With all the insanity taking place and baseball being put on hold, I figured now was a great opportunity to discuss some entertaining baseball movies. As a self-proclaimed baseball movie aficionado, I’ll share with you the top 15 movies about America’s pastime. Just sit back, relax, and grab some crackerjacks.
15. Mr. 3000 (2004): Watch the late great Bernie Mac as Stan Ross, a self-centered former star of the Milwaukee Brewers who immediately retired after hitting his 3000th hit during a playoff game. A decade later it’s discovered that three of his hits didn’t count, and he must return as an out of shape 47-year-old to get his last three hits back. He rediscovers his love for the game as he grows as a teammate and person. (Cincinnati Note: The Reds appear in the film as they play a game against the Stan Ross lead Brewers.)
14. Angels in the Outfield (1994): While this movie may not be suitable for some politically correct fans out there, Angels in the Outfield is a great family baseball movie. Its star-studded cast includes Danny Glover, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Matthew McConaughey, Christopher Lloyd, and Tony Danza. The film features a load of laughs and dares you to believe in something greater than yourself. As the movie says, “ya gotta believe.” (Cincinnati Note: Danny Glover’s charter is a former Reds catching legend turned manager who is looking for a new chance in Anaheim.)
13. Eight Men Out (1988): Before the Astros became the most hated team in MLB history, the Chicago “Black Sox” flipped the baseball world upside down with their alleged throwing of the 1919 World Series. The film Eight Men Out looks at the tale through the lens of the eight players, including baseball legends “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Eddie Cicotte, who ended up with life-time bans from baseball. The movie does a great job of examining the motives and reactions of the players involved. Watch and decide for yourself if the scandal was blown out of proportion. (Cincinnati Note: The Reds are seen in the film beating the White Sox to clinch Cincinnati’s first World Series Title. Which they would have done whether or not the White Sox cheated.)
12. Mr. Baseball (1992): I know what you’re thinking, but no, this is not a film about Hall of Fame announcer Bob Uecker. Though that would make an interesting movie, Mr. Baseball focuses on an aging Yankees star (Tom
Selleck) who is forced to play in Japan. Having lived in Japan and witnessed firsthand the magic and electricity that is Japanese baseball, this film has to make the list. Mr. Baseball truly captures the cultural differences between the two nations and the versions of the game they play. Plus, this is the safest way to see Japan these days. (Cincinnati Note: The Reds signed their first Japanese player this season. The film provides some insight into the values that Japanese baseball hold dear.)
11. Little Big League (1994): Just missing the top ten is a film full of laughs and great baseball trivia. Little Big League follows Billy Haywood, a young boy who inherits the Minnesota Twins when his grandfather passes away. Young Billy makes himself the manager and leads the Twins on a roller coaster ride that puts them in the pennant race. The movie has several great montage scenes, is family friendly, and deserves to be watched at least once. (Cincinnati Note: Though a Mariner, Reds great Ken Griffey Jr. makes a rather important appearance in the film.)
10. Rookie of the Year (1993): Much like Little Big League, Rookie of the Year is a family friendly film that’s about a young kid who gets a rocket arm after a freak accident. He is brought in to add some life to a fledgling Chicago Cubs team and ends up helping them advance to and win the World Series. The movie has many quotable scenes and will keep you laughing from start to finish. (Cincinnati Note: Not much of a connection, but the Reds and Cubs now play in the same division.)
9. The Rookie (2002): The Rookie tells the true story of Jim Morris, a high school science teacher/baseball coach who makes it to the MLB in his mid-30s.
The film captures your imagination and warms your heart as you realize that you’re never too old to dream. The Rookie is a must watch film, but have some tissues ready. (Cincinnati Note: The batter Jim Morris faces in his debut is former Red Royce Clayton.)
8. The Natural (1984): The film is based on the 1952 book by the same name and features stars like Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall, Kim Basinger, and Wilford Brimley. The story centers on Roy Hobbs (Redford) who was a on his way to the majors when a tragedy cut his dreams down. He returns many years later and displays a godlike power at the plate. The final baseball scene of the movie is perhaps the most magical in history, as Roy hits a towering home run and shatters the stadium lights. (Cincinnati Note: In an early scene in the movie, a Reds pennant can be seen on Roy’s wall.)
7. Major League (1989): The film takes home a special title as the best baseball comedy of all time. While not totally family friendly (learned that one the hard way), Major League is packed with adult comedy that will literally make you laugh out loud. The story centers on a hapless Cleveland Indians’ team, an impudent owner assembled with the hopes they would finish in last place. The film features zany charters like Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn (Charlie Sheen), Willie Mays Hays (Wesley Snipes), Pedro Cerrano (Dennis Haysbert) and announcer Harry Doyle (Bob Uecker). Major League was a big success that spawned two sequels (Major League II and Major League Back to the Minors) but I’d recommend sticking with the original. (Cincinnati Note: Though the film is about the other Ohio team, the real Reds won the 1990 World Series a year after the film debuted while neither the fictional nor actual Indians have accomplished that feat since 1948.)
