Greatest Baseball Movies of All-Time

by The Deacon on Mar 6, 2008 8:49 AM CST Comment 28 comments

After reading Rob Neyer's Blog the other day on the greatest baseball movies of all time, he talked about how he had never seen "Major League" through its entirety but wouldnt put it on his own top 10. Personally, i think that movie is THE best baseball movie of all time. He compares this list:

Field of Dreams
Bull Durham
Major League
The Natural
A League of Their Own
Pride of the Yankees
The Sandlot
61*
Little Big League
The Bad News Bears

compiled by CLTV

And then posts his own:

Bull Durham
Eight Men Out
The Bad News Bears
Fever Pitch
The Natural
The Sandlot
61*
Pride of the Yankees
A League of Their Own
Babe Ruth

I really dont see how you can put "Fever Pitch" in the top 10 baseball movies of all time.

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The Sandlot

is also another great baseball movie, i would probably have that #2 or #3 along with Field of Dreams. I think mostly everyone can relate to the story of the sandlot somehow, with either a forbidden yard to play in, summers doing nothing but playing baseball with your friends, or even teaching the "bad" kid how to play ball.

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Mar 6, 2008 8:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Field of Dreams

Easily wins for me. Visiting the actual field in Iowa as a kid was really cool too.

It gets a bit sappy at parts, but Hanks is hysterical in A League of Their Own.

by BustedFlush on Mar 6, 2008 9:48 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

wow

Little Big League & Fever Pitch belong nowhere near this list.

Bring Back BA

by marco054 on Mar 6, 2008 10:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Just like an ESPN writer

to admit that they don't have all the info (not seeing Major League, which would've taken a whole 94 minutes of his time), yet write an article nonetheless.

Fever Pitch # 4? F*#*ing Fever Pitch!?!?! With Jimmy Fallon?!?!

No, no east coast, Red Sox bias there.

by HulkSmash on Mar 6, 2008 10:15 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sox fans can't leave off Mr. Baseball

The Big Hurt is in it! As a Yankee, unfortunately, but still. Actually, I've never seen it, and it probably sucks since it's a Tom Selleck movie, but I'd throw it on the list on principle.

by Ryno on Mar 6, 2008 11:00 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Mr Baseball

A pretty good movie actually. Selleck must have played some ball at some point because he looks pretty authentic.

Optimist

by Peder on Mar 7, 2008 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A League of Their Own?

Is this an Oprah list, fer Chrissakes? Why don't we just put Angels in the Outfield on the list and call it The Disney Channel?

The one that gets me, every time, is The Natural. Yeah, the lighting makes
Redford look like Jesus, and it's not true to the book, but GD, it hits every note. Redford can actually play, too, unlike Tom Berenger, who swings like Jerry Owens. And I can turn it on and watch only the last 5 minutes and choke up.

Field of Dreams is a close 2nd. Same thing for the last 5 minutes of that movie.

I wrote this song after I killed a drifter to get an erection.

by winningugly on Mar 6, 2008 11:16 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

what about the last 5 minutes

in major league, when roger dorn punches out ricky vaughn, then hugs him? that chokes me up everytime too...

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Mar 6, 2008 11:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Your childhood must've been fascinating,

Deac.

;)

I wrote this song after I killed a drifter to get an erection.

by winningugly on Mar 6, 2008 11:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

haha

i had to throw in some sarcasm after a serious post, isnt that how things here at SSS work?
and about Mr. Baseball.... terrible movie, but i have seen it multiple times. i dont know why.

12/12/07- We'll miss you Andy Gonzalez

by The Deacon on Mar 6, 2008 11:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Summer Catch should be at least in the top 3

Any movie with Jessica Biel in a tight wet T-Shirt and baseball is gold in my books.

How do you fuck a nut?!

by omnipotent grab on Mar 6, 2008 11:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe no one mentions

"The Babe Ruth Story", starring William Bendix. My grandmother would make a more convincing baseball player.

"We're actually doing some different things at the top of the lineup, but our key is Jerry Owens being our center fielder and our leadoff guy" - JD

by ChicagoPete on Mar 6, 2008 11:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Bad News Bears in Breaking Training

I saw it in the theatre when I was 8. I thought it was the best movie ever made. I watched the Oscars that year to see how many awards it would win, and it wasn't nominated for anything (the injustice!). I was obsessed with it for a few years. I dreamed about playing a game at the Astrodome. I wanted to be Kelly Leak. I figured my little league team would have been much better if we had only had Carmen for a pitcher.

I saw it again finally a couple of years ago, and realized that its actually a horrible movie. The 70's are much better as a memory...

Lord, beer me strength.

by Nordhagen on Mar 6, 2008 12:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

LOL

One of the funniest posts I've read in a long time(because I can relate).

IF you can remember the 70's...lots of chemicals.

I wrote this song after I killed a drifter to get an erection.

by winningugly on Mar 6, 2008 12:46 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

excellent

I remember the game in the Astrodome even though it's been about 30 years since I've seen it. That film ranks with the TV movie where Gary Coleman plays the kid manager of the Padres, who win the World Series against...the White Sox. (Who I recall wearing the red uniforms of the early 70s even though it was filmed around 1979.) Quality stuff.

