Neyer's Top Ten Baseball Movies

[Subby]

From his Insider blog..


All-time best baseball movies

posted: Wednesday, March 5, 2008 | Feedback | Print Entry

Someone named Marcus offers his Top Ten Baseball Movies of All Time!

1. Field of Dreams
2. Bull Durham
3. Major League
4. The Natural
5. A League of Their Own
6. Pride of the Yankees
7. The Sandlot
8. 61*
9. Little Big League
10. The Bad News Bears

That's his list, but I recommend RTFA if only for the trivia and video clips. A few comments of my own:

• As usual, I must begin my discussion with an admission: I still haven't seen Major League. Not from beginning to end, though I think I've probably seen almost every minute here and there. I have a hard time believing it's really the third-best baseball movie, though it certainly belongs on the list somewhere if only because it's become a part of the culture.

• Same goes for A League of Their Own, which is not a particularly good movie -- the script suffers from the banal sentimentality that characterizes the worst of screenwriters Lowell Ganz's and Babaloo Mandel's work -- but will forever survive because of one memorable line in one great scene.

• Speaking of sentimentality, that's what sinks Field of Dreams for me, and while that movie's memorable line also means immortality, I find so much of the film unwatchable that I haven't watched it straight through since the first time.

• In Field of Dreams, Ray Liotta, playing Shoeless Joe Jackson, bats righty and throws lefty, which is strange considering that Jackson batted lefty and threw righty. One could almost forgive this indiscretion if there was some offsetting resemblance between the two, but of course Jackson was a sharecropper's son from South Carolina and Liotta's an Italian from Newark. If you want to see Shoeless Joe on celluloid, John Sayles' Eight Men Out is the "correct" choice and I'm not sure how that one misses Marcus' list.

• I saw The Bad News Bears at the theater in 1976, when I was 10. I didn't see it again until this winter, and I was shocked. I suppose it wasn't made for nothing, because Walter Matthau was a big star in those days and presumably commanded a big salary. But it looks like it was shot on a shoestring budget in about two weeks, and there are some absolutely brutal characters and scenes.

And here's the best part: the Bears do not win the big game at the end. Yes, the movie now looks, as do most products of the 1970s, oddly dated. But after watching it again I'm convinced it goes in the top five all-time. Anyway, here's my list (yes, I run through this exercise every year or two, and please don't expect great consistency):

1. Bull Durham
2. Eight Men Out
3. The Bad News Bears
4. Fever Pitch
5. The Natural
6. The Sandlot
7. 61*
8. Pride of the Yankees
9. A League of Their Own
10. Babe Ruth

Really, I've got a top three and the next five are tied for a distant fourth. I haven't included documentaries. But if I did, The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg would figure prominently, as would HBO's first two iterations of When It Was a Game and that network's documentary about the Brooklyn Dodgers (and by the way, we're still waiting for the first great documentary about the Negro Leagues). I'm sure we'll have plenty to discuss below the fold, as I could write entire essays about every one of these movies ...

[korme]

How has Rob Neyer never seen Major League?

[korme]

Fever Pitch 4th?

Really?

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

Fever Pitch 4th?

Really?

My thoughts exactly

[larrymcg421]

Might as well not even make the list if you're going to exclude Eight Men Out.

[Izulde]

I'd have For Love of the Game up there long, long before Fever Pitch.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Izulde

I'd have For Love of the Game up there long, long before Fever Pitch.

I agree, and I still wouldn't have For Love of the Game up there.

[Logan]

To echo Shorty...WTF on never seeing Major League? How can you call yourself a baseball writer and not see that movie?

It's easily #1 on my list.

[larrymcg421]

1. Eight Men Out
2. Pride of the Yankees
3. Major League
4. The Natural
5. Field of Dreams
6. Bad News Bears
7. Bang the Drum Slowly
8. Fear Strikes Out
9. Rookie of the Year
10. Talent For the Game

[rowech]

Top 5 for me because the rest don't count:

1. Bull Durham
2. The Natural
3. Bad News Bears
4. Field of Dreams
5. Major League and The Sandlot tied (note that Major League has fallen over the years probably due to too many viewings)

Most underrated: Little Big League -- yes it's cheesy but it does a decent job.

