Best baseball movie for kids

[Jesse]

My son is 5 and loves baseball. He recently saw a preview for Field of Dreams, and has been begging me to rent it, but I don't think he's quite ready for that one. Any suggestions?

[Williamsburg2599]

The Sandlot,hands down.Nothing really inapporite(sp) about that one,except one kissing scene.

[Jesse]

Thanks for reminding me. I saw that one years ago and I remember it being a lot of fun. I may try to rent it this weekend.

Anyone got any more?

[W_Marone]

I've got a couple......

Rookie of the year.....Kid breaks his arm, tendons heal tight, and he suddenly can throw 100+ miles per hour, and the he signs with the cubs.

Little Big League.....Kid's grandfather dies and leaves him the Minnesota Twins, the kid then decides to become manager of the twins and leads them to well....youll have to find that one out for yourself.:D

The Rookie....Dennis Quaid plays the teacher/baseball coach of Big Lake highschool's baseball team and then tries out for the Devil Rays and makes the team.


Thats all I can think of right now.

[Jesse]

I thought about The Rookie - great movie, but I don't think he's ready for that one yet either. I remember it being a little slow at times, and heavy on the drama...maybe in a couple years. The other two sound good though.

What about The Bad News Bears? Never seen it, but always wanted to. I guess now's my chance.

Can't wait 'til he's old enough to watch Bull Durham with me. :D

[Brian McKenna]

bad new bears (old and new) is inappropriate for children under 13 - racial slurs and such

sandlot is great for kids - probably #1

loved the rookie but kids like the stories about kids better - add adults and it gets more complicated and slower-paced for them - hence more boring

[Jesse]

bad new bears (old and new) is inappropriate for children under 13 - racial slurs and such
Thanks for the heads up. I'd heard that about the new one, but wasn't sure about the original. The Sandlot is definitely at the top of the list.

[Captain Cold Nose]

In the late 70's, or early 80's, Gary Coleman made a baseball film with Robert Guillame. I think it was called "The Kid from Left Field". Nice family film.

[Elvis]

"The Stratton Story" starring Jimmy Stewart. Great life lessons about overcoming adversity.

[Monster Mike]

Sandlot
Sandlot 2
Angels in the outfield
Rookie of the year.
The Disney movie with the dog Bud.

[Yankee Legend]

Probably rookie of the year and sandlot. I'ld pick Sandlot though. I'm sure your son will love the chewing tabacco scene. They cut that part out when it gets shown on tv.:(

[redbuck]

I think we're forgetting how good Angels in the Outfield is.

Sandlot is good. Sandlot 2 is bad. Rookie of the Year is good. Saw a movie several years ago called The Man in Left Field that was pretty good.

Field of Dreams could work too.

[Yankee Legend]

My favorite baseball quote of all time:

"Pitcher, pitcher, pitcher.....underwear sticher!!!"

-Rookie of the Year

[Jesse]

I recently saw Mickey - A Family Story by John Grisham (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00076YP0I/qid=1150073089/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/103-4496737-2411834?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130) and thought it was very good. Grisham is a baseball dad/LL coach and this movie is his tribute to youth baseball. Grisham obviously loves the sport and took painstaking care in making the baseball scenes (of which there are many) as authentic as possible. This was a movie by baseball dads for baseball dads, plain and simple. I loved it.:D

That said, the plot revolves around some heavy moral and ethical questions (lying, cheating, breaking the law, etc.), and the few comedic moments are subtle and understated, so it's not appropriate for younger kids who won't understand what's going on and may be turned off by the lack of slapstick humor. Aside from that it was a great flick and I highly recommend it.

[Seattle1]

Thanks for the heads up. I'd heard that about the new one, but wasn't sure about the original.

I think the original is a little less problematic than the recent remake. Walter Mathau is funny.

[Seattle1]

P.S. -- You should get him a book called "Little Lefty" once he's reading. Great story about a little league baseball player.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316141003/104-7727796-3865531?v=glance&n=283155

[Sluggerrr]

Matt Christopher books are good stuff. I think I still have about 40-50, just couldn't get enough of 'em.

[Sultan_1895-1948]

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[5LilPlayers]

Matt Christopher books are good stuff. I think I still have about 40-50, just couldn't get enough of 'em.

Couldn't agree more. I found one accidently at a sale (local library annual book sale for charity thing)...and then I ran to ALibris.com and got all of the Matt Christopher books I could find (real treat, since even a lot of new paperbacks there are only $2.95). And there are several, for different age groups.

I also love the Clair Bee books (baseball only for now, though I do want them all eventually) in the Chip Hilton series. They are all about the sport (24 books total, 9 on baseball, the others are divided between basketball and football), with some subtle training ideas, as well as a good message in them all (overcoming the bully, etc.). None of them would I deem offensive in any way (they follow Chip from high school to college), no language issues, the players going to college and finding "romance" isn't even all that detailed, mostly "She's my girlfriend" or joking about a team member liking a girl...nothing even remotely "in your face", sexually, about the relationships. They are long chapter books, around 200 pages, but I read them to my younger ones (5, 3, and 21 mos.) starting every spring doing a couple pages a night before bed, the two older children (10 and 7), of course, read them on their own.

Now, as for the OP's question of movies....all except the Disney one with the dog, Bud, do have some possible offensive language in them (generally mild). Give them the once over first. Even the best parent has slipped with that "Damn!" now and then...so it's really up to you as to what you deem "bad" for your son.

I do let mine watch Field of Dreams....I have it on DVD, and they all love it....however, even though I do have it on DVD, I taped it from TV to give them the editted version, which cuts out a lot of the language. I did this for them with A League of Their Own, too. Any "adult" oriented movies they want to watch...I tape from TV, watch myself...and if it's "not too bad"...they have their own videos of the movies I love.

Bad News Bears, past or "present"....I would recommend any baseball fan over 13 watch at some point. If you do rent it for your own viewing, don't forget all of them...Bad News Bears in Breaking Training...Bad News Bears Go to Japan, etc. There are...4 or 5 of them total (including the remake)...all have their funny moments...but definetely not "kiddie" movies.

Heck, even after the kids go to bed, sometimes I like to pull Sandlot and Sandlot 2 (with girls on the field, little stronger language, though) down to watch myself. Rookie of the Year is also one of my favorites. As well as Angels in the Outfield (newer version).

Okay, okay....I'm shuting up...now that I've written a novel myself. LOL

[Big_Mac]

Little Big League.....Kid's grandfather dies and leaves him the Minnesota Twins, the kid then decides to become manager of the twins and leads them to well....youll have to find that one out for yourself.:D

i forgot about this movie, its a good movie.

however, nothing tops angels in the outfield. i found it on tbs one night at 3 in the morning and watched it. classic movie.

[bhss89]

Bad New Bears with earmuffs.

[BigPapi34]

for a movie, Angels in the Outfield. For a good book, "the kid who only hit homers" by matt christopher

[Astro]

if he wants to watch Field of Dreams, why not just let him watch it?

[PullFactor]

Wait till he's 10 or 12, and show him The Rookie, and Mickey. A year or two after that, he should be comfortable watching 61.