As bad baseball movies go, I can't believe no one has mentioned Fear Strikes Out. Watching Tony Perkins try to hit makes it a lot funnier than the filmmakers intended.

You can also spend a couple hours of your life watching The Kid From Cleveland, featuring the 1948 Indians and Bill Veeck all apparently reading off of cue cards and not doing more than one take.

The first Bad News Bears film is far and away my favorite baseball movie. Matthau's spectacular, and those kids were amazing. I still haven't brought myself to see the Billy Bob Thornton remake.

by asinwreck on Mar 6, 2008 3:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

BBT ain't Matthau, that's for sure

I wrote this song after I killed a drifter to get an erection.

by winningugly on Mar 6, 2008 3:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The mere mention of Fever Pitch

completely destroys any hope of credibility on that list.

Where is Rookie of the Year?

GetYoSelfAHandful.blogspot.com

by MarketMaker on Mar 6, 2008 5:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Eight Men Out

Not even as close as good as the book, BUT still worthy enough to be on the list.

He missed Angels in the Outfield...I'm joking of course, but I wouldn't be surprised if that made his Top 15.

by onlysoxfaninboston on Mar 6, 2008 6:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

fever pitch?

WTF is wrong with neyer?

dude, that was totally not swish you saw on rush street last night. swish was at home playing xbox.

by colintj on Mar 6, 2008 8:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Honorable Mentions

Fear Strikes Out (1957 - The twisted life and baseball career of Jimmy Piersall as played by Anthony Perkins of "Psycho" fame - how appropriate)

One In A Million: The Ron LaFlore Story (1978 Made for TV movie starring LeVar Burton as the ballplayer/criminal)

The Stratton Story (1949 - 1930s White Sox pitcher Monty Stratton loses a leg thanks to a hunting accident. Makes a comeback and is able to pitch in the minors - peg leg and all)

Brewster's Millions (1985 - Minor league ballplayer Montgomery Brewster - played by Richard Pryor - must spend $30 million in 30 days so he can inherit $300 million, but can't tell anyone about the $300 million deal. It's actually a remake of a storyline used in several other films dating as far back as 1914)

Share the passion, show the swagger

by tailgater on Mar 7, 2008 1:38 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Forgot about J. Stewart as Monte Stratton

Decent flick. Speaking of those with less than their normal complement of limbs, when are they going to make a movie about Pete Gray? Or even Jimm Abbott?

I wrote this song after I killed a drifter to get an erection.

by winningugly on Mar 7, 2008 1:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What we're all REALLY waiting for is...

"Legend: The Aaron Rowand Story"

Share the passion, show the swagger

by tailgater on Mar 7, 2008 2:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

did i miss something?

i thought that movie came out already, with will smith playing rowand.

"They say that blood is thicker than water. What we have is thicker than blood."

by Toonderstrook on Mar 7, 2008 2:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

speaking of rob neyer

The Onion: Rob Neyer Invents Statistic To Measure Own Disenchantment With Baseball:

PORTLAND, OR--ESPN.com baseball columnist Rob Neyer has announced the formula for a new statistic which compares and contrasts his own disillusionment with the sport of baseball against that felt by his fellow sabermetricians. "It's called Baseball Fatigue Average, or 'BFA,' and it's the most comprehensive anti-baseball stat out there," said Neyer in a chat session in which he also argued the meaninglessness of the run batted in."It takes into account the extreme importance given to the walk, coincidentally the least interesting part of the sport, and factors in the sheer randomness of the game and how little effect players ultimately have upon the outcome. Even the Crack Of The Bat Quotient and the Smell Of The Freshly Cut Grass Under A Cloudless Robin's-Egg-Blue Sky On A Warm Spring Afternoon Index are not enough to counteract the effects of BFA. And the best part is, you don't have to watch a single ennui-producing pitch of Major League Baseball to figure out how little you like it." Neyer announced he will now turn his attention to reducing the abstract concept of "fun" down to a single significant digit.

by The Wizard on Mar 7, 2008 2:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

GD, that is effin' hilarious

I love The Onion. And not so fond of Neyer, AKA White Sox Hater.

I wrote this song after I killed a drifter to get an erection.

by winningugly on Mar 7, 2008 2:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I like Neyer....

At least in the scope of ESPN "journalists." His list is terribly gay though. Where is "Major League: Back to the Minors"? And Major League II... The mere existence of Jack Parkman makes it an instant classic. And the fact that they replaced Wesley Snipes with Omar Epps and didn't even mention it is hilarious. Like we weren't going to notice. pff.

What a classic franchise.

by parkermo on Mar 7, 2008 6:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Best Baseball Movie

Bang The Drum Slowly: Michael Moriarty,Robert De Niro,Vincent Gardenia,Phil Foster-1973 is my favorite baseball movie of all time and I do not see it listed in any of your entries.

by Florida Jim on Mar 8, 2008 10:11 AM CST reply actions 0 recs