6. 42 (2013): A great film that transcends sports and speaks to the heart of American culture and history. 42 tells the story of Jackie Robinson’s (Chadwick Boseman) breaking of MLB’s color barrier to become the first black major leaguer. While it shows a lot of baseball, the film focuses on Robinson’s resilience, the personal growth of his teammates, and the enlightenment of a nation. If you haven’t seen it yet, put it at the top of your to watch list. (Cincinnati Note: One of the most tumultuous scenes takes place at old Crosley Field, where the crowd heckles Robinson with racial slurs. The crowd is brought under control when Kentucky native, baseball great, and Robinson teammate Pee Wee Reese put his arm around Jackie showing support for him. It’s important to remember how much our society has grown thanks to great people like Jackie Robinson.)
5. A League of Their Own (1992): A League of Their Own tells the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that operated from 1943 to 1954. Much like 42, A League of Their Own is a great tale of breaking biases that shows the greatness of women and their ability to play a “man’s game.” Tom Hanks, Gina Davis, Madonna, and Rosie O’Donnell bring the film’s characters to life. The film also has one of the most memorable quotes with “there’s no crying in baseball.” As a father of daughters, I hope that this film inspires people everywhere and that we will see the gender barrier in sports broken soon. (Cincinnati Note: A League of Their Own show the first women’s professional baseball and the first professional baseball played anywhere occurred in Cincinnati in 1869.)
4. Sandlot (1993): Friends, smores, and the Great Bambino, what could be better? This classic tale tells the story of a young boy who moves to a new neighborhood and joins a group of baseball fanatics. Sandlot truly captures the joys of childhood while teaching you to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Sandlot features many great quotes including this gem, “Remember kid, there’s heroes and there’s legends: Heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart kid, and you can never go wrong.” So grab some friends, or maybe just Facetime, and watch Sandlot. (Cincinnati Note: Many younger fans don’t realize it, but the Reds and Dodgers used to be one of the biggest rivalries in baseball. One of Sandlot’s main characters, Benny “the Jet” Rodriguez, ends up playing for the Dodgers.)
3. Moneyball (2011): Moneyball is a true game changer that tells the story of the rise of sabermetrics in baseball through the 2002 Oakland Athletics. More than that, the film teaches about second chances, finding your calling, and how to be an effective leader. The cast features stars like Brad Pitt, Chris Pratt, and Jonah Hill. Moneyball shows us that hard work pays off and amazing things happen that defy logic. (Cincinnati Note: There are two Cincinnati connections in Moneyball. First, you can hear the voice of Hall of Famer and Reds Legend Marty Brennaman. Second, one of the main characters in Moneyball, Scott Hatteberg, played for the Reds after his time in Oakland.)
2. Bull Durham (1988): The perfect mix of drama and comedy, Bull Durham shows what life is like in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Bull Durham tells the story of journeyman catcher Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) who is brought in to groom air-headed rookie pitcher Nuke Laloosh (Tim Robbins) and they both find themselves in a love triangle with the infamous Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon). The film balances baseball with life lessons and has some of the funniest scenes you’ll ever see. Bull Durham teaches us that when one door closes, another door opens and we shouldn’t be afraid to start again. (Cincinnati Note: In the opening scene of Bull Durham, Annie Savoy mentions the worst trade in Reds history, which sent the legendary Frank Robinson to the Baltimore Orioles for short-lived Red, Milt Pappas.)
1. Field of Dreams(1989): Field of Dreams is a story for everyone, not just baseball lovers. The library of congress nominated Field of Dreams for preservation in 2017 for being culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant. The movie is based on the book Shoeless Joe Jackson and tells the tale of an Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) who listens to voices and builds a baseball field in the middle of his corn crop. The field’s mystical qualities allow the 1919 White Sox and others to return and play baseball again. As if that wasn’t awesome enough, the main theme of film is healing broken relationships. In the movie’s final scene, Ray is reunited with his deceased father on the field and the two of them mend their broken bond over a game of catch. Have some tissues ready for this one and be prepared to dream. (Cincinnati Note: Several old time Reds players are featured playing on the field in the movies later scenes.)
Honorable Mentions: Looking for more great baseball movies? Well here are some honorable mentions: 61, For the Love of the Game, Bang the Drum Slowly, The Pride of the Yankees, Summer Catch, Fever Pitch, Trouble with the Curve, Hardball, Benchwarmers, Million Dollar Arm, Cobb, The Battered Bastards of Baseball(a documentary but worth the watch).
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