM

I have an article from the New York Times about Moonlight Graham is anyone wants to read it, I'll put it up.

Did they make a movie about him? Is it a spin off of Field of Dreams?

runningshoes

04-07-2006, 01:34 PM

Did they make a movie about him? Is it a spin off of Field of Dreams?

No..it's an article from 1905.

If you want to see it, I have to take a screen shot of it..just give me the nay or yay. :D

Yankeebiscuitfan

04-07-2006, 01:40 PM

No..it's an article from 1905.

If you want to see it, I have to take a screen shot of it..just give me the nay or yay. :D

I vote YAY!

runningshoes

04-07-2006, 01:41 PM

I vote YAY!

Give me a few.

Yankeebiscuitfan

04-07-2006, 01:43 PM

Give me a few.

Dollars? Marbles? :crazy

Thanks man. I really appreciate it.

runningshoes

04-07-2006, 01:46 PM

March 28, 1905

runningshoes

04-07-2006, 01:48 PM

Dollars? Marbles? :crazy

Thanks man. I really appreciate it.

Dollars would be nice. :hp

Yankeebiscuitfan

04-07-2006, 01:58 PM

Nice article. I didn't know he was already a doctor then.

I'll send you some Singapore Dollars...;)

runningshoes

04-07-2006, 02:07 PM

Nice article. I didn't know he was already a doctor then.

I'll send you some Singapore Dollars...;)

That's ok..I'll settle for Pesos. :D

runningshoes

04-07-2006, 02:09 PM

Nice article. I didn't know he was already a doctor then.

He was just studying at that point.

That's how he got his nickname "Moonlight."

He was playing ball and studying at the same time.

He didn't actually get his license until 1909.

And he played two innings in that game in 1905. He was on-deck for the final out of the game so he came so close to getting to the plate.

yazfan88

04-11-2006, 10:38 AM

1. Field of Dreams - James Earl Jones' speech - "It's Baseball, Ray" - is the best soliloquy ever!!!

2. The Natural - This gives all of us older guys hope of playing in the Majors.

3. Eight Men Out - A huge piece of baseball history. It changed the face of the game.

4. A League of Their Own - Tom Hanks in one of his best roles. Also an up-to-then forgotten piece of important baseball history.

Schaddy

04-11-2006, 12:45 PM

I've got to go with Field of Dreams. Classic film, great story, terrific acting. Not only one of my all time favorite sports movies, but one of my favorite films of any genre.

I can't believe I almost forgot to mention Major League, too. Awesome, awesome movie.

che13

04-23-2006, 07:11 PM

Bull Durham
Field of Dreams
Bang the Drum Slowly
The Natural
8 men out
the bad news bears
cobb

in no particular order.

I am disappointed Bull Durham wasn't mentioned till page 2. :(

cardsball6

04-24-2006, 02:36 AM

All baseball movies are good, if you're a baseball fan, except most of the keanu reeves film.......... But aren't you all guys forgetting Bull Durham, the most realistic baseball film ever?????????? Thats all Ive got!

cardsball6

04-24-2006, 02:37 AM

ZR56664

04-24-2006, 03:00 PM

I'm from Iowa so it's gotta be Field of Dreams. The Rookie was good too.

Gee Walker

04-24-2006, 08:30 PM

I've always enjoyed "The Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars and Motor Kings". A great cast - Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones, Richard Pryor, doing a story about a barnstorming team in the 40's. Nice mix of funny moments and a touching story.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned "Damn Yankees". Every kid's fantasy comes to life - you get to take your miserable home team to the World Series. It will only cost you your soul...

Some great songs - "You gotta have heart" and "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets".

W_Marone

04-24-2006, 08:39 PM

My favorite Baseball movies:

1.61*

2. Major League, great fun

3. A league of their own, didnt even know women played baseball in leauges before i saw that movie

4. Sandlot, good ol' kids with the baby ruth ball

honorable mention: Eight men out and Field of dreams, I'm only 18 so i got to love the more recent ones.

