In honor of opening week in baseball, I decided to rank my top ten favorite baseball movies. When I was doing a little research, I discovered that Hollywood has made more than 50 films about baseball. Some are total crap, but some or awesome. Below are my favorite baseball movies, let us know what you think.
10. Rookie of the Year (1993)
Ok, ok, I know this isn’t that a good a movie, but something about a freak accident giving a kid the ability to play in the pros that makes me wish it was true and it was me.
9. Bad News Bears (1976)
The classic, with Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal, is the original story about losers and oddballs winning the big game.
8. Major League (1989)
According to most baseball players, Charlie Sheen gives the most realistic pitch delivery of all actors playing pitchers. Hard to believe for a movie that is more memorable for Willy Mays Hayes, the voodoo believing Cerrano, and that pin-up the Indians undress with every win.
7. Pride of the Yankees (1942)
An old school telling of Lou Gerig that’s still draws the tears.
6. The Rookie (2002)
One in the long line of Disney movies about great sports stories, but still good. You’ll be so happy when Jim Morris makes it.
5. The Sandlot (1993)
“You’re killin’ me Smalls!” What’s better than playing ball with the neighbor kids?
4. A League of Their Own (1992)
“What…. Are you crying? There’s no crying! There’s no crying in baseball!”
3. The Natural (1984)
What’s more classic than the imagery in this one? In particular, I like when Hobbs actually knocks the leather off the ball.
2. Field of Dreams (1989)
This one’s pretty self explanatory. Who’s done more baseball movies than Costner? He’s in the next one too.
1. Bull Durham (1988)
All the baseball movies out there just seem to focus on either little kids or the big leagues, but nothing in between. This is a great story about what it’s like to play in the minors and you’ll appreciate how hard it is to make the show. It also paints a good picture into fandom and pitcher/catcher relationships.
2 comments:
The Sandlot is definitely up there on my favorite movies of all time let alone baseball movies of all time. It's all about the story of the Beast ("For-EV-er... for-EV-er!")
Great list, Ped. :)
Charlie Sheen's delivery was definitely better than Tim Robbins's in Bull Durham. (BTW: Bull Durham is my favorite sports movie of all time, and in my top 3 along with "Grosse Point Blank" and "The Shawshank Redemption." Why is Tim Robbins in two of my top 3? Because he's tall, and tall boys make Rachel Meyer's heart palpitate, and whenever Rachel Meyer gets excited my sphincter puckers just a little bit.)
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