Top 10 Greatest Baseball Movies of All Time

Top 10 Greatest Baseball Movies of All Time

By Jason Fletcher

May 30, 2015

10 Greatest Baseball Movies of All Time

Tom Hanks Geena Davis Madonna — The film industry has made some wonderful baseball movies over the years. Some are kid films, some are geared towards adults, and some fall into the great for all ages category. I decided to make a top 10 list of the greatest baseball flicks of all time. This was extremely difficult as there were four or five other motion pictures that I felt were worthy, but I just couldn't find room for them.

The film industry has made some wonderful baseball movies over the years. Some are kid films, some are geared towards adults, and some fall into the great for all ages category. I decided to make a top 10 list of the greatest baseball flicks of all time. This was extremely difficult as there were four or five other motion pictures that I felt were worthy, but I just couldn't find room for them.

10. Bad News Bears (1976)

Tatum O'Neal Walter Matthau

10. Bad News Bears (1976)

Tatum O'Neal Walter Matthau — Walter Matthau is cast as an alcoholic ex-minor-league hopeful, Morris Buttermaker, who's coaxed into coaching a Little League team by lawyer Bob Whitewood (Ben Piazza). Whitewood is angry with the league for not allowing his son to play. The Bears end up being a group of misfits, who aren't particularly talented at baseball until dominant pitcher Amanda Whurlitzer (Tatum O'Neal), joins the team.

Walter Matthau is cast as an alcoholic ex-minor-league hopeful, Morris Buttermaker, who's coaxed into coaching a Little League team by lawyer Bob Whitewood (Ben Piazza). Whitewood is angry with the league for not allowing his son to play. The Bears end up being a group of misfits, who aren't particularly talented at baseball until dominant pitcher Amanda Whurlitzer (Tatum O'Neal), joins the team.

9. Moneyball (2011)

Brad Pitt

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9. Moneyball (2011)

Brad Pitt — For the true baseball fan, Moneyball was an extremely interesting movie. Brad Pitt plays the general manager of the Oakland Athletics, Billy Beane, and takes us inside Billy Beane's genius "Moneyball" approach that has made him so successful throughout the years with a small budget. Beane hires Ivy League grad Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) to find players who other GMs see as flawed but have a great on-base percentage.

For the true baseball fan, Moneyball was an extremely interesting movie. Brad Pitt plays the general manager of the Oakland Athletics, Billy Beane, and takes us inside Billy Beane's genius "Moneyball" approach that has made him so successful throughout the years with a small budget. Beane hires Ivy League grad Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) to find players who other GMs see as flawed but have a great on-base percentage.

8. Hardball (2001)

Keanu Reeves

8. Hardball (2001)

Keanu Reeves — Hardball is a great example of why kids in the inner cities don't usually end up playing baseball. Conor, played by Keanu Reeves, is a chronic gambler, whose friend Jimmy (Michael McGlone) will not help him pay off his gambling debts unless he coaches Jimmy's corporate-sponsored Little League team. Conor and the kids create a strong bond and win the league title, but the movie takes a tragic turn at the end.

Hardball is a great example of why kids in the inner cities don't usually end up playing baseball. Conor, played by Keanu Reeves, is a chronic gambler, whose friend Jimmy (Michael McGlone) will not help him pay off his gambling debts unless he coaches Jimmy's corporate-sponsored Little League team. Conor and the kids create a strong bond and win the league title, but the movie takes a tragic turn at the end.

7. 42

Chadwick Boseman Harrison Ford

7. 42

Chadwick Boseman Harrison Ford — This is a great movie about the life of Jackie Robinson. Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) goes against MLB's color barrier and signs Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the team. The racism from the press, other players and managers in the major leagues ensues. The movie brings to light the great character of Robinson and how he let his play on the field do the talking for him.

This is a great movie about the life of Jackie Robinson. Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) goes against MLB's color barrier and signs Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the team. The racism from the press, other players and managers in the major leagues ensues. The movie brings to light the great character of Robinson and how he let his play on the field do the talking for him.

6. Major League (1989)

Charlie Sheen

6. Major League (1989)

Charlie Sheen — Charlie Sheen's role as Rick Vaughn in Major League is my favorite character he has ever played. Rachel Phelps, played by Margaret Whitton, has a deal in place to move the Indians to Miami. In order to break the lease with Cleveland, the team's ticket sales must drop. Phelps fills out the roster with the worst players in the league, including Vaughn, who's half-blind, but things don't exactly work out the way Phelps planned.