Most overrated: Pride of the Yankees -- Within the context, a good movie but really it's just not that great.

Another comment -- for those who have never seen the British Version of Fever Pitch, watch it instead of the crap that came out in America. It's about Soccer but it does such a better job of conveying what it means to be a fan.

[Celeval]

Originally Posted by rowech

Another comment -- for those who have never seen the British Version of Fever Pitch, watch it instead of the crap that came out in America. It's about Soccer but it does such a better job of conveying what it means to be a fan.

The book is still better.

[Toddzilla]

Bull Durham is the best *sports* movie of all time, never mind baseball.

Suck it, Rocky.

[BrianD]

General thoughts:

Any list that doesn't include 61* and Eight Men Out in the top 5 is just wrong. Those were fantastic movies.

Field of Dreams would have been so much better if Costner wasn't in it. The movie is quite good, but Costner just sucks so aggressively that he pulls viewers out of the movie.

A League of Their Own makes me misty-eyed every time I watch it. It may be overly sentimental, but it still works.

I watched Major League from beginning to end recently (after many many partial viewings), and I was reminded how good the movie was. Full range of emotions, lots of laughs, and Bob Uecker. Good stuff.

[Drake]

I liked For the Love of the Game. *shurg*

[Logan]

Tim Robbins is one of my favorite actors and he can do many things on-screen. Unfortunately, one such thing is "appear to throw like a girl" in Bull Durham, which knocks it down a peg in my eyes.

[Jas_lov]

Both lists are terrible. Field of Dreams, Eight Men Out, Major League and 61* should be on both of these lists and every baseball fan's list along with The Natural, Pride of the Yankees, and Bull Durham. Fever Pitch #4 is a joke. A total of six people have seen Neyer's #10 movie, Babe Ruth. And any list that doesn't include Mr. Baseball starring the great Tom Selleck should be burned.

[MrBug708]

Good to see Sandlot on the list. One of my favorite movies with a ton of quotable lines

[CamEdwards]

Fever Pitch was wretched. I couldn't watch the whole movie. And I can't be the only one here who thinks Major League is actually a funnier movie than Bull Durham, can I?

[Drake]

Nope. Major League is funnier than Bull Durham by a country mile.

(I enjoy Bull Durham more, but Major League is more laugh-out-loud funny.)

[Pumpy Tudors]

Clearly, there must be some type of sabermetric analysis we can apply to these movies, and then Neyer's list will make perfect sense.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Toddzilla

Bull Durham is the best *sports* movie of all time, never mind baseball.

Suck it, Rocky.

Hoosiers begs to differ. How anyone can't say Hoosiers is the best sports movie ever is beyond me. The only thing against it is the most awkward kiss in screen history.

[Maple Leafs]

I don't care if it wasn't a baseball movie, Naked Gun needs to be on there for the dancing umpire/Reggie Jackson scene.

[Coffee Warlord]

1) Bull Durham
2) Major League
3) The Natural
4) League of their Own
5) Eight Men Out
6) Field of Dreams
7) Sandlot
8) Little Big League
9) Bad News Bears

annnnd....we'll leave it at 9.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Maple Leafs

I don't care if it wasn't a baseball movie, Naked Gun needs to be on there for the dancing umpire/Reggie Jackson scene.

And Enrico Pollazo!

[CamEdwards]

Originally Posted by Drake

Nope. Major League is funnier than Bull Durham by a country mile.

(I enjoy Bull Durham more, but Major League is more laugh-out-loud funny.)

Okay, guess I should have said "I can't be the only one who thinks Major League is a better movie." I own both, but I've watched Major League at least 3 times to every time I've watched Bull Durham. In fact, I can't even remember the last time I watched Bull Durham.

[ISiddiqui]

On that account... yes, yes you are the only one .

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by Celeval

The book (Fever Pitch) is still better.

Yeah, the movie is still pretty good as well though.

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

And any list that doesn't include Mr. Baseball starring the great Tom Selleck should be burned.

Mr. Baseball is a classic.

For me:

1- The Natural
2- Major League
3- The Bad News Bears
4- Mr. Baseball
5- Bull Durham
6- A League of their Own
7- The Sandlot
8- Eight Men Out

[Buccaneer]

My top 5:

1. Field of Dreams
2. *61
3. Natural
4. Eight Men Out
5. Pride of the Yankees

plus my annual I-despise-Bull-Durham quip.

*61 is actually a very close 2nd and I could see it become #1 in time. It is a harder movie to watch while FoD is one of those lazy afternoon love-fest that you can watch anytime.

[lighthousekeeper]

Markus: spend more time on ootp, less time on movie reviews.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Drake

I liked For the Love of the Game. *shurg*

Ditto.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by rowech

Hoosiers begs to differ. How anyone can't say Hoosiers is the best sports movie ever is beyond me. The only thing against it is the most awkward kiss in screen history.

Growing up, my favorite sports movies were Hoosiers and The Pistol. Although, I was suprised to see that The Pistol came out in 91. I was thinking it was like 88.

[st.cronin]

I think Hoosiers is a little overrated, to be honest. Its really good, but I don't feel like its one of the best movies ever made or anything. Its not much better than, say, Miracle, or White Men Can't Jump.

[st.cronin]

dola: I think the greatest sports movie ever made is Tin Cup.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

I think Hoosiers is a little overrated, to be honest. Its really good, but I don't feel like its one of the best movies ever made or anything. Its not much better than, say, Miracle, or White Men Can't Jump.

Miracle was pretty much an average TV movie clone, and White Men Can't Jump is like comparing Werner Herzog to Frank Capra. WTF that mean, I have no idea.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

Miracle was pretty much an average TV movie clone, and White Men Can't Jump is like comparing Werner Herzog to Frank Capra. WTF that mean, I have no idea.

"NAH NAH this ain't Raymond!"

[JetsIn06]

I loved Little Big League. LOVED.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by JetsIn06

I loved Little Big League. LOVED.

Except for that stupid hidden ball trick, the actual baseball play in that movie was pretty good.

It also has the greatest punch-out by an umpire ever on a random play at second base. Seriously, after seeing that, I considered becoming an umpire just so I can emulate his call.

[ISiddiqui]

The ending of Little Big League was great as well.

[Logan]

Even though Junior ran the equivalent of 7 football fields to chase down that ball?!

[korme]

Uhh is everybody forgetting Mr. 3000 or what? Bernie Mac's performance was legendary


...just kidding. Here's the list:

1 - Bull Durham
2 - 61*
3 - Eight Men Out
4 - Field of Dreams
5 - Major League
6 - The Natural
7 - Sandlot
8 - A League of Their Own
9 - Bad News Bears

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Logan

Even though Junior fan the equivalent of 7 football fields to chase down that ball?!

Dat boy fan so good?

[Logan]

I'm always too late on the edit. I showered in between the correction.

[KWhit]

Bull Durham is by far #1.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by Shorty3281

Uhh is everybody forgetting Mr. 3000 or what? Bernie Mac's performance was legendary

Mr. 3000 was a good movie.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by KWhit

The Natural is by far #1.

True.

[rowech]

Originally Posted by Schmidty

Growing up, my favorite sports movies were Hoosiers and The Pistol. Although, I was suprised to see that The Pistol came out in 91. I was thinking it was like 88.

Man...The Pistol...haven't seen that in ages but I watched it a lot in high school. Kid was a terrible actor but that movie was good in the most cheesy of ways.

[saldana]

i personally hate field of dreams (for the Joe Jackson issue neyer raised, and also the fact that they have a catcher, but ray schalk was not one of the 8), and I cant stand bull durham (possibly because i find susan sarandon retardedly annoying)

I would much rather have For Love of the Game on the list than either of those, but for my money, *61, The Natural, and Eight Men Out are the best, because they are actually baseball movies...Major Leauge and Mr Baseball are fantastic movies, but aren't really comparable to me

[korme]

Including The Natural with *61 and Eight Men Out is an odd pairing then

[Butter]

Did Neyer grow up an orphan? How anyone can grow up with a father and not at least think about tearing up during the last scene of Field of Dreams is unfathomable. I can watch that movie any time it comes on, and often do.