Baseball movie - Definition

(also see sports film)

A baseball movie refers to a motion picture belonging to a genre where the game of baseball features prominently in the plot.

If movies are often referred to as an American art form, then the baseball movie must be the most American of all. The inherent conflict present in sports very often makes for intriguing subject matter for motion pictures. Throughout movie history, filmmakers have often turned to baseball.

Many baseball films are true stories which follow a particular team or player. Many of the greatest players in the game's history (Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, etc.) have had their life stories turned into film.

Other baseball films are pure fiction, using baseball as a backdrop for humor (The Bad News Bears) or even mythology (The Natural).

Notable baseball movies include:

• 61* (made for television, 2001)
• A League of Their Own (1992)
• Alibi Ike (1935)
• Amazing Grace and Chuck (1987)
• Angels in the Outfield (1951)
• Angels in the Outfield (1994 remake)
• Bang the Drum Slowly (made for television, 1956)
• Bang the Drum Slowly (remake for screen, 1973)
• Bull Durham (1988)
• Cobb (1994)
• Damn Yankees (1958)
• Eight Men Out (1988)
• Elmer the Great (1933)
• Fear Strikes Out (1957)
• Field of Dreams (1989)
• For Love of the Game (1999)
• Hustle (made for television, 2004)
• It Happens Every Spring (1949)
• Little Big League (1994)
• Major League (1989) & sequels
• Mr. 3000 (2004)
• Mr. Baseball (1992)
• Rookie of the Year (1993)
• Soul of the Game (1996)
• Stealing Home (1988)
• Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)
• The Babe (1992)
• The Babe Ruth Story (1948)
• The Bad News Bears (1976) & sequels
• The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976)
• The Kid from Left Field (1953)
• The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)
• The Natural (1984)
• The Pride of St. Louis (1952)
• The Pride of the Yankees (1942)
• The Rookie (2002)
• The Sandlot (1993)
• The Scout (1994)
• The Stratton Story (1949)
• The Winning Team (1952)