Photograph: Fred Nachman
Last Sunday, my brother Kenny and I were driving up Lake Shore Drive. It was a very blustery day. Cold and gray. An unpleasant kind of day. And then, all of a sudden, Kenny lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Look at those guys! They’re playing ball. I love it!”
My eyes followed his gaze, and sure enough, there out in Lincoln Park, a small band of hardy men were playing America’s National Pastime.
Time for this one, I think.
Baseball- and the movies.
The two activities were made for each. So here are some of my favorite players.
First up- well, why not use the title of this post?
It Happens Every Spring.
This adorable confection starred Ray Milland as a egghead chemistry professor who is crazy about baseball. Much to the chagrin of his girlfriend, Jean Peters. (Howard Hughes’s long-time inamorata).
When the prof accidentally invents a substance that makes balls “allergic ” to wood, he becomes an ace pitcher who propels his beloved St. Louis team into the World Series.
Number two in the batting order is The Stratton Story. It premiered in 1949, and starred Jimmy Stewart as ace White Sox pitcher, Monty Stratton. June Allyson paid his plucky and courageous (what else?) wife, Ethel.
This bio pic was an Oscar winner for Best Writing. It’s a great story. Monty- the winningest right-hander in the American League- has a terrible hunting accident, forcing the doctors to amputate his right leg.
Fitted with wooden leg, and aided by his devoted wife, he makes a successful comeback to the minor leagues.
I love this movie. It never fails to bring a lump to my throat.
Right about now I hear the ump calling for The Pride of The Yankees. What can I say? This is the definitive baseball tearjerker.
I have to show this. No baseball movie post would be complete without Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and Gary Cooper.
Next up in the lineup is a screwball.
Fear Strikes Out. It’s the story of the Boston Red Sox’s Jimmy Piersall and his mental breakdown.
Anthony Perkins is great as tortured Jimmy and Karl Malden is pretty damn chilling as his overbearing father, too.
Whew. I’m wiped out. Time for the seventh inning stretch.
(And no, it’s not Harry Carey singing “Take Me Out To the Ball Game.”)
It’s this.
Wasn’t that superb? And forget “Go, Cubs, Go.” “Heart” should be the official anthem of Cubs fans everywhere.
Now why should the boys get the playing field all to themselves? Time for Title IX to be enforced.
Ladies, play ball.
And now watch two real “old pros” in action.
Two fun movies. I hope you’d agree.
Well, we’ve just had Lady’s Day. Now how about giving two blonde ladykillers their turn at bat?
Next up, The Natural.
Starring Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs. Malamud based his novel on a true story about a woman who shot Philadelphia Phillies player Eddie Waitkus. This is a magical movie fable. Here are two “Wonderboys” in action.
This next blonde bomber is a personal favorite of mine. And the wonderful Bull Durham is right up there with the best ever. (And the fact that I’ve met Kevin Costner doesn’t hurt a bit. In real life, he is a grand slam of a guy.)
When Kevin and I met, I asked him about how he felt about Shoeless Joe Jackson being eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame. He turned on his megawatt movie star charm, and with a grin as big as Chavez Ravine, he leaned in closer to me and breathed, “I think it’s just GREAT. What do you think?’
I have no idea what I answered. I think I must have fainted. Movie stars like him should be viewed from a pinhole in a pie plate. Not at close range.
But here’s a movie that takes on the “Black Sox” scandal close up and personal.
Eight Men Out.
Director John Sayles is GM over an All-Star roster of actors- including Studs Terkel. This flick captured the atmosphere of 1919 to a tee (ball), I think.
The last of the batting order is Fever Pitch.
Cribbed from a Nick Hornby book/movie about soccer, it stars Jimmy Fallon as a rabid Boston Red Sox fan. No, it’s not in the league of Major League, Bang the Drum Slowly, Field of Dreams or 61*.
It’s probably got stats even with Mr. Baseball and For The Love of the Game.
But it amused me no end.
Watch how Jimmy doles out his prize season tickets. I love this.
That’s the game, folks. Now let’s end it with some real big fireworks like the great Bill Veeck always did.
(Pssst, Kenny. Time for some batting practice with these guys.)
Only in the movies could a mild-mannered chemistry professor invent a substance that turns him into a baseball superstar. I think you hit it out of the park with this post, Ms. Ross.
[Trivia fact: Gary Cooper was right-handed, so when filming his baseball scenes in “Pride of the Yankees” they told him to run to third base, and then turned the film around to create the illusion of left-handed Lou Gehrig heading to first. As Casey Stengel said in another context, “You can look it up.”]
Thanks, Doc. Yes, you came to mind as I wrote about that chemistry professor. Thanks for the comment. Now go back to work and invent Flubber.
One of my favorite topics — baseball movies — with one of my favorite sub-topics, Kevn Costner Sports Movies. Here goes: first, you left out Field of Dreams (based on the novel, Shoeless Joe, by John Kinsella, a man who clearly believes that Iowa is a weird place); that movie may be the quintessential father-son rite of passage movie. The only forgivable argument for this lapse is that it really isn’t a baseball movie. That leads me to my second point.
For The Love of The Game should be disqualified from consideration, as the story’s principal drama (will they trade Billy Chapel?) is not dramatic at all. Under one of baseball’s fundamental rules is that a 10-5 guy cannot be traded without his consent absent a specific contract waiver. As the movie makes clear that Chapel’s contract has none, there is no drama whatsoever. The perfecto at the game’s end is pretty cool, and who wouldn’t want to end up with Kelly Preston, but the movie itself does not allow for the suspension of disbelief as one makes when seeing a (left-handed(!)) Shoeless Joe Jackson emerge from Ray Kinsella’s cornfield.
