It must have been as a slick glove at SS, because his swing looks hideous.
One thing I always thought was funny was that the big slugger, Clu Hayward, was played by a pitcher, Pete Vukovich. And the relief ace, the Duke, was played by a catcher, Steve Yeager.
Fun fact - I played Little League for years with and against Pete Vukovich's nephew, who was by far the best ballplayer I ever was on a field with. Dude was a really tall kid who threw 80+ when he was 13 years old and mid-90s in high school. I often think about that when I ponder just how awesome you have to be to make the majors in any capacity. This guy was like Kershaw in LL and high school, was drafted by the Cubs, and he never made it out of AA. Makes you remember that a hump like Brendan Ryan, once upon a time, was the big star at somebody's high school.
some kids hit their growth spurt earlier so they seem artificially better because they are bigger and stronger than the rest of the kids. I've seen 12 year old kids at 5'10 throw 75mph in the LLWS then see them listed at 5'11 5 years later when they are applying for college. It's all about when you peak physically.
But it wasn't the case here, because the guy just kept growing. By the time he was drafted, he was 6'8". Had a blazing fastball, but no quality secondary pitches. Even guys in the low minors can hit 95 mph fastballs regularly if you don't throw anything else. His Baseball Reference stats page - ( New Window )
But it has some things going for it. I think it captures the atmosphere of Japanese baseball pretty well, it's pretty funny, and like I said, the actors playing the players look good in the field. Both Haysbert and Selleck have very nice swings, and most of the Japanese guys are pretty good.
BTW, the rookie who takes Selleck's Yankees job in the beginning is played by the young Big Hurt.
Another very good one is a movie virtually no one's seen - HBO made a movie about a floundering minor league team in the '50s called Long Gone that is really funny. It was a bit of a baseball version of Slap Shot, with William Peterson playing a Reggie Dunlop kind of role as a player-manager, Virginia Madsen back when she was pretty hot, and one of the dirtbag owners was played by Teller from Penn and Teller.
in no particular order I also likes the natural, 8 men out, *61 and Bull durham. a league of their own was great only because of Hanks. he was so damn funny in that movie!...I actually liked the HBO movie about JR breaking the color barrier more than 42. "when it was a game" I think it was called.
field of dreams I thought was one of the worst movies I ever saw. so stupid and corny. I hate it so much.
"So after “Major League” people just assumed Bernsen wasn’t a good ballplayer. Truth was, he played in high school and thought about playing college ball. So he could field a grounder, regardless of what the early scenes in the movie portrayed.
“That was always a bit annoying,” Bernsen says, laughing. “I was supposed to miss those balls. There were times where it was hard to miss the ball.”" ‘Major League’ turns 25 — here are 15 things you didn't know about the movie - ( New Window )
I often watch sports movies and think it must be harder to make an athlete (or somebody who knows how to play) look bad, than coach up a bad athlete enough to look passable. Of course, there are some really bad examples of actors who just had no clue trying to swing a bat, throw, etc. But, more often than not I think this holds true.
RE: A League of Their Own is an enjoyable enough movie Â
One thing always annoyed me though - the players, especially Kit, always have dirt all over their faces. I've played a lot of baseball and watched ten times more, and I don't ever remember seeing a player looking like they've just rolled their face around in the dirt.
Jon Lovitz is great in it too.
That always bothered me too. It's one thing for one player, but a whole bunch?
RE: Field of Dreams is corny and sappy and I still love it Â
original Bad News Bears (some of the sequels were OK as a kid, but I couldn't add them, and the re-make shouldn't even be allowed to be viewed)
Sandlot
Moneyball - I didn't initially think of it, but so many hear mentioned it and I did enjoy it.
Re: 42 - I really wanted to like it, but I didn't think it was great. It was an enjoyable film, but could have and should have been much better.
would probably be on most lists here if the movie had more baseball scenes and less focus on the love story that didn't go anywhere. Some of those baseball scenes are among my favorites in any movie.
would probably be on most lists here if the movie had more baseball scenes and less focus on the love story that didn't go anywhere. Some of those baseball scenes are among my favorites in any movie.
Yep I liked it too, sappiness in all. I would have it 3rd behind:
Bull Durham and Field of Dreams.
Lots of good movies listed here - Pride of the Yankees - damn forgot that.
Another very good one is a movie virtually no one's seen - HBO made a movie about a floundering minor league team in the '50s called Long Gone that is really funny. It was a bit of a baseball version of Slap Shot, with William Peterson playing a Reggie Dunlop kind of role as a player-manager, Virginia Madsen back when she was pretty hot, and one of the dirtbag owners was played by Teller from Penn and Teller.
I was just about to post about Long Gone. Good call.
Another very good one is a movie virtually no one's seen - HBO made a movie about a floundering minor league team in the '50s called Long Gone that is really funny. It was a bit of a baseball version of Slap Shot, with William Peterson playing a Reggie Dunlop kind of role as a player-manager, Virginia Madsen back when she was pretty hot, and one of the dirtbag owners was played by Teller from Penn and Teller.
I was just about to post about Long Gone. Good call.
I also posted Long Gone. It is one of the few times you will hear Teller actually speak. The comparison to Slap Shot is not a bad one.
