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<\/a>By Geoffrey Huchel<\/strong><\/p>\n\u201cTake me out to the ballgame; take me out to the crowd\u2026\u201d OK, I know you know the song, but I felt it was apropos considering baseball season is underway. Whatever your favorite team is, like my World Series Champions Boston Red Sox, it can be said there have been some really terrific baseball films through the years. So, grab your cracker jacks and let\u2019s look back at some of the movies that celebrate America\u2019s favorite pastime. <\/p>\n
THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942) Running Time 2 hr 8 min<\/strong><\/em> Plot: This biopic traces the life of Lou Gehrig, famous baseball player, who played 2130 consecutive games before falling at age 37 to ALS, a deadly nerve disease which now bears his name. The film explores his childhood in New York until his famous \u201cLuckiest Man:\u201d speech at his farewell day in 1939.<\/p>\n Trivia: Nominated for 11 Oscars including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role for Gary Cooper and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Teresa Wright.<\/p>\n TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME (1949) Running Time 1 hr 33 min<\/strong><\/em> Plot: Two turn-of-the-century baseball players, who work in vaudeville during the off-season, run into trouble with their team\u2019s new female owner and a gambler who doesn\u2019t want them to win the pennant.<\/p>\n THE BAD NEWS BEARS (1976) Running Time 1 hr 42 min<\/strong><\/em> Plot: An aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league.<\/p>\n THE NATURAL (1984) Running Time 2 hr 18 min<\/strong><\/em> Plot: An unknown comes seemingly out of nowhere to become a legendary player with almost divine talent.<\/p>\n Trivia: Nominated for 4 Oscars including Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Glenn Close. Kim Basinger received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.<\/p>\n BULL DURHAM (1988) Running Time 1 hr 48 min<\/strong><\/em> Plot: A fan has an affair with one minor-league baseball player each season meets an up-and-coming pitcher and the experienced catcher assigned to him.<\/p>\n Trivia: Susan Sarandon earned a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.<\/p>\n FIELD OF DREAMS (1989) Running Time 1 hr 47 min<\/strong><\/em> Plot: An Iowa corn farmer, hearing voices, interprets them as a command to build a baseball diamond in his fields; he does, and the 1919 Chicago White Sox come.<\/p>\n Trivia: Oscar nominated for Best Picture<\/p>\n MAJOR LEAGUE (1989) Running time 1 hr 47 min<\/strong><\/em> Plot: The new owner of the Cleveland Indians puts together a purposely horrible team so they\u2019ll lose and she can move the team. But when the plot is uncovered, they start winning just to spite her.<\/p>\n A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (1992) Running Time 2 hr 8 min<\/strong><\/em> Plot: Two sisters join the first professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amidst their own growing rivalry.<\/p>\n Trivia: Nominated for 2 Golden Globes: Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture- Comedy or Musical for Geena Davis and Best Original Song-Motion Picture for Madonna.<\/p>\n THE SANDLOT (1993) Running Time 1 hr 41 mins<\/strong><\/em> Plot: In the summer of 1962, a new kid in town is taken under the wing of a young baseball prodigy and his rowdy team, resulting in many adventures.<\/p>\n FOR LOVE OF THE GAME (1999) Running Time 2 he 17 min<\/strong><\/em> Plot: After 19 years of playing the game he\u2019s loved his whole life, Billy Chapel has to decide if he\u2019s going to risk it all and put everything out there.<\/p>\n 61* (2001) Running Time 2 hr 9 min<\/strong><\/em> MONEYBALL (2011) Running Time 2 hr 13 min<\/strong><\/em> Plot: Oakland A\u2019s general manager Billy Beane\u2019s successful attempt to assemble a baseball team on a lean budget by employing computer-generated analysis to acquire new players.<\/p>\n Trivia: Nominated for 6 Oscars including Best Motion Picture, best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for Brad Pitt and best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for Jonah Hill.<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Sam Wood
\nStarring: Gary Cooper
\nTeresa Wright
\nBabe Ruth<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Busby Berkeley
\nStarring: Frank Sinatra
\nEsther Williams
\nGene Kelly<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Michael Ritchie
\nStarring: Walter Matthau
\nTatum O\u2019Neal
\nVic Morrow
\nJackie Earl Haley<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Barry Levinson
\nStarring: Robert Redford
\nRobert Duvall
\nGlenn Close
\nKim Basinger<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Ron Shelton
\nStarring: Kevin Costner
\nSusan Sarandon
\nTim Robbins<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Phil Alden Robinson
\nStarring: Kevin Costner
\nJames Earl Jones
\nRay Liotta
\nAmy Madigan<\/p>\n
\nDirector: David S. Ward
\nStarring: Tom Berenger
\nCharlie Sheen
\nCorbin Bernsen
\nMargaret Whitton<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Penny Marshall
\nStarring: Tom Hanks
\nGeena Davis
\nLori Petty
\nMadonna<\/p>\n
\nDirector: David Mickey Evans
\nStarring: Tom Guiry
\nMike Vitar
\nPatrick Renna
\nDenis Leary
\nKaren Allen
\nMarley Shelton<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Sam Raimi
\nStarring: Kevin Costner
\nKelly Preston
\nJohn C.Reilly<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Billy Crystal
\nStarring: Barry Pepper
\nThomas Jane
\nPlot: Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle race to break Babe Ruth\u2019s single-season home run record.
\nTrivia: Nominated for a Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television for Barry Pepper.<\/p>\n
\nDirector: Bennett Miller
\nStarring: Brad Pitt
\nRobin Wright
\nJonah Hill
\nPhilip Seymour Hoffman<\/p>\n
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