Don’t get me started on Draft Day, but that’s another sport.
I am so glad you came to the game today, Michael. You always hit it out of the park. Technically, I did not leave out Field of Dreams. It got a mention. I only mentioned for The Love of The Game because I saw it when Kevin Costner screened it (and did Q and A) at a charity event in Aspen. I wrote the letter asking him to do this, and needless to say, I was thrilled when he agreed to do it. Meeting him was a real home run. Thanks and love to your clan.
Can’t wait to play. My season starts in a few weeks. Already have my cortisone shot scheduled for April 20. The movies you mentioned are timeless. My shoulder is not!
And either are your knees, and yet you’re still playing. You’re pretty indestructible. A true “Boy of Summer.” Nice “at bat,” bro.
Just to touch base on stealing home with a topic is Ty Cobb- the person and the movie. Played by Tommy Lee Jones in a Ron Shelton production. If even half is true, that is one pretty amazing insane baseball player. Would be expected from a football player. Maybe not the best movie, but enough to get a movie made about what a character he was.
Congratulations, Ben, on your first time at bat. As a rookie, you hit this comment out of the park. I agree. Tommy Lee was great. (Ty Cobb was an SOB in real life, too, btw.) Thanks- and have a nice trot around the bases.
I love this post. Nothing in life is better than playing catch with your son or daughter. However, seemed to have forgeten to mention “Moneyball” a very good movie. And though it is not a baseball movie, it contains one of the funniest baseball scenes of all time. Naked Gun with Leslie Nielsen calling balls and strikes. And as we head into extra innings no post about baseball can leave out the classic Abbott and Castello “Who’s on First”. Perhaps with your technical skills you can add the clips of these two gems for our viewing pleasure.
Glad this post hit home with you, Mitch. I loved the book “Moneyball” but never saw the movie. Glad you gave it a shout out. Same with the “Who’s on First” routine. That deserves a post all to itself. I could add the clips, but this was long enough I thought. I just had to make the hard call. That’s what a good manager does. Thanks, buddy. Leo Durocher
GREAT blog Ellen. My favorite topic and it’s cinematic history well presented. I’ve seen every film you mentioned (I’d bet Kenny and Fred have as well) and for good or bad I’m glad my White Sox are well represented. However, my personal favorite baseball film is Bingo Long and His Traveling All Star and Motor Kings. If you (anyone who likes baseball) have not seen this hysterical and touching film about life in the waning years of the famed Negro Leagues starring Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones and Richard Pryor I suggest setting aside time soon – before Opening Day (which should be a National Holiday) – to do so…with a beer and a hot dog.
Wow! This one rated all CAPS! Nice. And thanks for this wonderful addition to the lineup. It is terrific and I love your suggestion. When you get back in town, maybe we can have a viewing party catered by Portillos? Thanks, Gary.
ER, if it weren’t for that camp on Catfish Lake, that bum Dorocher would not have up and left the Cubs in the middle of the fatefull summer of ’69 to visit his stepson. Perhaps Kenny got to play ball with him
You are SO right, Mitch! He just had to go up and visit his stepson and his defection messed up the Cubs! I’m making a roster change. I am now Casey Stengel.
By the summer of 1969, Casey Stengel was no longer managing the New York Mets … the reins were held by the steady ex-Dodger first baseman Gil Hodges (who for some inexplicable reason has yet to be enshrined in Cooperstown). Casey was responsible for one of my all-time favorite quotes (you can get the exact wording from the internet, whereas I’m just paraphrasing from memory): “With 25 players on the roster, the secret to being a successful manager is to keep the 5 players who hate your guts apart from the 5 players who have not yet made up their minds.”
A more recent baseball movie that comes to mind: “42” (2013), with Chadwick Boseman channeling Jackie Robinson. Ironically, it’s a far better flick than “The Jackie Robinson Story” (1950), in which Jackie played himself.
Nice Casey-ism, Doc. And I’m glad you brought up the new “42.” I haven’t seen it but I heard it was pretty good. I’ll wait til it’s on Netflix.
Much better choice, and like you, he had a way with words. “Being with a woman all night never hurt no professional baseball player. It’s staying up all night looking for a woman that does him in.”
I love this! Thanks for the compliment. I’ve never been compared to Casey before and I’m flattered.
My favorite professional sport is Major League Baseball. Always has been.
I had the great pleasure of helping run the White Sox Fantasy Camp for 18 years!!
Played with some of the best White Sox of the 20th Century……Richie Allen, Tom Paciorek, Ron Kittle, Bobby Thigpen, Carlos May, Harold Baines, Beltin’ Bill Melton, Jim Landis, Ron Hansen, Bill Skowron, Ed Hermann, Ozzie Guillen…..on and on. (What a “trip” it was.) Even Jim McMahon came to three of our camps.
Just heard that Pete Rose bought an apartment buildings across from Wrigley Field.
He wanted to get as far away from baseball as possible!!!
Forgot to mention Gary Peters and Hoyt Wilhelm….
A little birdie suggested that you move to 35th and Shields.
Yes….Growing up on The South Side, as 10 year old kids, we would catch the “L” at 67th and Jackson Park, two dollars in our pocket, ride to Comiskey Park, sit in the bleachers, have a hot dog and come home with change!
A triple bagger comment day for you, Slugger! Nice.