Nick has the football stuff well covered, but one thing you should know about me is that I’m a baseball fanatic! With another season full of broken records and broken hearts in the books, MLB rolled into its new-look playoffs this weekend. To celebrate the occasion I’ve compiled my 12 favorite baseball films, which is one for every team in this year’s playoffs.
So, if you’re like me and you never want baseball season to end, throw one of the following movies into the batter’s box (slot one into the on-deck circle while you’re at it), grab a hot dog and a cold one, and bask in the eternal summer of the great American pastime.
12. The Scout (1994)
You may be wondering what you are in for after this first pick, but I said these are my favorites; I didn’t say anything about them being the best. The Scout tells the story of major league scout Al Percolo (Albert Brooks) who is sent deep into Mexico to look for new talent when he stumbles across Steve Nebraska (Brendan Fraser) who throws 100+ MPH fastballs and hits 500+ foot home runs (eat your heart out Shohei Ohtani). But off of the diamond, Nebraska’s childlike personality may keep Percolo from cashing in on his once-in-a-lifetime find.
11. Cobb (1994)
Written and directed by the same man (Ron Shelton) who brought us a certain baseball film that may or may not appear later on this list, Cobb is a biographical film telling the story of one the most intriguing characters to ever lace up a pair of spikes, Ty Cobb. Not only was it a Shelton project, but it also starred one of my favorite actors at the time, Tommy Lee Jones portraying one of the most celebrated and most hated baseball players ever.
10. Eight Men Out (1988)
Eight Men Out unfolds the fascinating story of the Black Sox Scandal during the 1919 World Series where eight members of the Chicago White Sox purposefully threw the World Series in a conspiracy alongside gamblers and gangsters. The film did an excellent job at teaching seven-year-old me the consequences of cheating and also teaching us all how greed, mostly from White Sox owner Charles Comiskey, can ruin everything for everyone.
9. The Natural (1984)
Starring incredible talents like Robert Redford, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, and Robert Duvall, The Natural chronicles the life of the fictional Roy Hobbs (Redford) and his “Wonderboy” bat made from a tree that was struck by lightning after his father suffered a fatal heart attack next to it. This one has great twists and turns that made it one of the first films that I wanted to rewatch to pick up on the clues I had missed.
8. The Bad News Bears (1976)
One of the first films that I saw myself in as a young brat running around the diamond, The Bad News Bears stars the great Walter Matthau as an alcoholic pool cleaner who is recruited to coach a little league baseball team full of oddballs. Children behaving badly will always be entertaining. Even more so packaged in a baseball-themed movie.
7. Rookie of the Year (1993)
Released in the same year of a much more beloved kids’ baseball movie, Rookie of the Year spins the tale of young Henry Rowengartner who despite dreaming of one day being in the big leagues isn’t what you’d call exactly the cream of the baseball crop. That is until he breaks his arm and after it heals can suddenly throw a baseball 100+ MPH. Included in the film are probably the greatest arm tendon sound effects we’ll ever get and the line, “Funky butt lovin’” is a personal favorite.
6. Major League (1989)
For baseball comedies to work, the cast has to be almost perfectly assembled to fully gel together. Major League achieves this with names like Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Wesley Snipes, Dennis Haysbert, James Gammon, Bob Uecker, Rene Russo, and many others. Every cast member completely becomes their character with hilarious results and helps to give gut-busting life to what could’ve been just another underdog sports story.
5. Moneyball (2011)
The most recently released film on my list, Moneyball is considered by many to be near the top of all sports films and is one of the very few baseball movies that non-baseball fans share an affinity. The film recounts Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane’s use of analytics to build a baseball team on an extremely limited budget. Moneyball is one of the most awarded baseball films you’ll find (nominated for six Academy Awards) and also one of the most memed ones.
4. Field of Dreams (1989)
Now we’re getting into the films that shaped most of my childhood as a baseball nut and as a film lover. Coming in at #4 is maybe the only baseball film that I still can’t get through without crying like a rookie getting buckled by Sandy Koufax curveball. Field of Dreams has been selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, sparked an annual MLB game played in a cornfield, and undoubtedly saved quite a few father-son relationships. And it’s not even my favorite baseball film starring Kevin Costner. That honor belongs to…
3. Bull Durham (1988)
The other Ron Shelton-helmed film that I alluded to earlier is none other than what is probably the most quoted baseball movie among my age group, Bull Durham. Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins lead the way, but the film is also elevated by the great casting of its smaller characters. Shelton used his real-life experiences as a minor league baseball player to craft some of the funniest scenes and dialogue you’ll find in a sports film.
2. The Sandlot (1993)
Hands down my favorite coming-of-age sports film is The Sandlot. No other film of its ilk has done what it did with crossing generational boundaries for what it’s like growing up playing baseball, or any sport with neighborhood friends during the summer. Set in 1962, it could have easily been set in almost any decade and only a few props would need to change. Seriously, almost daily you’ll see someone wearing a t-shirt with a quote from this film. And last but certainly not least, my favorite baseball movie of all time is…
1. A League of Their Own (1992)
Yet another baseball film selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry, A League of Their Own hit me like a bucket of batting practice baseballs when it was released in 1992. Directed by the great Penny Marshall and slammed full of the juiciest characters ever to grace the diamond, it still remains my most memorable sports movie theater experience from way back when I was just ten years old. Tom Hanks and Geena Davis are the highlights, but everyone in the film clears the bases when given the spotlight. I watch it more than once a year and as I reach that climactic game, I still sit at the edge of my seat as if I don’t already know the final play’s outcome. A truly special film. How can you not be romantic about baseball?
Honorable Mentions
- The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
- Everybody Wants Some!! (2016)
- 42 (2013)
- Angels in the Outfield (1951 & 1994)
- Bang the Drum Slowly (1956 & 1973)