The Baseball Book Club discussion

Best baseball movies of all time?

Just one ?
Sandlot
Field of Dreams
The Natural
Bull Durham
League of their Own
Mike Linn
You pick one, that`s as close as I can get to one

Love it. Just wanted to get a thread going. Tough to choose just one.

And there are more. We did this already, but it`s been awhile and there are new people to hear from
Mike Linn

I always wanted to see the Iowa Baseball Confederacy made into a movie. That would be pretty out there...

The Natural
Field of Dreams
Pride of the Yankees
Eight men Out (regardless of our recent controversy)
Moneyball
Sandlot

Bad News Bears.

My favorite is The Natural.

I like Major League. Sure it has some cornball stuff, but I think it stood the test of time well. And the final baseball scene with Willie Mays Hayes scoring from second on a bunt is pretty good.

For pure fantasy and great '40s and '50s humor, you can't go wrong with "It Happens Every Spring." A nerdy college chemistry professor stumbles on a compound that repels wood. He sneaks it on baseballs and tries out for the St. Louis Cardinals as a pitcher--his pitches repel wood; no one can hit him! Great stuff.

I think Bob Uecker is hilarious in Major Leagues. Anyone remember the original Kill the Umpire with Wm. Bendix?
Also my favorite as a young kid- 10 or 11 was the original Kid from Left Field with Dan Dailey when an 11 year old becomes the manager of a MLB team

Yes, and wasn`t the nickname something like 2 call Johnson because of something with his eyes? Boy, that`s a long time ago
Mike Linn
P.S. That was Ray Milland as the perfessor

I seem to recall a really bad version of the Kid From Left Field in the '70s starring Gary (watchoo talkin' 'bout) Coleman.

I think we would all agree with Mike and Harold's lists--those are the unquestioned classics.

Angels in the Outfield was always a favorite of mine

I also love
Sandlot
The Rookie
Major League
A League of Their Own
Moneyball
42

I find that baseball movies that involve kids are the ones I enjoy best...back when we all dreamed of making the big leagues. My favorites in no particular order:

The Sandlot
Little Big League
Rookie of the Year
Bad News Bears 1976 version

For the adults...loved A League of their Own and 42

Lance wrote: "For the adults...loved A League of their Own and 42"

I was stunned by Alan Tudyk's performance in 42. I'm so used to seeing him play likeable characters, like in A Knight's Tale. I've never wanted to jump into the screen to punch a character so much before lol

Oh! And Trouble With the Curve, I really loved that one

Doug wrote: "I like Major League. Sure it has some cornball stuff, but I think it stood the test of time well. And the final baseball scene with Willie Mays Hayes scoring from second on a bunt is pretty good."

Love Major League.

In no particular order:

1) Major League
2) Bull Durham
3) Field of Dreams
4) The Natural
5) A League of Their Own
6) 42
7) Moneyball
8) For Love of the Game
9) The Sandlot
10) Trouble With the Curve

A topic that could be more fun to comment on. What are the worst baseball movies ever made?

1) Summer Catch
2) Fever Pitch (Although I do love Jimmy Fallon)
3) Major League 3
4) Bad News Bears (The new one)

Of course all just my opinion.

Ashley wrote: "Angels in the Outfield was always a favorite of mine

I also love
Sandlot
The Rookie
Major League
A League of Their Own
Moneyball
42"

I liked the original Angels in the outfield with Paul Douglas. Never saw the remake with Danny Glover

JD wrote: "A topic that could be more fun to comment on. What are the worst baseball movies ever made?

1) Summer Catch
2) Fever Pitch (Although I do love Jimmy Fallon)
3) Major League 3
4) Bad News Bears (T..."
Original and second babe Ruth story

Pretty much EVERY sequel
Mike Linn
P.S. I find it interesting that " BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY " doesn`t appear on anyone`s list. I`ve always felt it really wasn`t a true baseball movie. Whatcha think?

That's my feeling as well Mike. But it shouldn't be disqualified. Maybe it's because I thought Michael Moriarty lacked emotion in the film or that Deniro looked too scrawny to be a catcher. I can't put my finger on it but it wasn't anywhere near the equal of Brian's Song about Brian Picolo and Gayle Sayers.

Harold's and JD's list for worst movies are EXACTLY my picks.
For all-time worst, I would have to give the nod to John Goodman as an insanely fat and slovenly Babe Ruth--as I have said before, that movie was a crime against nature.

This doesn't count as a complete movie, but it doesn't get any better:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTcRR...

Slowly I turned. Step by step. I used to impersonate that scene in high school all the time

I also notice nobody mentioned "Mr Baseball" on either list. Clearly meant as a comedy, but also a culture-commentary on the early NPB-MLB wars of the late '80s / early '90s.

Was that the one with Tom Selleck trying to play in Japan? I believe that rates with the "worst" list if anything.

A lot of Japanese had/have mixed feelings about it. They are interested in the main Japanese actors (the manager and his daughter) primarily because they speak English well (Ken Takakura just died this past year). But they also despise it for making Japanese ball look foolish and antiquated.

What I don't get is why the movie has Magnum PI as a former Yankees player. Selleck looks much more comfortable in a Tigers hat.

Harold wrote: "Ashley wrote: "Angels in the Outfield was always a favorite of mine

I also love
Sandlot
The Rookie
Major League
A League of Their Own
Moneyball
42"

I liked the original Angels in the outfield w..."

I actually didn't know Angels was a remake! Now I want to see the original lol

You may find it dated and it's black and white but it's a sweet movie

Doug wrote: "Harold's and JD's list for worst movies are EXACTLY my picks.
For all-time worst, I would have to give the nod to John Goodman as an insanely fat and slovenly Babe Ruth--as I have said before, that..."

Classic!

Has anyone seen a movie call "Rhubarb" about a baseball team owning cat I believe. Apparently the late Leonard Nimoy had an uncredited role in it so I am now wondering what it is like.