The Magic of Baseball Cinema

Updated: Nov 25, 2022

The Magic of Baseball Cinema

A day at the theater is just as exciting as going to a game at the ballpark, from the anticipation standing in line chatting with your friends and the fans next to you, as you walk, have your ticket scanned, the first thing you smell is popcorn & hot dogs. Thump thump noise you hear before you walk through the gates. There seems to be tons of films about North America's favorite pastime from a Team of Bad News Bears battling zombie, Girls crying on the field, while breaking ground off, Loser who just keep losing, Fanatic Fans, a home run at the bottom of the ninth and the belief in the magic of baseball cinema.


Brewster's Millions

A carrier minor league pitcher, swings at the chase to inherit millions

Error

Double Play

Opening Day

May 22 1985

Team

Walter Hill

Richard Pryor - Montgomery Brewster

John Candy .- Spike Nolan

Lonette McKee .- Angela Drake

Quote

Spike Nolan: Monty, this is Hackensack, NJ. No scout comes here, you understand that. Trains are going through the outfield right now. But you strike this guy out, I'll take you with me tonight and get you drunk, that's a promise.

Ball Park

Biltmore Hotel, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Bluebird Field Sun Valley

Sound Track

In the Nick of Time

Patti LaBelle

Trophy

Inheriting $300,000 millions dollars

Stats

35 mm

1.85:1

Panaflex Camera and Lenses by Panavision

Sources

http://sanfernandovalleyblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/filming-locations-brewsters-millions.html

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088850/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0


Damn Yankees

Selling your soul so your favorite team could win the World Series

Error

Switching batters

Opening Day

September 26 1958

The Team

Manger

George Abbott & Stanley Donen

Players

Tad Hunter - Joe Hardy

Gwen Verdon - Lola

Ray Walston - Mr. Applegate

Shannon Bolin - Ms. Meg Boyd

Quote

Ball Player

I swallowed my Chewing tobacco

Ball Parks

Wrigley Field

42nd Place & Avalon Blvd

Los Angeles, California, USA

\

Griffith Stadium

2041 Georgia Ave NW #5B-01, Washington, DC 20060, United States

Sound Track

Two Lost Souls Gwen

Verdon & Tad Hunter

Trophy

World Series Pennant

Stats / Film Techniques

35 mm

1:85:1

Sources

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051516/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0


The Bad News Bears

A drunk old baseball player manages a little league team with nothing but misfit kids.

Error

There is no smoking in baseball.

Opening Day

April 5 1976

Team

Manager

Michael Ritchie

Team

Walter Matthau - Coach Morris Buttermaker

Tatum O’Neal - Amanda Whurlitzer

Vic Morrow - Roy Tuner

Quote

Coach Morris Buttermaker: This quitting thing, it's a hard habit to break once you start.

Ball Parks

Mason Park

10500 Mason Ave

Chatsworth, California, USA

Bonanza Arcade

20515 Devonshire street

Chatsworth, California, USA

Sound Track

Carmen - Georges Bizet

Trophy

Will beat them next season

Stats

35mm

1.85:1

Sources

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074174/


A League Of Their Own

Is fashioned around the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War 2

Error

Out at Home

Opening Day

July 1 1992

Team

Manager

Penny Marshall

Team

Tom Hanks - Jimmy Dugan

Madonna - Mae Mordabito

Geena Davis - Dottie Hinson

Roise O'Donnell - Doris Murphy

Lori Petty - Kit Keller

Tracy Reiner - Betty Horn

Quote

Jimmy Dugan: Are you crying? Are you crying? ARE YOU CRYING? There's no crying! THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!

Mae Mordabito: What if at a key moment in the game my, my uniform bursts open and, uh, oops., my bosoms come flying out? That, that might draw a crowd, right?

Doris Murphy: You think there are men in this country who ain't seen your bosoms?

Ball Parks

Bosse Field

1701 N. Main Street,

Evansville, Indiana, USA

Jay Littleton BallPark

1076 North Grove Avenue,

Ontario, California, USA

Wrigley Field

1060 W. Addison St., Lake View

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Cooperstown, New York, USA

Sound Track

The All American Girls Professional Baseball League Song

This Used to be my Playground - Madonna

Trophy

The All American Girls Professional Baseball League pennant

Stats

35 mm

2.39:1

Sources

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104694/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1


Take Me Out To the Ball Game

A tittle of pre-Madonna baseball players moonlighting as Broadway stars.

Error

No showboating after a home run

Opening Day

March 9 1949

Team

Manager

Busby Berkeley

Players

Frank Sinatra - Dennis Ryan

Esther Williams - K.C. Higgins

Gene Kelly - Eddie O'Brien

Quote

Dennis Ryan: Gee! Ain't that somethin'? She's the kinda girl I've always dreamed about. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be married to a girl who played baseball? Gee.

Ball Park

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios

10202 W. Washington Blvd

Culver City, California, USA

Sound Track

O'Brien to Ryan to Goldberg– Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Jules Munshin

Take Me Out Ball Game – Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra, reprise by Esther Williams

Trophy

World Series Pennant

Stats

35 mm

1.37:1

Sources

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0041944/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0


The Fan

A deranged fan gets a little too close to the game

Error

Charge the mount

Opening Day

August 12 1996

Team

Tony Scott

Players

Robert De Niro - Gil Renard

Wesley Snipes - Bobby Rayburn

Quote

Bobby Rayburn: I mean, come on. Let's be real here, you know. What are we doin'? We're not curing cancer, you know? We're playin' a game. That's all it is. It's just a game. So I stopped caring and relaxed. Then I started hitting.

Ball Park

Angel Stadium of Anaheim

2000 Gene Autry Way,

Anaheim, California, USA

Candlestick Park

602 Jamestown Avenue

San Francisco, California, USA

Dodger Stadium

1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Chavez Ravine, Elysian Park

Los Angeles, California, USA

Sound Track

Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones

Closer - NIN

Stats

35 MM

Aspect ratio 2.39:1

Camera used

Panavision Panaflex Gold II, Panavision Primo and E-Series Lenses

Panavision Panaflex Platinum, Panavision Primo and E-Series Lenses

Sources

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116277/soundtrack?ref_=tt_trv_snd


Battlefield Baseball

A High School Baseball team play on the Koshien Stadium Tournament

Error

Throw out of the game for throwing the bat at the pitcher.

Opening Day

May 16 2003

Team

Manger

Yudai Yamaguchi

Team

Players

Tak Sakaguchi - Yakyû Jubei

Atsushi Itô - Megane

Hideo Sakaki - Hôichi

Sources

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384832/technical?ref_=tt_dt_spec

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlefield_Baseball