Stories of America’s pastime: the top three baseball movies of all time
Gary Wenzel, Contributing Writer
Photo courtesy of Mike Bowman on Unsplash
Few things capture the American spirit quite like the thrill of a great movie and the timeless excitement of baseball. That begs the question, what can be better than when movies and baseball join forces? Bringing the game to a screen shows the unity and belief that it takes to learn life lessons that go far beyond baseball. These three movies have stood the test of time and have created a legacy by expressing the true magic that baseball brings to life. Here are the top three best baseball movies ranked three to one.
3. The Benchwarmers (2006)- “The Benchwarmers” has a little bit of everything that baseball has to offer. The film is filled with a lot of laughs but also has an emotional appeal to it as well that gets revealed as the story progresses. The story follows Gus (Rob Schneider), Richie (David Spade), and Clark (Jon Heder) who set out to start a little league team to stand up against bullies and represent the outcasts in life. While Gus is the star player, he never leaves Richie and Clark behind. The moral of the story is that it takes a team and loyalty with each other to find purpose in life. Even though Gus was a bully when he was younger, he decides to stand up against bullies and plays on a team with his new friends. This shows that it is never too late to change and make right with your past. All the games are played on little league fields in a small community which shows that baseball is about the teammates you share the field with. It takes true character and love to stand up for what is right.
2. Moneyball (2011)- “Moneyball” is based on a true story that follows the Oakland A’s and their general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt). He tries to utilize statistics and find an unorthodox way to have success at the professional level with a small budget. Billy comes across Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) who is a brainiac and understands the ins and outs of how to win baseball games. Billy makes Peter his assistant and the two of them embark on a challenging journey filled with frustration and failures that turn into success as the movie goes on. The movie challenges the principle of belief and trusting in what you started. One of the most powerful quotes in all of sports cinema is when Billy asks Peter, “Do you believe in this thing?” Even though you might not see results right away in life, it is important to stay the course and trust in what you are building. The A’s didn’t go on a magical playoff run to win the World Series, but what they built with the resources they had changed baseball forever. This movie shows that taking risks and going against the current gives you just as much fulfillment as any trophy can.
1. The Sandlot (1993)- “The Sandlot” is a classic film that shows the magic of baseball through the eyes of a group of boys who spend every day of their summer together. Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) moves into the neighborhood and is looking to fit in, but he isn’t good at baseball yet. It took Benny Rodriguez (Mike Vitar) to welcome him into the group with open arms. Once the kids get to playing baseball in the heat of summer, they encounter what is described as a “pickle.” When Smalls loses his stepdad’s Babe Ruth autographed ball, the boys must find a way to get it back against “The Beast.” Despite the challenges and differences, the boys make core memories and have laughs together while trying to get the ball back. There are so many iconic quotes and scenes from this movie which make it so famous. The best way to describe this movie is good clean fun with a ton of laughs and nostalgia. The film has a way of taking you back in time with your neighborhood friends to when life was simple and baseball was all that mattered.
Baseball is filled with life lessons and memories that are waiting to be tapped into. Each of these films touches on the deeper meaning of baseball and will guarantee an enjoyable watch. Every baseball loving American should see these movies and appreciate the stories that are being told through the game we all love.
