Magic Lantern Video & Book Store
Baseball Movies Film Festival
![Gary Cooper gets the girl, from "The Pride of The Yankees" [1942]](images/still-GaryCooper+girl_PrideofTheYankees.jpg "Gary Cooper gets the girl, from \"The Pride of The Yankees\" [1942]") |
collections & documentaries
baseball movies of the Silent Era |
The movies selected for this Baseball Film Festival include dramatic feature films, documentary
shorts & features, and video & DVD box set collections, plus a few books on the subject.
Spirit of America Bookstore's Baseball, USA Page
"Are you crying? Are you crying? ARE YOU CRYING? There's no crying!
THERE'S NO CRYING IN BASEBALL!"
— Tom Hanks as coach Jimmy Dugan in "A League of Their Own" [1992]
Baseball Movie Collections & Documentaries
"Home Run: Baseball In The Movies" documentary film [indep 1994]
Co-produced & directed by Susan F. Walker • VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available •
bare credits at IMDb
"Major League Baseball: Generations of Heroes" [5/1999] not listed on IMDb
http://www.amazon.com/Major-League-Baseball-Generations-Heroes/dp/B00000ILEN/
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"Great Baseball Movies" on DVD [2001]
B.F.S. Ent. b&w/color DVD [3/2001] for $29.99 contains 3 b&w feature films: "The Jackie Robinson Story" [1950] starring Jackie Robinson as himself; "It's Good To Be Alive" [color 1974] starring Paul Winfield as Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella, directed by Michael Landon; and "Headin' Home" silent feature [1920] starring Babe Ruth |
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"America's Greatest Baseball Collection" VHS Box Set [2002]
Questar color VHS [4/2002] 2 tapes for 99¢ {sic} contains 2 documentary films: 56-minute "The Story of America's Classic Ballparks" [1991] {IMDb credits}, and 60-minute "Baseball's Greatest Memories, Myths & Legends" [1991] {IMDb credits} "Ballparks" video: Questar color VHS [4/2002] for $6.90 "Memories" video: Questar color VHS [4/2002] for 86¢ {sic} |
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"The Major League Baseball Box Set Collection" DVD Box Set [2006]
A&E Home Video DVD collection [10/2006] 55 disks for $346.46 contains seven box sets from A&E: "Boston Red Sox: 2004 World Series Collector's Edition" [12 disks 2005], "Chicago White Sox: 2005 World Series Collector's Edition" [7 disks 2006], "Cincinnati Reds: 1975 World Series Collector's Edition" [7 disks], "New York Mets: 1986 World Series Collector's Edition" [9 disks 2006], "New York Yankees: Fall Classics, 1996-2001" [5 disks 2005], "Pittsburgh Pirates: 1979 World Series Coll-ector's Edition" [7 disks 2006], and "St. Louis Cardinals: Greatest Games of Busch Stadium" [6 disks 2006] |
 | "The Ultimate Baseball Collector’s Collection: A Must-Have For All Baseball Fans" [2007]
R.H.I. Entertainment widescreen color DVD [9/2007] out of prodn/used contains two 50-minute documentaries, neither listed on IMDb: "Collecting America" directed by Jonathan Blank, and "Ultimate Baseball Memorabilia" [1989] which "provide viewers with an inside look at baseball’s greatest treasures and also explore the big business of the baseball memorabilia industry"; featuring the game's greats including Mickey Mantle, Nolan Ryan, Don Mattingly, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, and Hank Aaron |
 | "Game Night Collection" DVD box set [2007] includes "The Bad News Bears" [1976] starring Walter Matthau; "The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training" [1977]; "The Bad News Bears Go To Japan" [1978] starring Tony Curtis; "The Bad News Bears" remake [2005] starring Billy Bob Thornton; "Bang The Drum Slowly" [1973]; "Fear Strikes Out" [1957]; "Hard Ball" [2001]; "Major League" [1989]; and "Talent For The Game" [1991] starring Edward James Olmos Paramount color DVD set [9/2007] 9 disks for $15.62 |
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"Baseball's Golden Age: An Inside Look At The Legends of The Game" TV series [Fox Sports Net 2008] 13 half-hour-ish color and b&w episodes from Fox Sports Co-produced & written by Erik Kesten, narrated by Alec Baldwin Amazon Instant Video [11/2012] purchase for $1.99 per episode or all for $16.99 Time-Life DVD set [4/2009] 3 disks - out of prodn/overpriced credits at IMDb |
