Top 10 Baseball Movies

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:48 am

A few things before I get to the list.

The Bad News Bears is the only movie dealing with kids in the top 10, all the others are either knockoffs or too cute for my blood.

Any time the wife is out of town for the weekend, rent Baseball by Ken Burns or When it was a Game, both excellant and both documentaries so they aren't on the list.

Locals have favs like TigerTown and Still We Believe: The Red Sox, uh no, not on the list.

The run of semi-recent made for tv movies, The Bronx is Burning and the horribly-made, Hustle, are not on the list as well as 61, which wasn't bad.

Anyway, here they are:

10. The Bad News Bears

9. The Rookie

8. Damn Yankees

7. The Natural

6. For the Love of the Game

5. Eight Men Out

4. Major League

3. Bull Durham

2. Pride of the Yankees

1. Field of Dreams

Give Gary Cooper the best actor award, the lady from Field of Dreams, best actress. Best original story, a tie between Field of Dreams and Damn Yankees and lifetime achievment award to Kevin Costner.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:16 pm

Nice list Dan -

as an Indians fan I'll take Major League over The Rookie (although love A Brooks).

Also, gotta give Glenn Close best actress and Amy Madigan (FOD) can take Best supporting.

Oh yeah - I've seen the movie Angel and it easily would make my list - fantastic movie.

Some others that should have been better than they were:

The Babe

Cobb

Guilty pleasures:

Summer Catch

The Slugger's Wife

And that one with James earl Jones and Billy D williams about the barnstorming Negro league team - can't remember the name

Oldies but goodies

Bang the Drum Slowly

The Jackie Robinson Story

Fear Strikes Out

[ April 23, 2009, 06:18 PM: Message edited by: Ryan Carey ]

Scott Boras · Post by **Scott Boras** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:18 pm

My fave from that list is For the Love of the Game. Great movie.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:23 pm

Ooops - saw you had major league on there after all. Well Angel can have the rookie's spot on my list - go see it.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:23 pm

Bingo Long and the Traveling All-Stars, a really good movie, you're right, Ryan.

For the Love of the Game is probably the most unseen great baseball movie out there.

[ April 23, 2009, 06:24 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:27 pm

There is also alot of respect given to baseball in titles:

Mr. 3,000

Mr. Destiny

Mr. Baseball

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:27 pm

I was with you right up until the point that you named Amy Madigan Best Actress.

Annie Savoy ( Susan Sarandon ) is the best female charactor and best performance in a baseball movie.

Annie Savoy: [narrating] Walt Whitman once said, "I see great things in baseball. It's our game, the American game. It will repair our losses and be a blessing to us." You could look it up.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:27 pm

Thanks Dan that's it - my mind kept coming up with Bimbo - which I knew was wrong.

Also - Best Actress is clearly Geena Davis in

A League of Their Own a great baseball movie that should probably be in the Top 10. She wins because she actually played the game.

[ April 23, 2009, 06:30 PM: Message edited by: Ryan Carey ]

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:31 pm

Originally posted by Ryan Carey:

Thanks Dan that's it - my mind kept coming up with Bimbo - which I knew was wrong.

Also - Best Actress is clearly Geena Davis in

A League of Their Own a great baseball movie that should probably be in the Top 10. She wins because she actually played the game. Close, very close. And you're right, she was great.

Navel Lint · Post by **Navel Lint** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:35 pm

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

quote:Originally posted by Ryan Carey:

Thanks Dan that's it - my mind kept coming up with Bimbo - which I knew was wrong.

Also - Best Actress is clearly Geena Davis in

A League of Their Own a great baseball movie that should probably be in the Top 10. She wins because she actually played the game. Close, very close. And you're right, she was great. [/QUOTE]I forgot about G Davis. Great performance.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:44 pm

Originally posted by DOUGHBOYS:

A few things before I get to the list.

The Bad News Bears is the only movie dealing with kids in the top 10, all the others are either knockoffs or too cute for my blood.

Any time the wife is out of town for the weekend, rent Baseball by Ken Burns or When it was a Game, both excellant and both documentaries so they aren't on the list.

Locals have favs like TigerTown and Still We Believe: The Red Sox, uh no, not on the list.

The run of semi-recent made for tv movies, The Bronx is Burning and the horribly-made, Hustle, are not on the list as well as 61, which wasn't bad.

