I was actually really surprised when I started looking up the top baseball movies. I really thought Field of Dreams was going to be the unanimous #1 on the lists since it’s almost infamously known as THE Baseball Movie. But oddly enough, there are others! Go figure. There is still a vast difference in baseball movies that I enjoy and the ones my dad or boyfriend think are “good baseball movies.” So I broke it down into two categories: Top Baseball Movies that Girls Love and Top Baseball Movies that Guys Love. That is not to say that they are mutally exclusive or don’t overlap because there are definitely some on the girl’s list that my guy friends would disown me if I didn’t put on the guys list!
That said, if you are looking for the perfect gift for your baseball lover, the second list might be better! Unless he is going to make you watch them with him. Then sneak in one from the first list! If one appeals to you, simply click the name or picture and you will be directed to amazon.com to get pricing!
Top Baseball Movies that Girls Love Too
My #1 pick is a tie between Fever Pitch and A League of Their Own.
1. Fever Pitch. It’s a Farrelly Brothers movie with SNL’s Jimmy Fallon so you know its going to be entertaining and it has Drew Barrymore so you know it will be super cute! In short, the couple in the movie–Lindsey & Ben–falls for each other in the winter and he seems so perfect. Then, baseball season kicks off it’s spring training and suddenly Mr. Perfect starts becoming Mr. Obsessed Sports Fanatic. (Ah, so many of us can identify with this!) Ben’s love for the Red Sox is deeply rooted and unbreakable and Lindsey’s love of baseball is, well, nonexistent. The clincher of why this is getting the top spot: Because even though the film documents the Red Sox 2004 World Series Winning Year, Yankee fans will actually admit to liking the film. It’s got to rank on the list just for that miraculous event alone!
Quote: “where do the Red Sox rank in terms of importance in your life?” BEN: “I’d say the Red Sox…sex…breathing”
Okay, first, this is an iconic movie. The quotes alone are in the top of all time. “To achieve the incredible, you must first attempt the impossible” And of course, : “Are you crying? There’s no crying baseball!”
Second, who isn’t in this movie? Tom Hanks, Madonna, Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell, Lori Petty, Bill Bullman, Tea Leoni, Jon Lovitz… with Penny Mashall directing
Third, it’s really good. It’s fiction but based on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League developed in the 1940s. The story shows the Rockford Peaches breaking down baseball, and female, stereotypes while throwing in a great sibling rivalry that makes OTH’s Scott brothers look like born BFFs.
"He believes in the small of a women's back, the hanging curveball, good scotch, chocolate chip cookies, and long, slow, deep soft wet kisses that last for three days" um, YUM!
3. Bull Durham
Why you ask? Hello, did you see that poster? He looks hot! Not to mention there is major love triangle & love story action! We have Kevin Costner, the aging minor league player and Tim Robbins, the young hotshot pitcher, both trying to seduce Susan Sarandon. One review I read talked about how yes, there is a lot baseball in the movie but it doesn’t take over the movie. That the plot, the dialogue and the characters are so well done that you don’t feel like you are watching a “baseball movie.” It’s just a great romantic comedy
There are a few versions of this one but I’m going for the 1994 Tony Danza/Danny Glover/Christopher Lloyd film because I’ve seen it and I love it. Could be in the top cutest family/kid friendly movies of all time. It’s definitely a “feel good” inspirational movie, I mean, come on, it’s Disney!Oh okay, and it has the added bonus of a really young Matthew McConaughey without a shirt! Roger has been orphaned and dreams of having a family again. His father promised him that he’ll be back and they would be a family when “the Angels win the pennant.” So Roger begins to pray for the California Angels, the worst team in the league, to be good and win. And suddenly, he is seeing real angels helping out the team. Aw, I’m getting choked up just thinking about it. Just get it! It’s heartwarming and sweet. And has baseball.
Quote: “It could happen”
5. The Sandlot
Aw geez, I’m still choked up from the last plot summary! I adore this one too. It’s another family friendly film about a gang of misfit kids playing ball in the rundown lot down the road. They don’t have a lot of money but they have talent, heart and Benny “the Jet” Rodriguez! There is only one rule of the lot, do not hit the ball over the fence because if you do, it’s gone forever. Accidentally, Scotty Smalls hits a home run over the fence with his step-dads priceless signed Babe Ruth baseball and the group must now go over the fence and try to get it back.
Great Quotes: “You’re killing me, Smalls!” ”
-”It was signed by Babe Ruth.”
-”Yeah, you keep telling me that. Who is she?”
-”What? WHAT? The Sultan of Swat! The King of Crash! The colossus of clout! Babe Ruth! The GREAT BAMBINO!”
-”Oh My God. You Mean that’s the same guy?”
Another baseball flick starring Kevin Costner! Billy’s a washed up pitcher about to pitch what could be his final game. Jane’s his fed-up girlfriend who decides she has had enough and is leaving him. In this potential career ending game, he starts flashing through his life, his career, and his memories of Jane. As each inning goes on and he becomes closer and closer to pitching the Perfect Game, he recalls the first time they met, their first date, all the happy times…. And what would it matter if he did pitch a Perfect Game if Jane was not there with him to share it? It is really well done and a beautiful story.
7. Summer Catch
It has Freddie Prinze, Jr., do I really have to say more? Okay fine, and Jessica Biel, Brittney Murphy and Matthew Lillard (you know, the Scream guy). It’s cute, it’s fun and it’s set in the summer in Cape Cod. Ryan finally gets into the elusive baseball summer leagues where all the top college players are but he is attention is divereted by a rich girl summering on the Cape with her family.
Crossover: I wasn’t going to put this in the girl category, however, I read this review and based soley on what the author said, I have decided to add it (sorry Rookie of The Year, you got bumped!)
If you don’t feel some sort of emotion at the end of this sublime adaption of W.P. Kinsella’s novel Shoeless Joe when Ray has a game of cactch with his father then there’s just no hope for you. This incredibly layered and intelligent take on baseball as fable seems to have consistent universal appeal and, suprisingly, never really focuses on the actual game. It’s all about relationships and personal journeys. When the disembodied ghost of Shoess Joe (Ray Liotta) tells Ray “if you build it, he will come,” baseball sucessfully transcends mere pasttime and becomes obsession. Ultimately, it ends as do most fairy tales-happily ever after. –Ten Baseball Movies that Belong in the Hall of Fame, Bark’s With Bite Editor’s Blog, videoretriver.com, Oct 21, 2008.
Couldn’t say it better myself and you know I’m a sucker for happily ever afters and fairy tales!