 | "The Official Major League Baseball: World Series Film Collection" DVD Box Set [2010] 50+ hours of World Series game footage; featuring all the baseball legends, including Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Stan Musial & Jackie Robinson • not listed on IMDb A&E Home Video b&w/color DVD [12/2010] 21 disks for $104.99 A&E Home Video b&w/color DVD [11/2009] 20 disks for $53.95 |
"When It Was A Game" [H.B.O. Sports]
 | Complete Collection: H.B.O. Home Video widescreen color Blu-ray [6/2011] for $21.93
Triple-Play Collection: H.B.O. Home Video widescreen color DVD [5/2001] 3 disks - out of prodn/used Episode 1 [H.B.O. 1991] • full credits at IMDb 57-minute compilation of 8mm & 16mm film taken by players and fans from 1934 to 1957. H.B.O. Home Video widescreen color DVD [4/2000] for $9.40 Episode 2 [H.B.O. 1992] • full credits at IMDb 58-minute compilation of 8mm & 16mm film taken by players and fans from 1925 to 1961. H.B.O. Home Video widescreen color DVD [4/2012] for $11.93 Episode 3 [H.B.O. July 2000] • full credits at IMDb 59-minute compilation of 8mm & 16mm film taken by players and fans during the 1960s. H.B.O. Home Video widescreen color DVD [12/2000] for $12.08 |
 | "Baseball: The Golden Age of America's Game" video release [March 2013] six TV specials written & directed by Marino Amoruso running 7½ hours on four disks; includes: "The Baseball Chronicles" [2010] {IMDb credits}; "Only In New York: The Subway Series" [2000] {no IMDb credits}; "Joe DiMaggio: The Final Chapter" [2000] {IMDb credits}; "The Babe and The Iron Horse: Babe Rith & Lou Gehrig" [2003] {IMDb credits}; "Dem Bums: The Brooklyn Dodgers" [2001] {IMDb credits}; and "Dynasty: The New York Yankees" [2000] {IMDb credits}; plus a 24-page booklet profiling "The Greatest Fall Classics of Baseball's Golden Age" Madacy color/b&w DVD set [4/2013] 4 disks for $14.99 |
Baseball Movies of the Silent Era
"The Ball Game" silent short [Edison Mfg. Co. May 1898]
future Western author Zane Grey [1872-1939] is pitcher for the Reading, Pennsylvania Coal Heavers baseball team versus the Newark Colts
video/DVD not available • credits from IMDb
watch b&w silent clip [9/2007 upload; 0:28] online at YouTube
"The Ball Player and The Bandit" [1912] /tt0002045/
"The Busher" [Ince/Paramount May 1919]
![still photo from "The Busher" [1919 silent feature]](covers/TheBusher1919.jpg) | A young baseball pitcher in the bush leagues is discovered by a team manager and given his chance in the major leagues; he returns home in disgrace, but winning a local game provides a second chance. Produced by Thomas H. Ince; directed by Jerome Storm; starring Charles Ray, Colleen Moore, John Gilbert, Jay Morley & Otto Hoffman
Kino Video DVD set [4/2007] 2 disks for $26.99 full credits from IMDb DVD also includes Babe Ruth starring in "Headin' Home" [1920 silent feature], and a dozen shorts |
"Babe Ruth Starring in Headin' Home" [1920 silent] /tt0011267/
http://www.amazon.com/Babe-Ruth-Starring-Headin-Home/dp/B004YWKNZW/
http://www.amazon.com/Headins-Home/dp/B007JYGR20/
"Babe Comes Home" [1927] /tt0017652/
"Speedy" [1928 silent] starring Harold Lloyd & Babe Ruth /tt0019412/
http://www.amazon.com/Speedy-Harold-Lloyd-Comedy-Classics/dp/630293706X/
Selected Baseball Movies, A to Z
browse Sports Movies on DVD / Baseball category at Amazon
search IMDb on keyword 'baseball' {returns 1,400+ movie & TV titles}
A thru F • G thru M • N thru S • T thru Z
Announced 4/2012: Barry Levinson is producing the Hank Aaron biofilm, based on the book "The Last Hero: The Life Story of Henry Aaron" by Howard Bryant; the new film will focus on Atlanta Braves star Aaron’s career between 1972 and 1974, a tough time when he was chasing Babe Ruth’s home run record - as the Afro-American ballplayer received many death threats about supplanting German-American Ruth as baseball’s home run king • not yet listed on IMDb
"A League of Their Own" [1992] w/Geena Davis & Madonna /tt0104694/
"A League of Their Own" 27-minute documentary [1987] /tt0347390/
"A League of Their Own" [1993 TV series] /tt0106055/
"A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story" [1978 TV] /tt0077870/
"Air Bud 4: Seventh Inning Fetch" video release
[#4 = Keystone/Disney June 2002]
