I love baseball. There is a romanticism that other sports don’t have. It’s something about the explosive way a game can come to life, the tough yards players have to put in to get into the majors and the mental battle that goes on at the plate.
It is this romanticism that makes baseball perfect for the silver screen. There have been countless movies made about America’s game, but some are much better than others.
Next we will take a look at the 10 best baseball movies of all time. There are some great works of fiction along with some of baseball’s most fascinating real-life stories. We also have some old cult classics along with more modern films. What they all have in common is that they are all excellent baseball movies.
Hopefully your favorite makes the list, but if you haven’t seen any of these yet, make sure to watch them as soon as possible. Let’s start with the best baseball movie of all time. . .
1. Bull Durham (1988)
Many people would rank this as their favorite baseball movie of all time and we have to agree. Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins, and Susan Sarandon combine to create a memorable film that has everything you want from a baseball movie.
Many people love it because the movie shows a hard-working side of baseball that we don’t often see. It shows the journey and commitment that most players have to go through, along with the struggle to reach the professional tournaments.
Costner plays a minor league catcher who has recently been traded to the Durham Bulls as he enters the twilight years of his career.
His role at the ball club is to tutor an erratic pitcher played by Robbins. Although primarily a comedy, the film is filled with charming moments and a strong plot. It’s a movie that showcases all the things we love about baseball. The first time you see it won’t be the last.
2. A League of Their Own (1992)
There’s nothing not to love about Tom Hanks taking charge of a ball club in the All-American Women’s Professional Baseball League. It’s a movie very loosely based on real-life tournaments created during World War II.
This is a funny movie but also has many touching moments with a lovely story. Tom Hanks was excellent in his role and never better than when he delivered the infamous “don’t cry in baseball” line. That’s probably the best line in any baseball movie.
There are plenty more great quotes in this unique baseball movie from the early ’90s, which also highlights issues surrounding gender inequality and the power of women in the sport This.
3. Nature (1984)
If you want to watch an exciting baseball movie with a fairy tale ending, this is the baseball movie for you. Robert Redford plays Roy Hobbs, a rare natural talent.
At the beginning of the film, we see Hobbs learning to play baseball with his father, who unfortunately died of a heart attack near an oak tree. Light shines on the tree and Hobbs uses the wood to make a homemade baseball bat. This sets the scene for the type of emotional storytelling you can expect.
From that point on, life was no longer smooth sailing for Hobbs and he found himself unable to use his natural talent to enjoy the game he loved. It is based on a novel by Bernard Malamud and is a beautiful story that will make you smile.
4. Money Ball (2011)
Moneyball is another movie based on a book, but it’s a very different movie from The Natural. It tells the real-life story of how Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane embraced the role of sabermetrics (using data to make player decisions) in baseball.
Brad Pitt stars as he tries to convince everyone around him that his methods are the best way to take advantage of the Athletics’ very small budget when compared to other teams. Pitt faced much opposition to the plan and it followed the real-life fortunes of the Athletics and their memorable 2002 season.
It’s a fascinating look into the new world of baseball but also gives you insight into the brutal world of managerial decisions. Jonah Hill starred opposite Pitt and it’s no surprise that they both received Oscar nominations.
5. Bad News Bears (1976)
Many of the funniest and most beloved baseball movies came out in the ’80s and ’90s, but this one came before them all. Many people of a certain age will consider this movie their all-time favorite because of its appeal.
It’s a politically incorrect movie and it’s very timey. Part of the reason for its inaccuracy is because the story revolves around an alcoholic former track athlete who is forced to coach a team of spoiled kids due to a lawsuit.
The team was terrible but their fortunes improved when the coach recruited a few female players to the team. It ends with a sweet story that shows baseball can offer more than simply winning games.
6. 42 (2013)
In episode 42, the great Chadwick Boseman does an incredible job telling the story of the most important baseball player of all time. Boseman is joined by Harrison Ford and the two combine to faithfully tell the story of Jackie Robinson.
Most baseball movies are easy to watch and romantic in nature, but you don’t get that here. Instead, you get a compelling film that occasionally makes you feel uncomfortable for all the right reasons.
You see what Robinson had to endure to make his mark in the majors and why there is now a day in the baseball calendar dedicated to him. You will witness all the players wearing his famous number 42 on April 15 and no one else wearing it on any other day, as it is the only number worn by all teams. MLB retires.
If you love baseball, this is a movie you must see. Besides being an important film, it is also excellent and does justice to humanity.
7. Field of Dreams (1989)
For many people, their favorite baseball movie of all time is the ’80s movie starring Kevin Costner. If not Bull Durham then maybe Field of Dreams. This is probably the most magical movie to make this list.
The film revolves around a voice that Costner’s character, Ray Kinsella, hears in his head. Kinsella thinks the phrase he keeps hearing, “if you build it, he will come,” is a reference to his deceased father and the building of a baseball diamond on farmland his. With the support of his wife by his side, Kinsella decided to shoulder the finances and build a small stadium.
What it turned out to be was the Chicago White Sox being banned from the 1919 World Series and a huge amount of love. If you’re willing to leave reality at the door for a few hours, you’ll find a good movie that tugs at the heartstrings.
8. Sand Beach (1993)
You could call this a children’s comedy but in reality, it’s much more than that. It’s based on the love of baseball, how kids love playing the game, and what it feels like as a kid trying to fit in with a new group of friends.
The film focuses on the story of Scott Smalls, who moved to a new area. He tried playing baseball but it was useless at first. He was guided by one of the other children and began to enjoy the game. The movie takes a dramatic turn when their last baseball flies over the fence and into the backyard.
In the backyard there is a huge dog named “The Beast” that they must avoid at all costs. Smalls found a replacement ball signed by none other than Babe Ruth. What happens next is a lot of humor and a happy ending.
9. Eight Men Out (1988)
We saw an excellent film from 1988 in Bull Durham and here is another one. We mentioned that Field of Dreams looks back at the nostalgia of the 1919 Chicago White Sox but this film takes a dramatic look at one of sports’ biggest scandals.
It is known that the team made the famous World Series due to the wishes of notorious gangster Arnold Rothstein. It was a terrible moment in the history of the sport and one that Eliot Asinhof wrote about in his 1963 book Eight Men Out: The Black Sox.
This film uses that source material to tell the story from the human perspective of the players who felt they had no choice but to intentionally lose. Most baseball movies are easy to watch, but this is perfect for those who want to watch something a little more dramatic.
The acting is excellent and it’s also a great history lesson for any baseball fan who knows little about the 1919 scandal.
10. Major League (1989)
We mentioned 1988 was a great year for baseball movies but that was followed up perfectly by 1989, with Field of Dreams and this classic, Major League. If Eight Men Out is one of the best serious baseball movies, it’s the perfect movie for anyone who wants to laugh.
If we were to make a list of the funniest baseball movies of all time, this one might be at the top. It has a similar premise to Bull Durham in that an aging catcher is tasked with improving the game of a new pitcher.
The film has a stellar cast list, including Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, and Tom Berenger, who give stellar performances. It’s another one in a list that has a list of funny quotes that you’ll probably be saying for years to come. It’s a worthy comedy on its own, but it’s even better if you love baseball.
Categories: Entertainment
Source: Tekmonk Bio
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings