What is the best baseball movie of all-time, please tell me why as well?

Answer 1

While I love such movies as "Bull Durham" and its accurate portrayal of minor league life, "Major League" because its funny and realistic and the others that have been listed, my all-time favorite is one that nobody has listed, called "Kill The Umpire" starring William Bendix as Two-Call Johnson. It came out around 1949 or 1950 from Columbia Pictures and used to pop up on channels like TCM and AMC once in a great while, but I haven't seen it for years.

Briefly, Bendix is an avid fan who is always second-guessing the umpires - loudly. Finally, he loses his job for taking off to watch a game and everyone convinces him to go to umpire school. When it comes time to umpire his actual first game, he gets something in his eyes that causes him to see double. Stationed at second base, a runner comes sliding in and he sees two players, so he calls them both out, "you're out, you're out" and he becomes an immediate hit with fans and players alike. And it just kind of goes from there.

If you ever get a chance to see the movie - by all means do so, its a priceless piece of filmmaking that shows what real baseball was like before steroids, only from the umpire's point of view. Its a true classic of the genre. And of course, its never been available on VHS or DVD.

Answer 2

I like "61" about the 1961 home run race between Mantle & Maris best. It is purely about baseball and the players, and has more on-field action than most baseball movies. There aren't distracting love stories. It shows the players as real people, with problems, and since the characters WERE real people, I thought it was interesting. It was entertaining & I learned something, too. Barry Pepper really showed the anguish Maris went through as a retiring guy in a non-relenting spotlight.

Bull Durham was good too. Kevin Costner really has the 'old player still proving he has the stuff' character down. For the Love of the Game was good, but he basically played the same guy he had already played in Bull Durham.

Answer 3

Field of Dreams. It's a very creative movie with a great storyline. It also gives some history of baseball and the ending is a classic. I have actually cried at the end of the movie on several occasions. Very touching and just a well put together movie.

Answer 4

A lot depends on how it affects you.

Some give high marks for "Bang the Drum Slowly", other enjoy the interplay in "Bull Durham".

Still more go to the fantasy approach in "Field of Dreams". Some want a touch of reality with "Bingo Long".

For the kids, there is "The Sandlot", "Rookie of the Year" and "Most Valuable Primate".

Some like the historic ones of "The Jackie Robinson Story" and "Fear Strikes Out".

There is inspiration in "The Natural" and "The Rookie".

Are their stinky ones? Sadly, there are. Baseball does not always work as a metaphor. "Fever Pitch" get rashed as does "The Babe Ruth Story".

Take your pick.

Answer 5

Eight Men Out is soooooooo good! I loved it because, well, I can't tell you.
If you haven't seen it, I don't want to ruin it by telling you about it. So go rent it or better yet ~ buy it. You won't regret it.
It's a great piece of baseball history and I really felt for some of those players, the pitcher in particular. You'll see what I mean when you watch it. ; )

Answer 6

It has to be The Natural. It is the ultimate feel-good, American dream for America's sport. Even though I am not a baseball fan, I could watch this movie over and over.

Answer 7

Fever Pitch.Best movie ever made period, have seen it more than 20 times.I'm Jimmy Fallons character in that movie, except I'm a girl.So many people tried to get me out of the house during the 2004 playoff games, and I lost some friends by the the things I said to them.I literally cried for 4 1/2 straight hours after they won the World Series, it was one of the greatest days in my life.And gee_dunk I think you rule this website with your questions and answers along with Georgie Porgie of course.

Answer 8

The Rookie is an extremely inspiring movie because it is based on something that happened for real. Field of Dreams is also a good one and Eight Men Out (story of the 1919 Chicago White Sox)

Answer 9

Field of Dreams...hands down.

The imagination of the story. The ability of a man to meet his heros. It is what we all dream about. The purity of the sport. The story was about the love of the game. Pure baseball. Making a dream come true.

Answer 10

The Natural. Great story of how one mistake can change your life, and your dreams. The baseball scenes are done well and the "cover that comes off the ball" scene is great.