 | Josh has gone to college and little sister Andrea enlists Buddy for her baseball team, just as Rocky the Raccoon kidnaps Buddy's puppy children • Story & directed by Robert Vince; starring Caitlin Wachs, Kevin Zegers, Jeffrey Ballard, Jay Brazeau, Jason Bryden, Patrick Cranshaw, James Crescenzo, Heather Feeney, Doug Funk, Molly Hagan, Nicholas Harrison, Jim Hughson, Richard Karn, Ellen Kennedy, Kenya Jo Kennedy, Nels Lennarson, Ian Ross McDonald, Dagmar Midcap, Brennan Robinson, Shayn Solberg, Cynthia Stevenson, Chantal Strand, Jeff Terrell, Frank C. Turner & Buddy the Dog {played by five actor-dogs}
Phase 4/Kaboom! Ent. Golden Edition (English/French) color DVD [12/2002] for $9.88 Walt Disney Home Ent. color DVD [6/2002] for $22.99 Walt Disney Home Ent. color VHS [4/2004] for $9.00 full credits at IMDb • watch 3/2011 official DVD promo [1:10] online at YouTube more on Disney's 'Air Bud' Movie & Video Series Page |
"American Pastime" documentary film [Warner May 2007]
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A mix of archival and newly-shot footage, of modern actors and interviews with World War II internees reveals the harrowing isolation & loneliness of internment at the Topaz Camp in Utah and the Manzanar Camp in California, and a solution created inside the camps: Baseball! Co-written & directed by Desmond Nakano; starring Masatoshi Nakamura, Gary Cole, Sarah Drew, Judy Ongg, Aaron Yoo, Seth Sakai, Susanna Thompson & Leonardo Nam Warner widescreen color DVD [5/2007] for $6.99 full credits from IMDb |
"Angels In The Outfield" [1951] /tt0043286/
named by Pres Eisenhower as his favorite film
"Angels In The Outfield" remake [1994] /tt0109127/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-HxbfjVlw0 full movie [1:42:42]
"Angels In The Endzone" [Disney 1997 TV] is on the Football Film Festival Page
"Angels In The Infield" [2000 TV]
movies about Babe Ruth are moved to the Baseball Legends Dept. / Babe Ruth Section below
"The Bad News Bears" [1976] /tt0074174/
"The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training" [1977] /tt0075718/
"The Bad News Bears Go To Japan" [1978] /tt0077199/
"The Bad News Bears" [1979 TV series] /tt0078566/
"The Bad News Bears" remake [2005] /tt0408524/
"Ball Four" TV series [CBS-TV Sept-Oct 1976]
 | 5-episode half-hour color comedy TV series based on American League pitcher Bouton's book Written by & starring Jim Bouton {as Jim Barton}; also starring Jack Somack, David James Carroll, Ben Davidson, Bill McCutcheon, Lenny Schultz, Marco St. John, Jaime Tirelli, Sam Wright
DVD/Blu-ray not available • full credits at IMDb "Ball Four: My Life and Hard Times Throwing The Knuckleball In The Big Leagues" [1970 bestseller, rev 1990 & 2001] by Jim Bouton, Edited by Leonard Shecter A 10th anniversary re-release entitled "Ball Four Plus Ball Five" was published in March 1981; a "Ball Six" chapter updated the stories of the players in the 20th anniversary edition of 1990; the book entitled "Ball Four: The Final Pitch" [April 2001] includes "Ball Five", "Ball Six", and "Ball Seven" - a new chapter that details the death of Bouton's daughter and his semi-reconciliation with the Yankees Kindle Edition from RosettaBooks [3/2012] for $8.79 S&S/Macmillan pb [7/90] for $10.85 Bulldog Publng 10¼x7½ hardcover [4/2001] for $24.47 |
"Bang The Drum Slowly" [1973] /tt0069765/
http://www.amazon.com/Bang-Drum-Slowly-Michael-Moriarty/dp/B00007LP8K/
http://www.amazon.com/Bang-drum-slowly-Tape-1974/dp/B0007KVH78/
"Baseball's Last Hero: The Roberto Clemente Story" [2012] /tt1788355/
"The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings" [1976] /tt0074207/
"Bleacher Bums" [2002] based on the stageplay /tt0289092/
http://www.amazon.com/Bleacher-Bums-Derek-Aasland/dp/B00006RCNA/
"Bottom of The Ninth" documentary [2002]
http://www.amazon.com/Bottom-Ninth-Chuck-Braverman/dp/B000MKXEZ6/
"The Bronx Is Burning" docudrama [ESPN July 2007] /tt0790477/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Bronx-Burning-John-Turturro/dp/B000R7HY46/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bronx_is_Burning
"Bull Durham" [1988] w/SSarandan & Tim Robbins /tt0094812/
"Between The Lines: The Making of Bull Durham" /tt0419498/
"Calico Joe" [1492 Pictures in development?]
