I polled Facebook friends and Twitter followers before the MLB season started in search of the best baseball movies ever made.
Since then my favorite big league team has slid into the dumps, making this an ideal time to grab some popcorn and embrace predictable endings in front of the television.
Every movie mentioned by anyone is listed below, grouped together by the most nominated and placed in order by year of release.
The first five movies were the overwhelming choices among those that responded, meaning movies like The Bad News Bears and The Natural seem underrated in this study.
Let me know which baseball movies stand out most to you.
= HOME RUNS =
Bull Durham (1988): featuring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins.
Field of Dreams (1989): featuring Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Gaby Hoffman, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones.
Major League (1989): featuring Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Margaret Whitton, Wesley Snipes, Bob Uecker.
A League of Their Own (1992): featuring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Lori Petty, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Jon Lovitz.
The Sandlot (1993): featuring Art LaFleur, Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Denis Leary, James Earl Jones.
= TRIPLES =
The Bad News Bears (1976): featuring Walter Matthau, Tatum O’Neal, Vic Morrow, Joyce Van Patten.
The Natural (1984): featuring Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Michael Madsen.
Mr. Baseball (1992): featuring Tom Selleck, Ken Takakura, Aya Takakura, Dennis Haysbert, Art LaFleur.
Little Big League (1994): featuring Luke Edwards, Timothy Busfield, John Ashton, Ashley Crow, Chris Berman, MLB player cameos.
For Love of the Game (1999): featuring Kevin Costner, Kelly Preston, John C. Reilly, Vin Scully.
61* (2001): featuring Barry Pepper, Thomas Jane, Anthony Michael Hall, Joe Buck.
Moneyball (2011): featuring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hall, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Bob Costas.
42 (2013): featuring Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie.
= DOUBLES =
The Pride of the Yankees (1942): featuring Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth, Walter Brennan.
Rookie of the Year (1993): featuring Thomas Ian Nicholas, Gary Busey, Albert Hall, Amy Morton, Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, Pedro Guerrero.
Angels in the Outfield (1994): featuring Danny Glover, Brenda Fricker, Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd, Neal McDonough, Matthew McConaughey.
Major League II (1994): featuring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Corbin Bernsen, Omar Epps, Bob Uecker, Jay Leno, Jesse Ventura.
The Scout (1994): featuring Albert Brooks, Brendan Fraser, Dianne Wiest, Michael Rapaport, Bob Costas, MLB player cameos.
Soul of the Game (1996): featuring Delroy Lindo, Mykelti Williamson, Edward Herrmann, Blair Underwood.
Hardball (2001): featuring Keanu Reeves, Diane Lane, John Hawkes, Michael B. Jordan, Sammy Sosa.
The Rookie (2002): featuring Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez.
= SINGLES =
The Jackie Robinson Story (1950): featuring Jackie Robinson, Ruby Dee, Minor Watson.
Fear Strikes Out (1957): featuring Anthony Perkins, Karl Malden, Norma Moore.
Bang the Drum Slowly (1973): featuring Robert De Niro, Michael Moriarty, Vincent Gardenia.
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976): featuring Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones, Richard Pryor.
Brewster’s Millions (1985): featuring Richard Pryor, John Candy, Lonette McKee.
Long Gone (1987): featuring William Petersen, Virginia Madsen, Dermot Mulroney.
Eight Men Out (1988): featuring John Cusack, Clifton James, Michael Lerner, Christopher Lloyd, Charlie Sheen.
The Babe (1992): featuring John Goodman, Kelly McGillis, Trini Alvarado.
The Fan (1996): featuring Robert De Niro, Wesley Snipes, Ellen Barkin, Benicio Del Toro.
Mr. 3000 (2004): Bernie Mac, Angela Bassett, Michael Rispoli, Paul Sorvino, Jay Leno, Stuart Scott, Peter Gammons.
Beer League (2006): featuring Artie Lange, Ralph Macchio, Anthony DeSando, Tina Fey.
Sugar (2008): featuring Jose Rijo, Walki Cuevas, Algenis Perez Soto.