America’s favourite pastime is about way more than just bats and balls. There is the ritual, the superstition, lore of illegal substances, the tobacco chewing, and of course the larger than life characters in history who have forever altered the trajectory of the sport with one well-placed pitch or one timely hit. These figures have etched their names in the annals of time as far as baseball nuts are concerned.
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America’s favourite pastime is about way more than just bats and balls. There is the ritual, the superstition, lore of illegal substances, the tobacco chewing, and of course the larger than life characters in history who have forever altered the trajectory of the sport with one well-placed pitch or one timely hit. These figures have etched their names in the annals of time as far as baseball nuts are concerned.
Ted Williams is larger than life around Yawkey Way for a reason, and has literally been immortalised through the freezing of his DNA. Mickey’s 61 home run season is part of American culture and transcends the confines of the sport itself. Jackie Robinson was lauded for breaking the colour barrier in a troubling time in America during the Civil Rights movement, and so stands tall not just as a sports hero, but as someone who did tangible good for African Americans.
And so it is that baseball is so much more than a sport. It should come as no surprise then that the magic of the game has been captured over and over on amazing films that span decades. Which ones are most worthy of your time and attention for true lovers or casual fans alike? Let’s delve into some of the greatest baseball stories every put on film.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
While this might not make many lists of all-time greatest baseball films, its presence of some veritable American icons in Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly make this a must see affair, even all these years later. Sporting some great showtune numbers that hail from vaudevillian roots (given as the main protagonists are also part-time vaudevillians), this is a fun, foot-tapping movie for the whole family to enjoy.
Moneyball
This adaptation of Michael Lewis masterpiece depicts the legendary Billy Beane, who not only changed the landscape of analytics – our interpretation and creation of statistical measures of players – but in all of sports. Jonah Hill and Brad Pitt absolutely kill it in their respective roles.
Field of Dreams
This classic that occupied many-a-videocassette players might be one of Kevin Costner’s most iconic roles, but he was not the only one to bring star power and acting chops to the fore: James Earl Jones and Ray Liotta also grace the credits. This is not just about fathers and sons, or coming of age, or the spirit of the American heartland and farming community, but it is also a story of redemption. The famous axiom, ‘build it and they will come,’ has entered the American imagination thanks to Field of Dreams. Featuring historical figures from the Black Sox World Series betting scandal – people who gambled with their careers, and if they were given the chance today, might also gamble at new  casinos like newcasinosonline.org – this one really has it all.
The Sandlot
No childhood is complete without The Sandlot, which is why they still play reruns of this childhood classic in cinemas today. This coming of age story sees a group of ragtag players overcome on and off the field odds in hilarious fashion.
Ken Burns’ Baseball Documentary
This list would not be complete without the most complete chronicling of the sport ever put to film, Ken Burns’ legendary episodic baseball documentary that aired on American public television. Watch it and learn (maybe more than you cared to).