Announced 6/2012: Filmmaker Chris Columbus has acquired the rights to John Grisham’s New York Times bestseller
novel set in the world of Major League Baseball and focusing on baseball player Joe Castle and his father;
Columbus will adapt & direct • latest info at IMDb
"Calico Joe" [Doubleday 4/2012 bestseller novel] by John Grisham
http://www.amazon.com/Calico-Joe-John-Grisham/dp/0385536070/
"The Catcher Was a Spy: The Mysterious Life of Moe Berg" [in development 2016?]
Announced 4/2016: Moe Berg was an Ivy League grad and attorney who spoke nine languages, and a baseball player who spent 15 years as a journeyman player for such teams as the New York Robins and Chicago White Sox. Berg doubled as a top secret spy for the O.S.S. (forerunner of the C.I.A.), who helped the U.S. win the race against Germany to build the atomic bomb.
Production companies Animus Films, PalmStar Entertainment, Serena Films; produced by Jim Young, Kevin Scott Frakes, Mark Fasano, Tatiana Kelly; adapted by Robert Rodat; to be directed by Ben Lewin; starring Paul Rudd • latest info at IMDb
"The Catcher Was a Spy: The Mysterious Life of Moe Berg [1994] by Nicholas Dawidoff
http://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Was-Spy-Mysterious-Life-ebook/dp/B005U3V2NG/
http://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Was-Spy-Mysterious-Life/dp/0679762892/ [5/1995]
http://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Was-Spy-Mysterious-Life/dp/0679415661/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catcher_Was_a_Spy
"Cathedrals of The Game" TV series [M.L.B. 2004–2005]
15 half-hour episodes hosted by Michelle Beadle; episodes/topics are: The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown; Busch Stadium in St. Louis;
Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia; Comerica Park in Detroit; Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles; Fenway Park in Boston; Minute Maid Park in Houston;
Orioles Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore; Petco Park in San Diego; P.N.C. Park in Pittsburgh; Safeco Field in Seattle; S.B.C. Park in San Francisco;
SkyDome now Rogers Centre in Toronto; Wrigley Field [1916] in Chicago; and Yankee Stadium in NYC • bare credits at IMDb
"Chasing 3000" [Maya Ent. July 2010]
 | Inspired by a true story; Mickey is unhappy after his family moves to California, and he misses the Pirates baseball team; he decides to steal his mother's car and drive East to witness Roberto Clemente's 3000th hit, but his brother Roger, who has muscular dystrophy, insists on going along . . .
Co-written & directed by Gregory J. Lanesey; co-written by Bill Mikita & Cris D'Annunzio; starring Ray Liotta, Trevor Morgan, Rory Culkin, Lauren Holly, Tania Raymonde, Seymour Cassel, Lori Petty & M. Emmet Walsh
Maya Ent. color DVD [9/2010] for $6.48 full credits at IMDb |
"Cobb" [1994] starring Tommy Lee Jones /tt0109450/
http://www.amazon.com/Cobb-Tommy-Lee-Jones/dp/B0000A02YH/
"The Curse of The Bambino" TV documentary [2003] /tt0381115/
"Reverse of The Curse of the Bambino" TV documentary [2004] /tt0440748/
"Damn Yankees !" [1958] /tt0051516/
remake (2012) /tt1388334/
"Death On The Diamond" (1934) /tt0025039/
"Diamond In The Dunes" [indep Aug 2014]
 | "Hope and baseball in China's Wild West" • Filmed in Xinjiang, China where Muslim Uyghur and Han Chinese students live very separate lives at the university, except on the baseball field: lacking enough students from a single ethnic group, they need each other to play baseball. Directed by Christopher Rufo; featuring team captain Parhat Ablat
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available • credits at IMDb |
"Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige" (1981) (TV) /tt0082277/
"Eight Men Out" [1988] Directed by John Sayles /tt0095082/
http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Men-Out-20th-Anniversary/dp/B0010YSD90/
"Elmer, The Great" (1933) starring Joe E. Brown /tt0023982/
"Everyone's Hero" C.G.I. animation feature film [Fox Sept 2006]
 | A young boy is challenged with an extraordinary quest, and sets out on a thousand-mile journey to restore his family's honor and to help the New York Yankees win the World Series.