Charlie Sheen's role as Rick Vaughn in Major League is my favorite character he has ever played. Rachel Phelps, played by Margaret Whitton, has a deal in place to move the Indians to Miami. In order to break the lease with Cleveland, the team's ticket sales must drop. Phelps fills out the roster with the worst players in the league, including Vaughn, who's half-blind, but things don't exactly work out the way Phelps planned.

5. Bull Durham (1988)

Kevin Costner

5. Bull Durham (1988)

Kevin Costner — The whole premise of Bull Durham sounds like it would be an extremely boring film. A poetry-loving groupie named Annie Savoy, played by Susan Surandon, is a Durham Bulls fan who dubs new prospect Ebby Calvin Laloosh (Tim Robbins), or Nuke, as her next inspirational target. Nuke, however, struggles on the mound until veteran player Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) takes him under his wing.

The whole premise of Bull Durham sounds like it would be an extremely boring film. A poetry-loving groupie named Annie Savoy, played by Susan Surandon, is a Durham Bulls fan who dubs new prospect Ebby Calvin Laloosh (Tim Robbins), or Nuke, as her next inspirational target. Nuke, however, struggles on the mound until veteran player Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) takes him under his wing.

4. The Natural (1984)

Robert Redford

4. The Natural (1984)

Robert Redford — The Natural is a feel-good story surrounding Roy Hobbs, who is played by Robert Redford. On his way to a tryout for the Chicago Cubs, Hobbs is shot by Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey), and it takes him 16 years to get another chance, this time with the New York Knights. Hobbs becomes one of the best players in the league, and helps turn the Knights into winners, although that upsets The Judge (Robert Prosky), who wants Hobbs to lose.

The Natural is a feel-good story surrounding Roy Hobbs, who is played by Robert Redford. On his way to a tryout for the Chicago Cubs, Hobbs is shot by Harriet Bird (Barbara Hershey), and it takes him 16 years to get another chance, this time with the New York Knights. Hobbs becomes one of the best players in the league, and helps turn the Knights into winners, although that upsets The Judge (Robert Prosky), who wants Hobbs to lose.

3. Field of Dreams (1989)

Kevin Costner

3. Field of Dreams (1989)

Kevin Costner — The second time Kevin Costner has appeared on this list, this time as Iowa farmer, Ray. Ray hears a voice coming from his cornfield one night that says, "If you build it, he will come." Ray decides to build a baseball diamond on his land with his wife, Annie (Amy Madigan). Once completed, ghosts of former great ballplayers begin to appear from the cornfield, including "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. The field ends up taking on a more important role.

The second time Kevin Costner has appeared on this list, this time as Iowa farmer, Ray. Ray hears a voice coming from his cornfield one night that says, "If you build it, he will come." Ray decides to build a baseball diamond on his land with his wife, Annie (Amy Madigan). Once completed, ghosts of former great ballplayers begin to appear from the cornfield, including "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. The field ends up taking on a more important role.

2. A League of Their Own (1992)

Rosie O'Donnell

2. A League of Their Own (1992)

Rosie O'Donnell — The star-studded cast in A League of Their Own made this movie into one of the greatest films of all time, regardless of genre. The movie is set during World War II, when the majority of baseball players are overseas at war. There is an all-female league created that is funded by candy giant Walter Harvey (Garry Marshall). Grumpy coach, Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks), leads a team that includes Geena Davis, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell.

The star-studded cast in A League of Their Own made this movie into one of the greatest films of all time, regardless of genre. The movie is set during World War II, when the majority of baseball players are overseas at war. There is an all-female league created that is funded by candy giant Walter Harvey (Garry Marshall). Grumpy coach, Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks), leads a team that includes Geena Davis, Madonna, and Rosie O'Donnell.

1. The Sandlot (1993)

The Sandlot

1. The Sandlot (1993)

The Sandlot — The Sandlot is my favorite movie of all time. The film has transcended generations, and is probably more popular today than it ever has been. Scottie Smalls (Tom Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood and makes friends with a group of kids who play baseball at the sandlot. The movie takes a turn when the guys lose their ball, and Smalls runs home and borrows his stepdad's Babe Ruth signed baseball.

The Sandlot is my favorite movie of all time. The film has transcended generations, and is probably more popular today than it ever has been. Scottie Smalls (Tom Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood and makes friends with a group of kids who play baseball at the sandlot. The movie takes a turn when the guys lose their ball, and Smalls runs home and borrows his stepdad's Babe Ruth signed baseball.

Jason Fletcher is a MLB Featured Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @JasonFletcher25, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google+.

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