Take Me Out to the Ball Game…
Nothing ‘screams’ the start of summer to us, here at The Film Rewind, quite like the thought of all things baseball. The sounds of the crowd, the smell of the food, and the excitement of the game can be quite intoxicating. As someone who lived within a half-mile radius of Fenway Park in Boston for two years (while attending grad school), I know that baseball fans are some of the most devoted and loyal sports enthusiasts out there. It should be of no surprise that America’s pastime made a very quick jump to the silver screen, becoming the backdrop and basis for so many beloved sports-themed films. To continue our kickoff to summer, we have compiled a list of some of our all-time favorite baseball-themed films. There are some dramas, comedies, and plenty of family-friendly fare to choose from, so since the start of the traditional baseball season has been delayed, we hope that these films will tide you over until you can catch that next great game. Enjoy!
True Stories
A League of Their Own (1992, dir. Penny Marshall)
A League or Their Own is a cinematic gem. The story centers on the development of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which arose from the desire to prevent the total shutdown of Major League Baseball during World War II, and is an absolutely inspirational saga. The film explores the early days of the league, which only lasted from 1943-1954, and features an incredible cast, including Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, and Tom Hanks, just to name a few. If you have not seen the film, you need to, pronto, but just make sure you don’t forget: “There’s NO crying in baseball!” – Sarah
42 (2013, dir. Brian Helgeland)
This movie is so underrated it kills me. Chadwick Boseman plays the legendary ballplayer, Jackie Robinson, in this biopic that documents Robinson's journey through Minor League baseball and his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the Major League color barrier in 1947. If you haven't seen it yet, now's the time. It gives a small glimpse into how much Robinson had to go through to get to that milestone in black history, and allows us to reflect how much has and hasn't changed, and how much further we need to go. - Bailey
Childhood Dream Teams
The Bad News Bears (1976, dir. Michael Ritchie)
There is something about this film that I cannot help but enjoy. Perhaps it is the ridiculousness of the competitive streak of youth baseball leagues, perhaps it is the humor of the film, or perhaps it is the performance of Walter Matthau as Morris Buttermaker, the drunken ex-professional baseball pitcher turned reluctant coach of the Bears, in all honesty, it is probably the combination of all of the above. The Bears become the epitome of ‘the underdog,’ a team so dysfunctional that there appears to be little chance of improvement, but their heart and spirit are sure to win you over in the end. – Sarah
The Sandlot (1993, dir. David Mickey Evans)
The Sandlot is the story of how baseball brought a group of kids together, and also how it got them into a terrifying, dangerous "pickle." The dialogue, personalities, and reverence for the game that this movie brings is second-to-none. This film always takes me back to going out and playing baseball with my friends as a kid. It's the ultimate summer movie, nostalgia movie, and, in my opinion, baseball movie. - Bailey
Romantic Comedies
It Takes Two (1995, dir. Andy Tennant)
I know, you’re probably thinking, ‘wait, isn’t this a romantic comedy film featuring the Olsen twins?’ And, yes, yes it is a romantic comedy that features Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen as identical strangers Amanda Lemmon and Alyssa Callaway, who ‘parent-trap’ their respective parent/guardians, portrayed by Kirstie Alley and Steve Guttenberg. However, the film abounds with baseball references. The entire opening sequence contrasts Amanda’s ‘stick-ball’ playing ways with Alyssa’s piano-playing world. The movie even defines its love story in terms of baseball metaphors, you know that “can't-eat, can't-sleep, reach-for-the-stars, over-the-fence, World Series kind of stuff.” This is, without a doubt, the best Olsen twin movie out there. – Sarah
Fever Pitch (2005, dir. Peter & Bob Farrelly)
Ben Wrightman (Jimmy Fallon) is an obsessive Red Sox fan, who falls in love with Lindsey (Drew Barrymore), who must convince herself that Ben cares for her at least half as much as for his favorite baseball team. This movie was a big deal at the time, mainly because the writers, like everyone else, didn't anticipate the Red Sox would win a World Series and break the 86-year-old 'Curse of the Bambino,' forcing them to rewrite the ending. It's an excellent time capsule of 2004, when every Bostonian was as Sox crazy as Ben. - Bailey
‘90s Nostalgia
Rookie of the Year (1993, dir. Daniel Stern)
If you were a kid who loved baseball in the '90s, Rookie of the Year was your ultimate fantasy. The movie stars Thomas Ian Nicholas as a 12-year-old boy who, through a baseball accident, gains the ability to pitch like the best major leaguers. The Chicago Cubs sign him to the team, and the hilarity that you would expect of a child in Major League baseball ensues. It's funny, silly, and everything I wanted to happen to me. - Bailey
Angels in the Outfield (1994, dir. William Dear)
This Disney remake of the 1951 MGM film of the same name is a fun, family sports comedy. A young Joseph Gordon Levitt plays a foster kid who gains the ability to see angels as they help a struggling baseball team win the pennant. Also starring Danny Glover, Tony Danza, and Christopher Lloyd... wow, I don't remember what the end of this sentence was, all the '90s feels has me all flustered. - Bailey
Hollywood Classics
The Naughty Nineties (1945, dir. Jean Yarbrough)
Okay, I know this film is not completely about ‘baseball,’ but it contains one of the most iconic baseball-themed comedy sketches in the history of cinema! Bud Abbott and Lou Costello’s “Who’s on First?” sketch is a classic. Period. Hailing from the likes of various burlesque comedy acts, “Who’s on First?” is probably the duo’s most famous bit. Plus, their “Who’s on First?” scene from The Naughty Nineties now has the honor of playing continuously in an exhibit at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. Enough said. – Sarah
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949, dir. Busby Berkley)
This list would be incomplete without at least one over-the-top technicolor baseball-themed musical. Take Me Out to the Ball Game is a fun and star-studded romp about a fictional baseball team, the Chicago Wolves, and two of its players who happen to be struggling vaudevillians at heart. Featuring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Esther Williams, and plenty of musical numbers, including (you guessed it) “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” this film is a must-see for any musical and/or baseball fan. – Sarah
Iconic Oddities
Animated Baseball Shorts
Sometimes live-action films just do not cut it, and fortunately Disney has graced us with some pretty iconic baseball-themed animated shorts. Most notably, How to Play Baseball (1943, dir. Jack Kinney), featuring Goofy, and the “Casey at the Bat” sequence from Make Mine Music (1946, dir. Jack Kinney, et al.), which are two entertaining and delightful animated shorts. I cannot think about this game without occasionally hearing the narrators and/or music from each of these short films playing somewhere in the back of my mind… Both films are well worth tracking down and watching if you have not seen them before. – Sarah
Field of Dreams (1989, dir. Phil Alden Robinson)
This is one of the most beloved baseball-themed movies of all time. Kevin Costner stars as Ray, a man who hears mysterious voices telling him to build a baseball field. In doing so, he is graced with visits from deceased baseball players, back in their prime, ready to play on his field. It's a sweet and straightforward fantasy film about baseball ghosts. How can you beat that? - Bailey
What are your favorite baseball-themed films? What do you think of our picks? Share your thoughts in the comments below and make sure you catch Jaws (1975), our June Film Club Pick, sometime this month!
Copyright © 2020 Sarah Crane & Bailey Lizotte