Exec produced by Christopher & Dana Reeve; co-directed by Colin Brady, Christopher Reeve & Dan St. Pierre; voice actors include Jake T. Austin, Cherise Boothe, Brian Dennehy {as Babe Ruth}, Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Harris, Ray Iannicelli, Gideon Jacobs, Richard Kind, William H. Macy, Marcus Maurice, Amanda Parsons, Mandy Patinkin, Rob Reiner, Raven-Symoné, Joe Torre, Robert Wagner, Forest Whitaker & Robin Williams
Fox widescreen color Blu-ray [3/2007] out of prodn/used Fox Searchlight color DVD [3/2007] for $6.47 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia |
"Fast Company" (1929) /tt0019871/
"Fastpitch" (2000) documentary /tt0258568/
"Fear Strikes Out" [1957]
http://www.amazon.com/Fear-Strikes-Out-Anthony-Perkins/dp/B00007LP8L/
"Fever Pitch" baseball romcom [April 2005] /tt0332047/
"Field of Dreams" [1989]
 | "If you build it, they will come" • Co-written & directed by Phil Alden Robinson; starring Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan & Ray Liotta Universal Studios Home Ent. widescreen color Blu-ray [5/2009] for $21.49 Universal color DVD [3/2002] for $9.49 Universal color VHS [8/99] out of prodn/many, many used Universal widescreen VHS [8/99] out of prodn/used B.M.G. soundtrack CD [5/89] for $8.99 full credits from IMDb • official movie site • movie entry at Wikipedia |
"The Final Season" [2007]
http://www.amazon.com/Final-Season-Tom-Arnold/dp/B0012YYZDG/
"Fireman, Save My Child" (1932) starring Joe E. Brown /tt0022890/
"For Love of The Game" [1999] starring Kevin Costner /tt0126916/
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Game-Kevin-Costner/dp/078324021X/
"42" [Warner Bros. April 2013?]
Announced 12/2011: Legendary Pictures is making a biopic about Afro-American baseball trailblazer Jackie Robinson [1919-72]; Harrison Ford
has officially signed on to portray Brooklyn Dodgers manager Branch Rickey; newcomer Chadwick Boseman will portray Robinson; Brian Helgeland
wrote & directed • latest info at IMDb
http://www.amazon.com/Hardball-Widescreen-Collection-Keanu-Reeves/dp/B00005UF7W/
"Henry and Me" animated feature film [indep Aug 2014]
 | Young Jack is in the hospital and scared; he is visited by mysterious Henry (Richard Gere) who sweeps Jack away to a magical world where illness no longer exists and New York Yankee legends play forever, bringing the boy face to face with Babe Ruth (Chazz Palminteri), Thurman Munson (Paul Simon), Lefty Gomez (Luis Guzmán), and Mickey Mantle (David Mantle) who all teach Jack to face his fears and never give up; the movie climaxes at Yankee Stadium . . .
Directed by Barrett Esposito; written by David I. Stern; other voices include Austin Williams, Cyndi Lauper, Danny Aiello, Lucie Arnaz, Hank Steinbrenner, Reggie Jackson & Yogi Berra
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available full credits at IMDb • official movie site • watch official trailer [2:01] at YouTube |
"Henry O !" documentary (2009) /tt1312974/awards
"Here Come The Tigers" [1978]
Directed by Sean S. Cunningham, starring Kathy Bell, Noel Cunningham
http://www.amazon.com/Here-Come-Tigers-Kathy-Bell/dp/B000BNXD5K/
"Holy Land Hardball" [indep Jan 2008]
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83-minute documentary film about American baseball fans and the founding of the professional Israel Baseball League (now defunct). Produced, written & directed by Brett Rapkin & Erik Kesten DVD/Blu-ray not yet available Amazon Instant Video [8/2012] rental $3.99, purchase $14.99 full credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia |
"Home Run" [2012?]
