baseball books, baseball movies

[sandar]

A friend of mine fell in love with baseball the spring she read the goofy, sweet Mark Harris novel "The Southpaw." He's the same fellow who wrote "Bang the Drum Slowly," and both books are old favorites of mine. Also liked Kinsella's "Shoeless Joe," the novel on which the wonderful "Field of Dreams" is based.

My favorite baseball movie so far, though, is Ron Shelton's "Bull Durham." The characters are well written and the actors, both leads and supporting players, are completely charming. I wish I could go to games that were that much fun, surrounded by fans who love the game in its purer forms. Maybe one reason that the world Shelton writes about seems so cool is that I can't help comparing it to the current state of major league ball, which has become so corporate that the owners and players together have managed to suck the soul clear out of the game.

Whatever the reason, the fantasy world of "Bull Durham" is a lot of fun to visit. The scene in which Crash Davis educates Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh on the finer points of sports cliches is worth the rental all on its own.

Do you have a favorite book or movie about baseball?

Sandi

[BetsyAnn]

Great question, Sandar!

We just came home from a Rockies baseball game this evening!

There are so many great baseball movies - Angels in the Outfield, and The Rookie are two that come to mind -- both Disney I believe -- I loved them both for the anything is possible with a little belief and a lot of practice.

I also am a fan of the first - "Bad News Bears" It was fun, a little disrespectful and had that if you just believe and work hard feel to it!

Also Field of Dreams ranks right up there -- What a great fantasy movie for baseball fans!

[Moley]

Field of Dreams is my favorite, Bull Durham next and a League of Their Own the next one.

[WillCAD]

There are plenty of great baseball movies that I love, including all those mentioned by Sandi, BetsyAnn, and Moley, but two of them outpace every other baseball movie in my mind:

Drama: The Natural
I've never read the book, although I certainly should, considering how much I love this incredibly awe-inspiring, touching, and ultimately inspirational movie. Performances from all of the main cast, Robert Redford, Glenn Glose, Kim Basinger, Darin McGavin, Robert Duval, Robert Prosky, and Wilford Brimley, were all outstanding, even earning Glen Close a Best Supporting Actress nomination. And the score, writen by Randy Newman, was also nominated. In the end, the movie isn't about baseball, it's about the choices we make in life, and about the consequenses of choosing selfish goals over those we care about.

Comedy: Major League
I roar with laughter every time I watch this classic baseball comedy, which is also filled with great performances from Tom Berrenger, Rene Russo, Wesley Snipes, Charlie Sheen, Dennis Haysbert, Bob Ueker, and James Gammon. The movie lampoons all the classic baseball cliches and comes up with a few new ones of its own, all the while maintaining a great heart and soul. In the end, the movie is about how people who are thought to be worthless by others can always prove that they are not only worthy, but winners. And guess what? The score for this movie was also composed by Randy Newman.

[sandar]

Moley - I can't believe I forgot to mention "A League of Their Own." That's a really interesting movie with some excellent performances. Like many people, I'd known next to nothing about the league before seeing the movie. Also, whoever advised Tom Hanks to take on that role was very smart; first time he seemed like a man, rather than a goofily endearing boy. (Kevin Costner should seek out that person, post haste.)

BetsyAnn - I really liked "The Rookie" too, especially Quaid's performance. I'll have to give "Bad News Bears" another try someday.

WillCAD - The mythology of "The Natural" can be fun if you take the movie on its own terms. The cast is, indeed, amazing (I'd add Richard Farnsworth, who seems completely authentic, to your list). The score is strong, stirring, and nuanced. But, the movie has almost nothing in common with Malamud's book beyond the title and the main character's name. The book is so different in tone you might be in for a shock if you ever read it.

Sandi

[AliciaG]

Sandi, we are a sports loving family, with baseball holding the top honors for us. There are so many good baseball movies out there. I enjoy all those that have been mentioned so far. I'd have to say that Field of Dreams is on the very top of my list though. That movie has so much to offer besides baseball. There are some very valuable life lessons in there. My DH has even used it in a Sunday School lesson before. :P

In the comedy section, and for some real insight into what minor league baseball is all about...I love Bull Durham. What awesome characters there are in this movie. :D

I agree with you on the mythology of The Natural. My DS wears #9 on the back of his uni for Roy Hobbs. :mrgreen:

I haven't read any of the books, but it sounds like something I need to look into.

Play ball!

[Jimbolini1963]

Hi everyone,

Here I am, opening a two-year-old thread.

Huge baseball fan here--although in Philly you need to take it with some Pepto Bismol.

The Natural is based on a book by Bernard Malamud. Good book about the gifted but flawed Roy Hobbs.

Bang The Drum Slowly, an excellent novel about a dying catcher, was written by Mark Harris in 1956.

Pride of the Yankees. Gary Cooper was never better than in this movie about the "Iron Horse", Lou Gehrig. I've seen it on TV a couple times, but I don't think it's on video or DVD.

Bingo Long's Travelling All Stars and Motor Kings. Novel by William Brashler was made into a movie in 1976. I forget who wrote it, but there's an excellent nonfiction book published in 1970 about the Negro Leagues called Only The Ball Was White.

Roger Angell wrote a classic book in 1971 about the 1950s Brooklyn Dodgers called The Boys of Summer. So did Doris Kearns Goodwin in 1997; hers is Wait Till Next Year.

Ron Shelton wrote the book on which the movie Bull Durham was based.

Happy baseballing!

Jim

[TrixyA]

I loved Bull Durham, but my favorite is probably A League of Their Own.

[mickeefan]

Too many to list them all.
Some of my favorites are;
the Natural and The Rookie.
Another is an oldie " It Happens Every Spring".( sorta far fetched but cute).
One that never got much recognition that I know of and is really good is
"Talent for the Game"

We are huge baseball fans and recently I was able to get the autograph of Bob Feller(HOF 62) on a baseball. I remember him from when I was a kid.

[Thumper]

"Field of Dreams" is in my top 5 of fav films - ever!

I really enjoyed Ken Burns documentary - "Baseball" that was out a few years ago. It was really well done.

:-)
Sue

[imagineerwannabe]

Having grown up in the home town of the Iron Man, I am a hardcore baseball fan.

My favorite movies:

The Natural.
Field of Dreams
For Love of the Game

Books:

Winning - Third Base is my Home - Brooks Robinson
Thank You - Rex Barney (I treasure my signed copy).

[Thumper]

"Roger Angell wrote a classic book in 1971 about the 1950s Brooklyn Dodgers called The Boys of Summer. So did Doris Kearns Goodwin in 1997; hers is Wait Till Next Year"


I LOVED Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Wait Till Next Year" !! Finished it in 2 days and stayed up late to finish it.

This is one of those books that stays with me year to year, apartment to apartment - it's a keeper!!!

:D
Sue

[Sheryl]

I LOVE A League of their own. It's one of those feel good movies.

My FIL is an umpire for high school/college leagues and the occasional bar league. He was to be an umpire in The Natural, but the actors guild stepped in because the umps were NOT members of the actors guild SO they would not let the actual umpires be so in the movie. Instead he is an extra.

Sheryl