Like just about any other movie on this list, there is an element to the story that has nothing to do with baseball. Why is that surprising or a problem for anyone? As far as I'm concerned, Skully really makes this a gem of a film (although I can do without Lyons as his broadcast booth partner). And Costner was very good. One thing he does very well is make sports movies.
Personally, I'm a Pride of the Yankees fan. Bull Durham is next.
I have seen a few votes for Angels in the Outfield, but I don't know why. That is right up there with Rookie of the Year and Little Big League as terrible movies, in my opinion. Outside of 5-10 year olds, who enjoys these films. Even at those ages, I don't think I would have
Fantasy. The Sandlot,the Natural,
MLB. Major League,pride of the Yankees
Little League. Bad News Bears the Original Amanda was hot.
Minor Leagues. Bull Duham
Between '61 and A league of their own as my favorites. That would be my number one. Second would be Bull Durham. And third could be any of a host of films but I would go with Sandot.
One thing I always thought was funny was that the big slugger, Clu Hayward, was played by a pitcher, Pete Vukovich. And the relief ace, the Duke, was played by a catcher, Steve Yeager.
Fun fact - I played Little League for years with and against Pete Vukovich's nephew, who was by far the best ballplayer I ever was on a field with. Dude was a really tall kid who threw 80+ when he was 13 years old and mid-90s in high school. I often think about that when I ponder just how awesome you have to be to make the majors in any capacity. This guy was like Kershaw in LL and high school, was drafted by the Cubs, and he never made it out of AA. Makes you remember that a hump like Brendan Ryan, once upon a time, was the big star at somebody's high school.
some kids hit their growth spurt earlier so they seem artificially better because they are bigger and stronger than the rest of the kids. I've seen 12 year old kids at 5'10 throw 75mph in the LLWS then see them listed at 5'11 5 years later when they are applying for college. It's all about when you peak physically.
A League of Their Own
61*
Field of Dreams
Bull Durham
The Natural
But IMO, it's Major League. I actually think it's also one of the funniest movies ever.
+1
His Baseball Reference stats page - ( New Window )
Bad News Bears
Eight Men Out
The Natural
I never liked A League of Their Own. Outside of some scenes with Hanks, I couldn't stand it.
See it if you haven't
See it if you haven't
Yeah I mentioned it earlier. Its half guilty pleasure but I also don't think it all that bad. Preston is gorgeous.
LET THEM PLAY! - ( New Window )
BTW, the rookie who takes Selleck's Yankees job in the beginning is played by the young Big Hurt.
Field of Dreams
Natural
Sandlot
Moneyball
Good list - I'd put The Natural on top, and add Bull Durham
+1. I saw it as well - very well done...
Major League II (Michelle Burke a.k.a. Mitch Kramer's sister from Dazed and Confused, is underratedly hot)
in no particular order I also likes the natural, 8 men out, *61 and Bull durham. a league of their own was great only because of Hanks. he was so damn funny in that movie!...I actually liked the HBO movie about JR breaking the color barrier more than 42. "when it was a game" I think it was called.
field of dreams I thought was one of the worst movies I ever saw. so stupid and corny. I hate it so much.
"So after “Major League” people just assumed Bernsen wasn’t a good ballplayer. Truth was, he played in high school and thought about playing college ball. So he could field a grounder, regardless of what the early scenes in the movie portrayed.
“That was always a bit annoying,” Bernsen says, laughing. “I was supposed to miss those balls. There were times where it was hard to miss the ball.”" ‘Major League’ turns 25 — here are 15 things you didn't know about the movie - ( New Window )
Jon Lovitz is great in it too.
See it if you haven't
Sandlot
Moneyball - I didn't initially think of it, but so many hear mentioned it and I did enjoy it.
Re: 42 - I really wanted to like it, but I didn't think it was great. It was an enjoyable film, but could have and should have been much better.
Slugger's Wife anyone?
Bad News Bears -- I am trying very hard not to care if my son is good at baseball or not, and failing.
Eight Men Out -- Poor Shoeless Joe.
Mr. Baseball gets slept on quite a bit as a baseball movie. I like the movie.
Yep I liked it too, sappiness in all. I would have it 3rd behind:
Bull Durham and Field of Dreams.
Lots of good movies listed here - Pride of the Yankees - damn forgot that.
I was just about to post about Long Gone. Good call.
Moneyball
Little Big League (a movie so bad that it was good)
Honorable mention to Pride of the Yankees and Bull Durham.
Quote:
Another very good one is a movie virtually no one's seen - HBO made a movie about a floundering minor league team in the '50s called Long Gone that is really funny. It was a bit of a baseball version of Slap Shot, with William Peterson playing a Reggie Dunlop kind of role as a player-manager, Virginia Madsen back when she was pretty hot, and one of the dirtbag owners was played by Teller from Penn and Teller.
I was just about to post about Long Gone. Good call.
Personally, I'm a Pride of the Yankees fan. Bull Durham is next.
Personally, I'm a Pride of the Yankees fan. Bull Durham is next.
MLB. Major League,pride of the Yankees
Little League. Bad News Bears the Original Amanda was hot.
Minor Leagues. Bull Duham
Yup every team had a Tanner Boyle,an Olgevie,and a Timmy Lupus.