Announced 10/2011: A professional baseball player with a substance abuse problem finds redemption
in coaching a Little League team; now filming in Oklahoma; directed by David Boyd, starring Scott Elrod
latest info at IMDb •
official movie site
"How To Play Baseball" cartoon short [Disney/R.K.O. Sept 1942]
 | 8-minute animated short film starring Goofy; produced by Walt Disney; directed by Jack Kinney; narrated by George Johnson, voice of Goofy by Fred Shields •
full credits at IMDb
available on "Classic Cartoon Favorites, Volume 5: Extreme Sports Fun" [2005] Disney Home Ent. color DVD [5/2005] out of prodn/used with seven other cartoons |
"It Happens Every Spring" (1949) /tt0041514/
great shots of postwar ballparks; starring Ray Milland & Jean Peters
"It's Good To Be Alive" [1974] /tt0071676/
starring Paul Winfield as Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella, directed by Michael Landon
"The Jackie Robinson Story" [1950] /tt0042609/ starring Jackie Robinson as himself
watch free online [1:16:46] at YouTube
"The Jackie Robinson Story" TV movie [1974] /tt0420698/ Produced & directed by Michael Landon
"Jackie Robinson: A Life Story" TV documentary [2003] /tt2314028/ Written & directed by Marino Amoruso
"Ken Burns's Baseball" mini-series
[WETA/P.B.S. Sept 1994]
  | nine two-hour episodes; the nine 'innings' titles are "Our Game", "Something Like A War", "The Faith of Fifty Million People", "A National Heirloom", "Shadow Ball", "The National Pastime", "The Capital of Baseball", "A Whole New Ball Game", and "Home" – the 10th disk is called "Extra Innings";
Produced, written & directed by Ken Burns; narrated by Aidan Quinn; won shared Emmy for Outstanding Informational Series
P.B.S. Home Video b&w/color DVD [10/2000] 10 disks - out of prodn/used P.B.S. Home Video b&w/color VHS [4/95] 9 tapes - out of prodn/used Nonesuch soundtrack CD [6/94] 31 tracks for $18.98 full credits at IMDb • P.B.S. official site |
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"Baseball: An Illustrated History" [1994] by Geoffrey C. Ward & Ken Burns Knopf 10½x9 pb [8/96] for $29.70 Knopf 11x9½ {5.2 pounds} hardcover [9/94] for $47.25 10¾x9¼ library hardcover [undated] for $54.00 |
"Kill The Umpire" [Columbia Pictures April 1950]
 | Filmed at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles; threatened by his wife (she will leave him unless he finds steady employment), a feckless baseball fanatic reluctantly accepts a job as a lowly minor league umpire.
Directed by Lloyd Bacon; written by Frank Tashlin; starring William Bendix, Una Merkel, Ray Collins, Gloria Henry, Jeff Richards, Connie Marshall, William Frawley, Tom D'Andrea, Heinie Conklin, Vernon Dent, Alan Hale Jr., Duke Snider, Emil Sitka & Chief Yowlachie • full credits at IMDb Sony Pictures Home Ent. double feature DVD [4/2007] for $8.84 with "Safe At Home" [color 1962] |
"Knuckleball" [FilmBuff VOD release Sept 2012]
 | Knuckleball pitchers are considered freakish in professional baseball; this 93-minute documentary covers the ups and downs of the careers of Tim Wakefield (Boston Red Sox) and R.A. Dickey (New York Mets). Directed by Ricki Stern & Annie Sundberg; featuring R.A. Dickey, Tim Wakefield, Charles Hough, Phil Niekro, Jim Bouton, Wilbur Wood
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available • Amazon Instant Video 3-day rental [9/2012] for $3.99 full credits at IMDb • official movie site • watch official trailer [2:33] at YouTube |
"Ladies' Day" (1943) /tt0036091/
"Life and Times of Hank Greenberg" [1998] /tt0208261/
"Little Big League" (1994) /tt0110363/
"Major League" [1989] /tt0097815/ + sequels
http://www.amazon.com/Major-League-Wild-Thing-Berenger/dp/B000M343BM/
http://www.amazon.com/Major-League-II-Charlie-Sheen/dp/B00004RF87/
http://www.amazon.com/Major-League-3-Back-Minors/dp/B00004RF84/
"The Man From Left Field" [1994] with Burt Reynolds & Reba McIntyre
http://www.amazon.com/Man-Left-Field-Daniel-Greene/dp/B0007XG32Y/
"Mantle: The Definitive Story of Mickey Mantle" []
http://www.amazon.com/Mantle-Definitive-Story-Mickey/dp/B000EULSRK/
"Million Dollar Arm" [Disney 2014?]
