“Play Ball” on the Big Screen

This is generally considered on most lists as the best baseball movie ever and it’s my favorite for many reasons including Kevin Costner, who is great in sports movies.

Susan Sarandon & Tim Robbins are both terrific and the portrayal of life in the minor leagues is authentic and charming.

“Candlesticks always make a nice gift and maybe you can find out where she’s registered and maybe a place setting or silverware pattern.  Okay let’s get two.”

Unlike Bull Durham this one is filled with flaws like a road game ending with a home run by the visiting team.

But it doesn’t matter all that much to me because Robert Redford is great as the good guy who wins out at the end.

Costner again and the famous “if you build it he will come.”

It’s not this high of most lists but I don’t care. Scotty Smalls, “Squints” Palledorous, “Ham” Porter and of course Wendy Peffercorn make this a classic.

Considered the “Brian’s Song” of baseball movies with a young Robert DeNiro and Michael Moriarty.

Not long on realism and Corbin Bernsenis a real reach as a player but I still watch it when it’s on.

Snot-nosed kids and Walter Matthau fit perfectly

Tom Hanks utters a movie classic, “there’s no crying in baseball.”

Dennis Quaid as Jim Morris, a high school teacher who made it to the majors.

I have to include this because the Red Sox beat the Yankees.