Baseball movies

[Northern Star]

I just finished the original nine "innings" of Ken Burns' Baseball. Really great stuff for the most part, which covers most of the notable people and events. I really enjoyed seeing a lot of old photos and film that I'd never seen before.

 

I hope someone sat Buck O'Neil down for hundreds of hours of recorded stories, because I could listen to him all day.

[Bellhorn04]

I've seen a lot of those baseball documentaries. The one about the 1941 season is a classic. DiMaggio's 56 game streak and Ted Williams's .406 season. The clips of Williams when he was The Kid are amazing.

[notin]

The one inaccuracy from all this old footage that still pervades is our image of Babe Ruth.

 

In every photo or clip of him, he’s rather portly. But from what I’ve heard, early in his career, he was much thinner and more athletic. But as we only have good clips from later in his career, typically in the 1930’s when he was 15+ years into his playing days after he’d put on considerable weight.

 

It also doesn’t help that in movies, he’s portrayed by actors like John Goodman...

[Bellhorn04]

The one inaccuracy from all this old footage that still pervades is our image of Babe Ruth.

 

In every photo or clip of him, he’s rather portly. But from what I’ve heard, early in his career, he was much thinner and more athletic. But as we only have good clips from later in his career, typically in the 1930’s when he was 15+ years into his playing days after he’d put on considerable weight.

 

It also doesn’t help that in movies, he’s portrayed by actors like John Goodman...

 

Babe Ruth must have been an incredible athlete to do what he did.

[notin]

Babe Ruth must have been an incredible athlete to do what he did.

 

 

It’s often noted that when he hit 60 HRs in 1927, he outhomered every team in the AL. But what’s rarely if ever mentioned is Gehrig hit 47 that year and outhomered 4 of the other 7 teams on his own. Or that Lazzeri hit 18 HRs and came in third in the AL.

 

Can you imagine how incredible the 1920s Red Sox-Yankees rivalry would have been if the Sox held on to Ruth, Pennock, Mays, etc.? Two titans battling among all these other Lilliputians...

[Bellhorn04]

It’s often noted that when he hit 60 HRs in 1927, he outhomered every team in the AL. But what’s rarely if ever mentioned is Gehrig hit 47 that year and outhomered 4 of the other 7 teams on his own. Or that Lazzeri hit 18 HRs and came in third in the AL.

 

Can you imagine how incredible the 1920s Red Sox-Yankees rivalry would have been if the Sox held on to Ruth, Pennock, Mays, etc.? Two titans battling among all these other Lilliputians...

 

Just think what it would have been like if there was a Talksox forum back in 1919 when Frazee sold Ruth to the Yanks.

[notin]

Just think what it would have been like if there was a Talksox forum back in 1919 when Frazee sold Ruth to the Yanks.

 

Maybe there was. We just didn’t have computers to access it...

[Northern Star]

One thing that will always stick with me from Ken Burns' Baseball is Curt Flood talking about going back to the clubhouse after games and all the players threw their uniforms in a pile and the clubhouse attendant picked out Flood's with a stick to be sent to the colored laundry. Disgraceful.

[notin]

A little baseball movie trivia:

 

Without any help from Google, name the only three baseball movies nominated for Best Picture...

[a700hitter]

A little baseball movie trivia:

 

Without any help from Google, name the only three baseball movies nominated for Best Picture...

Just guessing:

 

Field of Dreams

Pride of the Yankees

For Love of the Game

[notin]

Just guessing:

 

Field of Dreams

Pride of the Yankees

For Love of the Game

 

2 correct.

[notin]

No more guesses?

[mvp 78]

Moneyball

Field of Dreams

Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch

[notin]

Moneyball

Field of Dreams

Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch

 

Also 2 correct.

 

And yes, this does mean "Field of Dreams" is one of the correct answers...

[a700hitter]

Moneyball

Field of Dreams

Pride of the Yankees

[mvp 78]

Moneyball

Field of Dreams

Pride of the Yankees

 

Field of Dreams

Pride of the Yankees

Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch

[notin]

Moneyball

Field of Dreams

Pride of the Yankees

 

2 correct.

 

The real answer was Field of Dreams, Pride of the Yankees, and Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch.

 

Or was that last one Moneyball? It was the one with Royce Clayton in it...

[mvp 78]

 

One of the greatest plays in the history of our sport.

[notin]

 

One of the greatest plays in the history of our sport.

 

As you are clearly a connoisseur of awful movies where animals play human sports, what are your top 3 in that genre? And why don’t you think “Gus” belongs?

[mvp 78]

As you are clearly a connoisseur of awful movies where animals play human sports, what are your top 3 in that genre? And why don’t you think “Gus” belongs?

 

Gus was no joke. Remember renting that on DVD back in the day.

 

1. Air Bud 2: Golden Receiver

2. MVP 2: Most Vertical Primate

3. Matilda (the boxing kangaroo)

[notin]

Gus was no joke. Remember renting that on DVD back in the day.

 

1. Air Bud 2: Golden Receiver

2. MVP 2: Most Vertical Primate

3. Matilda (the boxing kangaroo)

 

Gus is the clear king.

 

All Star cast along with a Pro Bowl supporting cast. Also a donkey...

Edited April 10, 2020 by notin

[mvp 78]

Gus is the clear king.

 

All Star cast along with a Pro Bowl supporting cast. Also a donkey.3

 

He’s a mule. Everyone knows that you poser.

[notin]

He’s a mule. Everyone knows that you poser.

 

Character was a mule. Actor was a donkey...

[mvp 78]

Character was a mule. Actor was a donkey...

 

The two genders.

[notin]

The two genders.

 

I can confess that I didn’t look. And when I watched it all those years ago it wasn’t the uncut version...

[Thunder]

I highly recommend Full Count on Netflix. Not a baseball movie, but starts out as one and then turns into a feel good story about having faith in humanity. A little bit of everything we need right now

[notin]

I wanted to do another trivia question about baseball movies, and not an easy one.

 

I figured I’d ask “what actor has appeared in the most baseball movies?” Good question.

 

The problem is, I have no idea what actor has appeared in the most baseball movies. And merely googling it is not much help. But there are probably close to 100 baseball movies out there, and I can’t even name them all let alone review the casts.

 

As far as my cursory research goes, the leader is Dennis Haysbert, with 4 baseball movies (Major League, Major League II, Major League: Back to the Minors, Mr. Baseball). The problem is another actor named Michael Papajohn also appeared in 4 baseball movies (The Babe, Mr. Baseball, Little Big League, For the Love of the Game), and I never heard of him before.

 

I can think of a few actors to do 3 baseball movies, including Kevin Costner (Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, For the Love of the Game), Charlie Sheen (Major League, Major League II, Eight Men Out) and Corbin Bernson (all three Major League movies.)

 

Are there others? Anyone have any idea what actor has appeared in the most baseball movies? Anyone else with three or four that I forgot?

[mvp 78]

There were 3 original Bad News Bears movies with a lot of the team played by the same actors.

[mvp 78]

Rotshach from Watchmen was Kelly Leak?!?!?

[Kimmi]

I clearly don't watch enough movies.

 

Either that, or you guys watch far too many.