| My top ten baseball movies consist of five movies | | | | today." With a big grin on his face Dennis captures |
| on the list. That sounds pretty weird. There have | | | | the joy of playing baseball. I loved it. |
| been many movies with a baseball theme that I | | | | The Natural with Robert Redford |
| have liked, but there are only five I have loved. I | | | | The music in this flick was superb. Good versus |
| will get to them soon. | | | | evil. Robert Redford comes out of the hospital to |
| Some of the ones I have liked are "Bull Durham" | | | | play in the most important game of the year. As |
| with Kevin Costner, a light hearted tale about a | | | | corny as this movie was I loved the scene at the |
| minor league season in North Carolina and the | | | | end of the movie when he hits the ball into the |
| characters on and around that team. "Bang The | | | | lights and a shower of sparkling flashes illuminate |
| Drum Slowly" with Robert DeNiro, "Cobb" with | | | | the screen. I can still hear the music from that |
| Tommy Lee Jones, "Fear Strikes Out," "Eight Men | | | | part of the movie, as he circles the bases. I get |
| Out," "A League of Their Own," "Major League," | | | | chills whenever I see this part of the film. This is |
| and "Rookie of the Year." | | | | also one of my wife's favorites as well film. |
| One thing that my favorites have in common is | | | | Pride of The Yankees with Gary Cooper and |
| that I have been moved to tears. For similar and | | | | Teresa Wright |
| different reasons, I have been inspired or moved | | | | One of my all time favorite players, Lou Gehrig, is |
| by some of the following scenes. | | | | played on the screen so superbly by Gary |
| Field of Dreams with Kevin Costner and James | | | | Cooper. The scene that gets to me every time is |
| Earl Jones. | | | | when Lou goes to see the doctor at the hospital |
| When I think about this movie I always think how | | | | because he feels a nagging injury not healing. As |
| corny it was. Come on - Cut down a corn field to | | | | his wife nervously waits in the waiting room, Lou |
| create a baseball field. I have seen this movie | | | | is examined and then given the fatal news of his |
| approximately 15 times. It is the only movie I | | | | illness. He is greeted by his wife as he leaves the |
| have seen in my adult life twice in the theaters. | | | | examination room. She then asks him how it |
| The scene that is so moving for me is when | | | | went. They embrace and he tells her its a little |
| Kevin Costner asks his father to play catch. He is | | | | bump or bruise. |
| so awkward in his asking. He is so delighted when | | | | She seems to know without him telling her that |
| his father says "sure." I melt whenever I see this | | | | this is serious. Oh my. I melt every time. |
| scene. | | | | This following epic motion picture reminds me of a |
| The Rookie with Dennis Quaid | | | | baseball season. Long, lasting and lovable. |
| How does a man in his late 30's leave his family | | | | Baseball by Ken Burns |
| and start playing baseball in the minor leagues. He | | | | Can you believe 18 hours of baseball footage? Still |
| is fulfilling a dream. There are a couple of scenes | | | | pictures from the 19th century. Babe Ruth, Ted |
| in the movie that lead to a most uplifting moment. | | | | Williams, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, |
| While playing in the minor leagues in the Tampa | | | | and Lou Gehrig, Buck O'Neil. Highlights on film. Dead |
| Bay organization Dennis Quaid (Playing pitcher Jim | | | | ball era. Modern day. Pitchers, hitters. This movie |
| Morris) thinks he may have made a mistake by | | | | had it all. The pictures were spectacular. There |
| leaving his family to pursue a dumb dream. He is | | | | were so many stories that were told. I was |
| in anguish. He is not making any money pitching in | | | | amazed by Ken Burns' commitment to get this |
| the minors while his family is suffering at home | | | | movie done. That is what moved me the most. |
| with very little money coming into the house. | | | | So there you have it. I cannot thank the people |
| Finally, after vacillating between playing baseball | | | | ENOUGH that made these movies. I have been |
| and going back to his wife to make a constant | | | | touched writing about their commitment, passion, |
| living he sees one of his teammates and asks him. | | | | and excellence. |
| "Do you know what we are going to do today?" | | | | Free to pass this article on to anyone you think |
| His teammate looks puzzled. Dennis responds to | | | | would enjoy reading it. |
| his own question. "We are going to play baseball | | | | |