RGreener26

04-24-2006, 10:44 PM

Field of Dreams comes close, but I always find myself watching The Sandlot over and over again. It marks the beginning of the summer for me. Although I played baseball my entire life and was really good at it from a young age, I never loved it and played it with a passion until I was in my later high school years. Can't say why, but for some reason I just got more joy playing a game of basketball. So now that I am older, every now and then I just stop and think about what it would have been like loving the game at a younger age and playing with my friends everyday of the summer. The Sandlot helps fill that void every time I watch it by pretending I was the kid who moved to the new town I guess.

Bill Burgess

04-24-2006, 10:47 PM

Here are some of my favorite classic baseball movies. Listed chronologically, not in order of preference.

1. It Happens Every Spring - 1949 - Ray Milland, professor who discovers wood-repellent substance. Ball jumps around the bat.

2. The Winning Team - 1952 - Ronald Reagan played Pete Alexander.

3. Damn Yankees - 1958 - Ray Walston (My Favorite Martian fame) - Tab Hunter. Gwen Verdon does Bob Fosse choreography (Whatever Lola Wants tango routine). Fosse also made a cameo appearance in dance routine. Music score was outstanding.

4. The Natural - 1984 - Robert Redford as aging rookie sensation. Glenn Close does nice girl, Barbara Hershey does dark enigma, Kim Basinger is "wrong girl" who is easy on the eyes.

5. Field of Dreams - 1989 - Kevin Costner gets unique chance to reunite with his Dad. Fantasy had heart.

6. Talent For the Game - 1991 - Edward James Olmos plays a BB scout who finds a great pitching prospect, but must become personally involved.

7. A League of Their Own - 1992 - Geena Davis played composite player, Dottie Hinson. Tom Hanks, Madonna, Lori Petty, Jon Lovitz, Rosie O'Donnell support well.

8. Soul of the Game - 1996 - Delroy Lindo, Mykelti Williamson play HBO film's Satchel Paige/Josh Gibson. Good pathos. Had heart.

9. For Love of the Game - 2000 - Kevin Costner is back in uniform.

10. The Rookie - 2002 - Dennis Quaid plays a HS coach with a 100 mph fastball, giving it one more shot, if his HS team cops league title.

Honorable Mentions: Pride of the Yankees - 1942 - Gary Cooper plays Lou Gehrig, Teresa Wright was pretty wife Eleanor, Walter Brennan, Dan Duryea supported well, Babe played himself, as did Bill Dickey, Bob Meusel, and Mark Koenig. Sports announcer Bill Stern played himself.

TonyK

04-24-2006, 11:55 PM

He was just studying at that point.

That's how he got his nickname "Moonlight."

He was playing ball and studying at the same time.

He didn't actually get his license until 1909.

And he played two innings in that game in 1905. He was on-deck for the final out of the game so he came so close to getting to the plate.

He was also called Doc when he played with Scranton in 1906 and won the batting championship. A story I love about him is he won $200 in a 100 yard dash against some famous sprinter, and he used the money to travel to Europe to study medicine that winter.

Mr. Boh

04-28-2006, 07:27 AM

There have been so many good ones over the years, here is my Top 10

10. Bingo Long & The Traveling All-Stars
9. Damn Yankees
8. Eight Men Out
7. Angels in the Outfield--1951 version
6.Pride of the Yankees
5.Field of Dreams
4. Bad News Bears--1976 version
3. Fear Strikes Out
2. Bull Durham
1. The Natural

Others of note...

Soul of the Game
Brewster's Millions
Safe at Home
Naked Gun--Reggie must kill the queen
And Ken Burns, Baseball PBS Series

JohnGelnarFan

04-28-2006, 01:20 PM

"It Happens Every Spring" was a funny movie but hearing the name makes me shudder. In High School,during batting practice one day,our coach yelled at me that I hit like the players in....shudder....."It Happens Every Spring". Inspirational guy :rolleyes:

An underrated classic by most modern fans is "It Happens Every Spring".