Announced 4/2013: Baseball scout J.B. Bernstein visits India and realizes that cricket pitchers might be good as baseball pitchers, so he stages
a pitching contest in Mumbai and discovers professional talents Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel; crew now includes director Craig Gillespie,
writer Tom McCarthy, actors Jon Hamm & Alan Arkin
• latest info at IMDb
"Moneyball" feature film [Columbia Pictures Sept 2011]
 | based on the 2003 nonfiction novel by Michael Lewis; the story of Oakland Athletics baseball team GM Billy Beane and his strategy for building an A-list team without paying his players enormous salaries • Co-produced by Brad Pitt, Scott Rudin, and others; directed by Bennett Miller; written by Stan Chervin, Aaron Sorkin & Steven Zaillian, based on the book by Michael Lewis; starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt, Stephen Bishop, Reed Diamond, Brent Jennings, Ken Medlock, Tammy Blanchard, Jack McGee, Vyto Ruginis, Nick Searcy, Glenn Morshower, Casey Bond, Nick Porrazzo, Kerris Dorsey, Arliss Howard, Reed Thompson, James Shanklin, Diane Behrens, Takayo Fischer, Derrin Ebert, Miguel Mendoza, Gerardo Celasco, Tom Gamboa, Barry Moss, Artie Harris, Bob Bishop, George Vranau, Phil Pote, Art Ortiz, Royce Clayton, Marvin Horn, Brent Dohling, Ken Rudulph, Lisa Guerrero, Christopher Dehau Lee, Joe Satriani, Simon James, Joe Provost, John Brantley Cole, Jake Wilson, Robert P. Macaluso, Keith Middlebrook, Damon Farmar, Michael Gillespie, Chad Kreuter, Blake Pike, Robert Ninfo, Gary Johnson, Derrick Bennett, Spike Jonze; with archive footage of Johnny Damon, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Jason Giambi, Rudy Giuliani, Connie Mack, Matt Stairs, and Babe Ruth; and voices of Greg Papa, Bob Costas, Tim McCarver, Eddie Frierson, Glen Kuiper, Ken Korach
Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color Blu-ray [1/2012] for $7.29 Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color Blu-ray/DVD combo [1/2012] out of prodn/used Sony Pictures Home Ent. widescreen color DVD [1/2012] for $7.99 Amazon Instant Video widescreen color 4k HD format [2016] rental $5.99, purchase $18.99 full credits at IMDb • official movie website • movie entry at Wikipedia watch 6/2011 official trailer [2:30] online at YouTube |
 |  "Moneyball: The Art of Winning An Unfair Game" [2003]#1 national bestseller by Michael Lewis Kindle Edition from W.W. Norton & Co. [2004 edition] for $5.85 W.W. Norton & Co. 8¼x5½ pb [3/2004] for $6.16 W.W. Norton & Co. 9½x6½ hardcover [5/2003] for $12.00 book entry at Wikipedia |
"Mr. 3000" [Touchstone Pictures Sept 2004] /tt0339412/ starring Bernie Mac, Angela Bassett, Paul Sorvino
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-3000-Full-Screen-Bernie/dp/B0006GAI5U/
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-3000-Widescreen-Bernie-Mac/dp/B0006GAI64/
"Mr. Baseball" [1992] w/Tom Selleck /tt0104926/
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Baseball-Tom-Selleck/dp/B00009AOAW/
"The Natural" [1984] w/RRedford /tt0087781/
http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Directors-Cut-Robert-Redford/dp/B000MNOX94/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/ref=pe_20890_14876390_pe_t3/?ASIN=B000MNOX7G bluray
Theodore's 2002 book "Baseball's Natural: The Story of Eddie Waitkus"
"Negro Leagues Baseball" [1946 short]
"Pelotero" [Strand Releasing July 2012] /tt1885335/
Announced 4/2012: Documentary about two young baseball players (peloteros) in the Dominican Republic as they work
to be signed by a professional club on their 16th birthday, the earliest they become eligible; exec-produced by Boston Red
Sox manager Bobby Valentine; directed by Ross Finkel, Trevor Martin & Jon Paley; narrated by John Leguizamo
"The Perfect Game" [April 2010] /tt0473102/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Perfect-Game-Clifton-Collins/dp/B004X2TYG2/
"The Pride of St. Louis" [1952] /tt0045049/
