The Best American Baseball Movies

by Devin Caldwell

Ever since Americans began to fall in love with the game of baseball in the early 20th century, filmmakers have brought the sport to life on the big screen. Most baseball films have focused on the sport’s legendary athletes, historical games or scandalous events. Although several fine films have been produced on the subject, a few excellent baseball movies stand apart from the rest and are considered more than just sports films. With the exception of 42, the following iconic films are not based on factual events or players, but they personify why Americans love baseball.

The Natural

Barry Levison’s 1984 film, The Natural, is considered to be the greatest sports film of all time. The story involves a phenomenal pitcher, played by Robert Redford, whose career is cut short by a meeting with an obsessed fan. Although the film is fictional, the movie was influenced by a real tragedy that occurred when a young woman shot a promising major league player in a hotel room. Redford’s character Roy manages to recover from his incident and eventually join a struggling ball club. After sitting on the bench for most of the season, Roy becomes the team’s star and battles bribery attempts, corrupt officials and disappointed fans to lead the team to victory. The Natural is one film that makes you want to grab your custom baseball gloves, bats, ball and head to the ballpark as soon as the movie ends.

Field of Dreams

Based on W.P. Kinsella’s 1982 novel, Shoeless Joe, Field of Dreams became an enormous box office success and an American classic loved by millions worldwide. Ray, played by Kevin Costner, is an Iowa corn farmer who hears a mysterious voice in his field and eventually decides to build a baseball diamond. Although his family and friends think he’s insane, Ray embarks on a spiritual journey, and along the way, he learns a lot about baseball’s unsung heroes and iconic games. The film is incredibly funny and touching, but it never strays far from its adoring subject.

The Bad News Bears

In 1976, Michael Ritchie’s The Bad News Bears changed how we think about little league baseball. The Bears’ young players are an undisciplined, profane and mostly unskilled group that has trouble getting along and winning games. When their coach Buttermaker, played by Walter Matthau, recruits a talented female pitcher and misunderstood bad boy, the team begins winning games and heads to the championship. The film is very funny and appeals to viewers of any age. Its popularity spawned a string of sequels, a short-lived tv-series and a remake in 2005 starring Billy Bob Thornton as Buttermaker.

42

Based on the career of Jackie Robinson, 42 is an engaging baseball biography that displays the challenges that Robinson faced during a troubling period of American history. Robinson, played by the late Chadwick Boseman, was the first African American player in major league baseball. He faces racist fans, hateful players and stubborn baseball executives before he’s able to succeed and prove he’s one of the sport’s greatest athletes. One of the film’s highlights is Robison’s home run against a pitcher, Fritz Ostermueller, who had previously hit him in the head. The home run sends Robinson’s Dodgers to the World Series.

Major League

For a less realistic take on the sport, you can watch 1989’s, Major league. The silly comedy was a breakout hit and led to two sequels. The story concerns a new Baseball owner who intentionally tries to sabotage her team’s success to move the team to Miami. After hiring an ex-convict pitcher and a cocky outfielder, the team begins winning and eventually makes it to the playoffs.

The Sandlot

The 1993 film The Sandlot is a seamless, hilarious kid’s film that adults and children love. The movie involves a neighborhood group of kids who play baseball in a backyard field in 1962. With a nearby “monster” dog threatening their games, the young boys show the neighborhood how far they’ll go to play their favorite game.

There are numerous films about baseball, but if you like stories that display why America loves baseball, you can’t go wrong with the previous suggestions.