BosoxTony

05-04-2006, 08:16 PM

It Happens every Spring: Ray Milland, Paul Douglas as his catcher and roommate and Alan Hale Jr. as one of the players at the college.

Angeles in the Outfield: Paul Douglas as the Manager of the hapless Pirates, Keenan Wynn as the Radio announcer, Bruce Bennet as the aging pitcher and Janet Leigh as the Social Worker.

The Kid From Left Field: Dan Durea as the former Buffalo Bison star, Billy Chapin as his son, Loyd Bridges as the aging star and Anne Bancroft as the love interest.

The Winning team: Ronald Reagan as Grover Cleveland Alexander (old pete), Doris Day as his wife, and Frank Lovejoy as second baseman and player-manager Honus Wagner.

The Babe Ruth Story: William Bendix (life of riley radio and tv fame) takes a turn as the Bambino.

And that episode of Little House on the Prarie, when Mr. Edwards caught the old guy who threw rocks at the crows and the beat that traveling team.

JohnGelnarFan

05-17-2006, 03:26 PM

I watched "The Natural" last night and noticed some familiar names in the credits.

Baseball technical advisor - Richard Cerone (The catcher?)
Knights Player - Phillip Mankowski (Former Tigers Infielder)
Pittsburgh Manager- Sibby Sisti (Boston Braves Infielder)

Did I leave anyone out?

The Natural!
5207
5208
5209

Astros4Life

05-17-2006, 09:39 PM

The original "Major League"....Ueker alone is worth watching the movie

:clapping

tomorrow is old timers night, anyone who was alive the last time the indians won the pennant gets in half price.

BaseballHistoryNut

05-18-2006, 01:15 AM

I have a two-way tie for first. This will tell y'all I'm a sucker for emotional movies:

#1a. Pride of the Yankees--picked as "1a" because this movie features the only actor to date who has done a credible job of depicting Babe Ruth.

#1b. The Natural.

ACrank

05-18-2006, 07:52 AM

tomorrow is old timers night, anyone who was alive the last time the indians won the pennant gets in half price.

Since i would think there were many 9 year old fans attending, most of the crowd must have gotten in for half price....

(note if you are going to joke about the Indians at least get the joke right? thanks....)

redbuck

05-18-2006, 09:39 AM

Eight Men Out. Honorable mention for me would be Fever Pitch and the Major League Trilogy.

I thought Fever Pitch was absolutely terrible.

Alibi Ike

05-18-2006, 09:54 AM

I saw it mentioned once above, but Long Gone is an oft-ignored classic. Now I have the song from the credits or whenever stuck in my head.

I have watched the Natural and Field of Dreams a billion times each, but I can't tell if I like them because they're baseball movies or for the elements of the movies that transcend baseball (probably both).

Even though it is really only a horrid chick flick with no baseball, I will watch Summer Catch any time it is on because Jessica Biel is that hot.

I am probably in the very small minority here, but I can't stand Bull Durham. I think I have an aversion to Surandon, Robbins, and the corny lines or something. I don't know. The only redeeming factor of that movie for me is that meeting on the mound.

PopTop

05-18-2006, 11:01 AM

I saw it mentioned once above, but Long Gone is an oft-ignored classic. Amen, brother!

lamearm

05-19-2006, 10:40 AM

skeletor

05-19-2006, 03:34 PM

In no particular order: The Natural, 8 Men Out, Bang the Drum Slowly, Damn Yankees, League of Their Own, Sandlot, Fear Strikes Out, Bingo Long. Note the absence of the all too saccrine Field of Dreams..

so many good ones..and a few clunkers as well...

bull durham, *61, Long Gone, and FOR Love of the game...

worst ? John Goodman as the BABE...