Anyway, here they are:

10. The Rookie

9. Damn Yankees

8. A League of their Own

7. The Natural

6. For the Love of the Game

5. Eight Men Out

4. Major League

3. Bull Durham

2. Pride of the Yankees

1. Field of Dreams

Give Gary Cooper the best actor award, the lady from Field of Dreams, best actress. Best original story, a tie between Field of Dreams and Damn Yankees and lifetime achievment award to Kevin Costner. You guys have convinced me afterall, if I were on an island and was shown one movie over and over again, give me Geena Davis over Buttermaker any day. The list is fixed now.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:52 pm

Like it Dan - seems like the film that spwaned the line "There's no crying in baseball!" Definitley belongs on the list.

Also - maybe we can find you one of the Double Feature DVD's with The Rookie/BNBears so you can watch both on your island.

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:41 pm

Funny...those are the only two movies where I can stand Costner in the role.

He sucks...but he plays a boring baseball player well.

The Phoenix · Post by **The Phoenix** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:04 pm

Nice job replacing "Bad New Bears".

I prefer "The Sandlot" if there were to be a kids entry.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:15 pm

No love for "Angels in the Outfield"?

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:21 pm

Really enjoyed "Rookie of the Year" as well.

Edwards Kings · Post by **Edwards Kings** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:26 pm

Originally posted by King of Queens:

No love for "Angels in the Outfield"? Number three on my personal list after FOD and The Natural.

BTW, not for the list, but a fun movie was on the other day that I saw years ago and had nearly forgotten. William Bendix in "Kill the Umpire". Lots of schtick, but a fun movie if you are ever in a mood for a mouldy oldy in black and white.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 2:33 pm

Not a baseball movie, but this 4 minute scene somehow has to make the list:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-S-eeInJVk

rkulaski · Post by **rkulaski** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:15 pm

A League of Their Own has one of the top 10 greatest scenes in baseball movie history- when Dotty (G Davis) is preparing to go back home with her husband before the World Series and Jimmy (Hanks) tries to convince her to play.

"It just got too hard...Baseball is suppose to be hard...the hard is what makes it good...if it wasn't hard, everyone would do it..." Great lines and true for not only baseball but many other things in life.

Angels in the Outfield- definitely top 10 worthy.

For Love of the Game- completely underrated and my vote for #1 just barely over Field of Dreams.

Finally, I heard there's a new baseball movie out called "Sugar." USA Today's Claudia Pigg(?) gave it 4 stars out of 4. Looks like a winner but apparently it's only in select theatres.

Thunder · Post by **Thunder** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:20 pm

i'm glad to see "For Love of the Game" getting recognition. i own it and love it and none of my friends have any idea what i'm talking about when i mention it.

my personal favorite is "Bull Durham"

ToddZ · Post by **ToddZ** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:24 pm

Not sure if it counts, but I liked HBO's Soul of the Game.

King of Queens · Post by **King of Queens** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:26 pm

Originally posted by ToddZ:

Not sure if it counts, but I liked HBO's Soul of the Game. Another good one.

rkulaski · Post by **rkulaski** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:32 pm

A different topic but...

Best baseball book:

The Glory of Their Times

If you haven't read it, read it.

Spartacus · Post by **Spartacus** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:10 pm

"The Bingo Long Traveling All Stars & Motor Kings" Boy, I haven't seen that in ages. One of my favorite baseball movies though! Great cast: Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones and Richard Pryor. Even Leon-Daddy Wags-Wagner was in it. I bring it up because this poignant 1976 film may have escaped the attention of some of you younger folks. It's wonderfully entertaining and a must see!

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 4:43 am

Originally posted by rkulaski:

A League of Their Own has one of the top 10 greatest scenes in baseball movie history- when Dotty (G Davis) is preparing to go back home with her husband before the World Series and Jimmy (Hanks) tries to convince her to play.

"It just got too hard...Baseball is suppose to be hard...the hard is what makes it good...if it wasn't hard, everyone would do it..." Great lines and true for not only baseball but many other things in life.

Angels in the Outfield- definitely top 10 worthy.

For Love of the Game- completely underrated and my vote for #1 just barely over Field of Dreams.

Finally, I heard there's a new baseball movie out called "Sugar." USA Today's Claudia Pigg(?) gave it 4 stars out of 4. Looks like a winner but apparently it's only in select theatres. Another Ooops - don't know why I called in Angel ...It's here in NYC and I saw it - and it was fantastic. Not fantastic enough for me not to screw up the name apparently.