| Movies and baseball are quite possibly the two | | | | inherits the Indians and wants to move them to |
| most American inventions of all time. When they | | | | the fairer-climate Miami, but in order to void the |
| join forces, the result is often powerful. In my | | | | Tribe's contract with Cleveland she must bring |
| opinion, there are five baseball movies that ought | | | | down ticket sales. To this end, the new owner |
| to top anyone's viewing list: | | | | does everything in her power to piece together |
| #5: The Natural | | | | the worst possible team. The characters that |
| A 1984 film adaptation of the Bernard Malamud | | | | emerge are utterly hilarious, topped only by their |
| novel from 1952, this film stars a young Robert | | | | interactions with one another and other teams. |
| Redford as Roy Hobbs. The movie is a | | | | The ragtag group of misfits predictably rallies |
| heart-wrenching story that traces the trials and | | | | against all odds and pulls in the big win. Must-see. |
| triumphs of the greatest natural talent to ever | | | | #2: Field of Dreams |
| pick up a baseball. It makes the list because it | | | | 1989 drama starring Kevin Costner, Field of |
| subtly and powerfully explores father-son dynamic | | | | Dreams is an American classic ("If you build it, he |
| (the manager's name is Pop) through the medium | | | | will come") about a farmer who is persuaded by |
| of baseball, which is the patriarchal language of | | | | ghosts to build a baseball. To be honest, I am not |
| America, and then makes the transition to a great | | | | a particularly big fan of this movie, but anyone will |
| emotional narrative that plumbs the depths of the | | | | tell you that it makes the top 100 most |
| protagonist. | | | | recognizable American films. If for nothing else, |
| #4: A League of Their Own | | | | you should see it to add to your cinematic |
| This film includes Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Rosie | | | | repertoire. |
| O'Donnell. If your interest is not already piqued, | | | | #1: Sandlot |
| then I am at a loss of how to make a movie | | | | This film, directed by David Mickey Evans in 1993, |
| sound interesting. A League of Their Own is a | | | | is a coming of age story that somehow manages |
| 1992 comedy/drama loosely based on the | | | | to do everything Major League does while |
| establishment of the All-American Girls | | | | incorporating regional and period context. We |
| Professional Baseball League. The film is a delight, | | | | grow to love every one of the kids who play on |
| and a great date movie. I will not go into the plot | | | | a sandlot in Los Angeles in the forties. The film |
| here, but simply say that it is more comedy than | | | | expertly traipses across puberty, social |
| drama. | | | | acceptance, childhood fears, and other such |
| #3: Major League | | | | issues, always remaining light but ever dipping into |
| As a Clevelander, I automatically love this 1989 | | | | the realm of dismissive or flippant. This is definitely |
| comedy about a fictionalized version of the | | | | a movie to see as soon as you get a chance. |
| Cleveland Indians. The basic plot is that a woman | | | | For all your baseball trophy needs, click here. |