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Today we welcome back Mark Kolier with of rundown of some of his favorite – and not-so-favorite – baseball movies. Reading his essay, I realized I’m way behind in watching the National Pastime depicted on the screen. Having watched “Pride of the Yankees” for the first time just last year, I’ve got my work cut out for me! Anyway, I think you’ll enjoy Mark’s essay. See if you agree with him…as he wonders why there haven’t been any good ones made in recent years. -GL
How About a New Generation of Baseball Movies?
Why haven’t there been any great baseball movies in a long time?
Over the holidays this year, I caught up watching some baseball movies that have been around for a while. Several of them I never watched before. For the first time, I watched “The Sandlot” (I know, I know), “Mr. 3000” and “Mr. Baseball.” Nothing all that new or different in any of those, but we’ll discuss that later. The reason I did not watch any more recent movies (“Trouble with the Curve” is the most recent somewhat successful baseball movie, and that’s from 2012), is that there just isn’t much worth watching.
Wikipedia has a nifty list of baseball movies, er, “films,” as they call it. The list goes back and starts with a short documentary film in 1898 called “The Ball Game.” You can imagine – grainy black-and-white films with guys playing baseball. Fun to look at, but hardly a movie.
In 1916, a “five-reel” drama called “Casey at the Bat” based on Ernest Thayer’s famous poem was released. Five reels? And am I the only baseball fan who does not have all that much love and nostalgia for “Casey at the Bat” as a poem, film or anything else? The poem represents a stitch in time which is at best mildly amusing. The first time.
Wikipedia lists 182 films. The most recent from 2023 is “Tomorrow’s Game.” The plot line:
On the day of his uncle’s ascendance into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Daniel is forced to embark on a journey through time that sees him restore his family’s legacy and rewrite baseball history. 
I admit that I missed that one, but I did watch “It Ain’t Over,” a 2022 documentary about Yogi Berra made by his granddaughter Lindsay. I enjoyed this, and I’m not even a Yankee fan. Yogi is probably one of the most underappreciated pure baseball players, once you take away all the noise and goofiness about his being Yogi.
Not on the list is “Facing Nolan,” a 2023 documentary made by the Ryan family that appears on Netflix. It was worth watching. Baseball documentaries have an easier chance of being good than a baseball drama or comedy. And baseball biopics are often love letters to the subject made by members of the family. 
When I was very young, “The Pride of the Yankees” starring Gary Cooper was the standard for baseball movies. Poignant about Lou Gehrig’s career and career-ending/life-ending battle with the disease that took his name, you are not allowed to not like that movie. Then and still now, I found it meh, although I’ve not watched it in a long time. Did I mention I was not a Yankee fan? It’s also patently unfair to assess a movie made more than 80 years ago in the context of the spirit of today’s times. Aren’t all movies from 1942 overly dramatic, overly sentimental, and out of date in some regard or another, if not entirely?
On our podcast episode from a few years ago, “Silver Sluggers of the Silver Screen,” my son and I discussed our favorite baseball movies. Like most people, we agreed that the 1980s was a prolific, if not “golden era,” for baseball movies, starting with “The Natural” in 1984 and including “Eight Men Out” (1988), “Bull Durham” (1988), “Major League” (1989), and “Field of Dreams” (also 1989).
The 1990s were more uneven, with movies like “A League of their Own” (1992), “The Scout” (1994), and “For the Love of the Game” (1999) being offset by movies like “Angels in the Outfield” (1994), which was a remake of a 1951 film, and “Ed” (1996) with Matt LeBlanc. Was “Rookie of the Year” (1994) a good baseball movie? It was preposterous, silly, and made me laugh a little, but c’mon, really?
But since the 1990s, the pickings have been slim. Billy Crystal’s “61” (2001), yet another Yankee movie, was good. Dennis Quaid did a pretty good imitation of a baseball player in the good true-to-life story “The Rookie” (2002). That’s kind of it for that decade, unless you feel that the remake of “Bad News Bears” (2005), “Fever Pitch” (2005), and “The Benchwarmers” (2006), are worthy. To be honest, I did not care much for the first “Bad News Bears” movie from 1976.
And the 2010s had maybe the best baseball movie in the past 25 years – “Moneyball” (2011). “42” (2013) about Jackie Robinson was also very good. The rest of that decade did not produce memorable movies, although there were quite a few among them: “Million Dollar Arm” (2014) with Jon Hamm, which I saw, and “The Phenom” (2015) which I did not, and apparently did not miss much according to the reviews. 
Have I omitted one of your favorites? That’s likely because there are so many, and like I am with “The Scout,” which I love, if you’re bent on a baseball movie, you will watch it every time you pass it by. What do I want from a baseball movie that’s not a documentary? Something that makes me think differently about the game, for starters. It can have relationships, both romantic or otherwise, but I want to watch and think, “I hadn’t thought of it that way before.” A different light, a new view. A light on something overlooked in the game itself. Surely all the great baseball movies cannot have already all been made?
Even if baseball is no longer “America’s Pastime,” it’s still worth trying to make another classic baseball movie, right? So, I have an idea for a movie based on a book I read. More about that another time.
Mark Kolier
About the Author: Mark Kolier along with his son Gordon co-hosts a baseball podcast called ‘Almost Cooperstown’. He also has written baseball-related articles that can be accessed on Medium.com and now Substack.com.
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Years ago……The Monty Stratton Story starring Jimmy Stewart and June Allison is a must see. Regards Paul Allen, author Bright Lights Black Stars
I think I saw the Monty Stratton story long ago. And I will check out the movie based on your book Paul. Thanks!
Early ’70s, Bang the Drum Slowly. De Niro, Michael Moriarity, Vincent Gardenia. No Yankees but De Niro’s NY Mammoths vs. Redford’s NY Knights would be a great matchup.
Yes I remember that one as well. While the movie was a bit too syrupy for my taste, I love the idea of pitting fictional teams like the Mammoths and Knights.
Gary, we agree on “Pride of the Yankees”. The Walter Brennan sportswriter character was way worse than “sentimental”! I expected him to show up in Lou and Ellie’s bedroom; he was so intrusive and obnoxious. But I did like the original of “The Bad News Bears” … good stuff about adult-child relationships. (How can you not like Engelberg?) You omitted one film I really liked (although the novella by Mark Harris was better): “Bang the Drum Slowly”, with Robert DeNiro and Michael Moriarty, both early in their film careers. Much of the screenplay is (happily) lifted directly from Harris’ well written book.
Gary – loved the article and also very happy you mentioned “For Love of the Game”. Admittedly, it’s for selfish reasons because my wife and I were extras and we actually appeared several times in the film and also in the trailer. I’ve kept the link to trailer number two from You Tube. YouTube/watch?v=DGvaaRufU2Y. If you care to check it out at 19 seconds, approximately, you will see a fan with the Yankees jacket on heckling Kevin Costner. Over his right shoulder (to the left on screen) I am in the white Yankees hat about three or four rows behind him. My wife is next to me on my left in the wide Elton John type sunglasses.
I enjoyed reading this summary by Mr. Kolier, and the comments made by other readers. During my lifetime of loving the game, I have watched so many flicks based around baseball. Some are; of course, very good, some are really corny, some are mostly fictional crap, and some have; IMHO, actors that are not very suited to the roles they are playing {i.e. William Bendix in “The Babe Ruth Story”}. The 1984 flick, “The Natural” was mentioned. I think the score for that movie is one of the best sound tracks of any baseball movie ever made. Many don’t know that it was written by Randy Newman {“I Love L.A.”, “Short People”, etc.}. The music intertwines so perfectly with the excitement, suspense and drama that are depicted in that movie. Not as yet mentioned was “Cobb”, with Tommy Lee Jones; a mostly inaccurate account of Cobb’s life. Thnx for sharing this, Gary. “PLAY BALL” !
Thanks for the kind words Thomas. Nice mention spot on about Randy Newman great score for ‘The Natural’.
Mark, you’ve seen more baseball movies than I have fingers and toes to count them all! Good job, sparking memories.
Yeah, Tom, always loved William Bendix but the movie stunk. Bendix said the wind machine pumped his home runs over wall at Yankee Stadium. But he said he actually hit one over fence on his own. Barely.
Paul, remember Stewart, as Stratton, falling with his bad leg and saying, “I started my slide too soon!”
Andy and Carry, “Bang the Drum Slowly” and “Mean Streets” made the young De Niro a star. Michael Moriarity had a great pitching motion! Never understood, though, why Henry (Moriarity) was the only one who attended poor Bruce’s (De Niro) funeral?
Once spoke with Michael M. on the phone trying to coax him into re-upping his Wall Street Journal subscription. Super nice. He also played jazz piano at the Knickerbocker hotel in NY, in the mid-90’s.
Cary, sure Walter Brennan was over the top in “Pride” but lovable I thought. One of the great character actors with three Oscars. The movie is loaded with corn, but Bill Dickey did a nice job and Teresa Wright’s scene, masking her sorrow with Lou, is a classic. From “The Perpetual Emotion Machine.” She could turn it on.
A director once said, “You watch Gary Cooper do a scene and think, ‘what did he do’? Then you watch the rushes and see that what he did was perfect.” Watch the scene again when Lou is playfully wrestling with Ellie and he suddenly winces, realizing something is awfully wrong. It’s not just a muscle twitch. In that split second, Gehrig is both bewildered and terrified. That’s great acting.
My favorite is “Field of Dreams.” But why didn’t they reverse the camera so Shoeless Joe (Ray Liotta) is batting left-handed–like they did in “Pride of the Yankees” with Cooper?
Hey Bob, maybe you could get us here at BHCA into the movies.
Here’s a few more:
“It Happens Every Spring.” Ray Miland is a chemistry professor who invents a substance that repels wood when rubbed on a baseball. Paul Douglas helps out as the catcher, but the movie is a semi-dud as a fantasy flick.
“Fear Strikes Out.” Anthony Perkins is a joke as Jimmy Piersall because he couldn’t distinguish a baseball from an onion. But Karl Malden is at times funny as his overbearing, success driven father, “.342 dad, second in the American Association.” “But that’s not FIRST is it, Jim.”
“Damn Yankees.” Ray Walston is brilliant as the Devil (“Never feel sorry for anyone”) Likewise, Gwen Verdon as Lola. Tab Hunter is a good Jim Hardy, mostly, but like Perkins he’s unfortunately a non-athlete. The music and dancing are outrageous.
Have seen many of them Bill and Bang the Drum Slowly was sort of a baseball movie but baseball was the vehicle to move the story IMO. I recall the title “It Happens Every Spring” but can’t recall if I watched it or not. You’re so right about ‘Fear Strikes Out’. ‘Damn Yankees’ I’ve not seen in a long time. Thanks for those memories!
Well. as I mentioned…I’ve got my work cut out for me! I haven’t seen any of these movies you guys are talking about. Although I did see “League of Their Own” when my kids were little, and “Pride of the Yankees” last year. But that’s about it!
I have seen all the movies mentioned. “Pride of St. Louis” about Dizzy Dean was also pretty good. “Fireman, Save My Child”, “Alibi Ike” and “Elmer The Great” are three great black and white can’t miss baseball movies starring Joe E. Brown. Brown is probably the best actor to portray a baseball player. He played some baseball in the low minors, I think. In his day he was one of the highest paid actors. If you have ever read Ring Lardner’s “Ring Around the Bases” you’ll like Joe E. Brown. His son Joe L. Brown was the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager for many years.
Someday, someone will do a great movie on Babe Ruth. Bendix, Stephen Lang, and John Goodman all stunk as the “Babe” and the writing was atrocious.
Thanks Kevin for the update…sounds like you know a lot about baseball movies!
I recommend checking out an old Harold Lloyd silent film called “Speedy.” This one features The Babe as himself. Lloyd was a comedic genius and he takes Ruth, who is late for a game, through the city in a hilarious cab ride to Yankee Stadium. If you’re not used to silents you might want to fast forward to the Ruth scenes. But it’s worth it because this is baseball movie gold.
I love this film too, Mark. If I recall correctly a small glimpse of Liu Gehrig is in the film plus Babe is shown hitting a homerun. It is a delight watching Babe’s facial expressions during the taxi ride. is seen at the end of the ride.
Years ago (30-plus?), and only once, I saw part of a film titled “The Kid from Cleveland.” It was made in 1949, and obviously was intended to rely on the 1948 World Series victory of the Cleveland Indians. Since I saw neither its beginning nor end, I suppose the plot was of an adolescent boy who runs away from home to be the batboy of the Indians. For me the focus was on the appearances by Johnny Berardino, Bill Veeck, Lou Boudreau, Tris Speaker, Hank Greenberg, Bob Feller, Gene Bearden, Satchel Paige, Bob Lemon, Steve Gromek, and Joe Gordon. I would love to see it again, this time in its entirety, and be able to record it. Here’s the IMDB link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041545/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_1
Yesterday I forgot to mention a very enjoyable film: Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings. It starred Billy Dee Williams and James Earl Jones, along with Richard Pryor, Mabel King, and Leon “Daddy Wags” Wagner. (1976)
It’s about an independent Negro League team barnstorming wherever they can get a baseball crowd big enough to let them make some money. I enjoyed it so much I bought a DVD of it.:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bingo_Long_Traveling_All-Stars_%26_Motor_Kings
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074207/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_bingo%2520long
Good one David. I remember seeing Bingo Long’s Traveling All-stars and & Motor Kings. Richard Pryor was good and not playing it as much for laughs as you might think!
Another pretty cool baseball-related flick with Richard Pryor is “Brewster’s Millions” (1985}. Also starring John Candy, it follows the efforts of Pryor in his attempt to spend $30M in 30 days. Hilarious.
Thanks for the recap of baseball movies. There are still plenty I need to watch. As a Yankee fan I particularly like “61”. I was at Yankee Stadium when Maris hit # 61 so I have a special feeling for the story which Billy Crystal told so well.
I was also glad to see that you didn’t care for the 1976 Bad News Bears. I recently watched it for the first time and was appalled. A Little League baseball coach who is an alcoholic? Really? All the beer cans? Is that supposed to be funny? The movie really was pretty bad. I’m working on a middle-grade baseball novel and I’m sure that I can tell a better story than that.
Thanks for your essay.
Thank you Steven and good luck on the novel!