Okay, so there’s no such thing as a movie being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame…not that I wouldn’t try if I had the connections. Until we figure out how to make that happen, we’re just going to create our own little Baseball Movie Hall of Fame. Abbott and Costello are officially Hall of Famers because of their famous “Who’s on First?” skit, so putting a movie in the Hall of Fame shouldn’t be a lost cause…right?
Anyway, the World Series is coming up soon, so I thought we should go over the best movies about our nation’s pastime. I decided to pick a team of nine strong players, one movie per inning (insert rimshot here). I know the Baseball Hall of Fame has a section committed to movies, but since I’ve never been, I thought I’d create my own Baseball Movie Hall of Fame. In no particular order:
Field of Dreams (1989)
I firmly believe Field of Dreams is simply the best baseball movie of all time, in addition to being an all-around great movie. You can’t go wrong with Kevin Costner plowing under his corn to build a baseball diamond, Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe Jackson, and James Earl Jones…in any capacity!
Moneyball (2011)
Moneyball sets itself apart from other baseball movies because it pulls back the curtain (Wizard of Oz, anyone?), to peek into the realm of team management. Brad Pitt stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland Athletics, and the viewer gets to watch him put together the team that broke the winning streak record in 2002. Beane’s unconventional methods and philosophies as portrayed in the film are certainly worth a good laugh.
42 (2013)
42 chronicles the upbringing of one of the best baseball heroes of all time: Jackie Robinson. It was difficult to watch due to the racism Robinson faced in his rookie year with the Brooklyn Dodgers, but it is refreshing to see him shut up his haters with nearly every swing of his bat.
The Natural (1984)
Robert Redford is awesome in this story of a middle-aged man who gets back into the game of baseball. He joins a losing team in the 1930s and turns the team around with his talent. You can feel the filmmakers’ thorough appreciation of the game itself, and the compelling story can’t be beaten.
The Sandlot (1993)
This is one of those movies that takes me back to my childhood years. Watching these kids play baseball is very reminiscent of my baseball experiences growing up. It’s also one of the most quotable movies I’ve ever seen. “You’re killing me, Smalls!” And again…James Earl Jones. The man can do no wrong.
A League of Their Own (1992)
Another unique addition, A League of Their Own is about the women’s baseball league that sprang up during World War II. Tom Hanks is entertaining as a washed-up former MLB player, who gets stuck managing the Rockford Peaches. He also delivers one of the most memorable lines in movie history: “There’s no crying in baseball!”
Rookie of the Year (1993)
Rookie of the Year is another of my childhood favorites, in which a 12-year-old becomes the star relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. There is no shortage of hilarity in this film, and you can’t go wrong with Daniel Stern (who also directed the film) as the eccentric pitching coach.
Angels in the Outfield (1994)
The early nineties produced a wealth of great baseball movies. Being a die-hard Seattle Mariners fan, though, Angels in the Outfield is the only time you’ll ever catch me rooting for the Angels. But there’s just so much to love about this film – slapstick comedy, heartfelt moments, and everything in between. Christopher Lloyd is perfect as Al, the chief angel who guides the angels to help…well…the Angels.
For Love of the Game (1999)
Lastly, we have another Kevin Costner baseball film (you’d think he was a baseball fan or something), in which he plays a veteran pitcher for the Detroit Tigers who is pitching a game against the Yankees on their turf. The movie goes back and forth from his pitching (nearing a perfect game, mind you) to flashbacks of his relationship with his girlfriend Jane (Kelly Preston). This is a fun one to watch, especially because Vin Scully, longtime Dodgers announcer, actually provided the commentary for this game. He is still truly missed.
Happy watching!
The Top 10 Movies to Score a Touchdown - Ryan's Movie Corner
[…] The Super Bowl is almost here and it is always a fun time for me. I always watch the big game regardless of who is playing. It is also a good time for me to talk more about football to my friends who share the same passion. Once the Super Bowl is over, then football talk gets put on hold until next season. Baseball rolls in about that time, which is another great passion for me. You can read about my picks for the best baseball movies right here. […]