"The Pride of The Yankees" [1942] /tt0035211/
starring Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, Babe Ruth & Walter Brennan; prologue written by Damon Runyon
http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Yankees-Collectors-Gary-Cooper/dp/B0010YSD9A/
http://www.amazon.com/The-Pride-Yankees-Gary-Cooper/dp/B000069HZY/
http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Yankees-VHS-Gary-Cooper/dp/630159942X/
http://www.amazon.com/Pride-Yankees-Gary-Cooper/dp/6305308764/
"The Prisoner of Zenda, Inc." TV movie [Hallmark/Showtime Sept 1996]
 | Filmed in Vancouver, BC, Canada; when the president of computer company Zenda, Inc. dies, power passes to his teenage son; the infuriated uncle kidnaps his nephew and takes over running the company; but loyal employees find a lookalike boy and regain control; one problem is that the real boy loves to play baseball and the replacement is a computer geek . . . • Directed by Stefan Scaini; written by Richard Clark & Rodman Gregg (just barely based on plot elements of the 1894 novel); starring Jonathan Jackson, Richard Lee Jackson, William Shatner, Jay Brazeau, Don S. Davis, Katharine Isabelle, John Tench
Platinum Disc color DVD [3/2005] out of prodn/used full credits at IMDb |
"Resurrection: The J.R. Richard Story" [indep 2005]
 | Filmed around Houston, Texas; the rollercoaster life of former Astros pitcher J.R. Richard - first round draft pick in 1969, massive stroke in 1980, abandonment by Astros management, life as a homeless street person, and a return to baseball with the help of friends and fans.
Co-produced & directed by Greg Carter; written by Keith Kjornes; starring David Ramsey, Jessica Jimerson, Kenya Moore, Sara Stokes, Ron Finberg, Anika C. McFall, Annette Jimerson, Charles Durning; film won a Gold Award at WorldFest Houston
VHS/DVD/Blu-ray not available • full credits at IMDb |
"The Rookie" [] Dennis Quaid
http://www.amazon.com/Rookie-Widescreen-Dennis-Quaid/dp/B000068DBE/
"Rookie of The Year" [NBC-TV Dec 1955]
Half-hour episode of "Screen Directors Playhouse"; co-produced by Hal Roach; directed by John Ford; written by
Frank S. Nugent, based on a story by W.R. Burnett; starring John Wayne, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, James Gleason
& Patrick Wayne; video/DVD not available;
full credits at IMDb
"Safe At Home!" sports comedy film [Columbia Pictures April 1962]
 |
Filmed in Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, Florida; Hutch brags to his Little League teammates that his dad knows Mickey Mantle & Roger Maris; forced to 'put up or shut up', he sneaks into the Yankees spring training camp and gets a lecture on honesty being the best policy; he agrees to fess up, and when he returns to his ballfield, he finds that the whole team has been invited to the Yankees camp.
Directed by Walter Doniger; starring Mickey Mantle & Roger Maris as themselves, Bryan Russell, William Frawley, Patricia Barry, Don Collier, Eugene Iglesias, Flip Mark, Edmund Lane & Charles G. Martin, with Ralph Houk, Whitey Ford & Joe Pepitone as themselves
Sony Pictures Home Ent. double feature color DVD [4/2007] for $8.84 with b&w "Kill The Umpire" [1950] credits at IMDb • movie entry at Wikipedia |
"The Sandlot" [1993]
starring Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar, Patrick Renna, Chauncey Leopardi
http://www.amazon.com/Sandlot-Brandon-Quintin-Adams/dp/B00005RT3N/
"6 1 *" [2001]
Directed by Billy Crystal, starring Chris Bauer & Anthony Michael Hall
http://www.amazon.com/61-Chris-Bauer/dp/B00005M20J/
"Soul of The Game" [1996] re Negro League
http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Game-Delroy-Lindo/dp/B000053V7F/
"The Stratton Story" [1949] /tt0041928/
http://www.amazon.com/Stratton-Story-James-Stewart/dp/B000FTCLRG/
"Sugar" [Sony April 2009]
/tt0990413/ http://www.sonyclassics.com/sugar/
"Talent For The Game" [1991] starring Edward James Olmos
http://www.amazon.com/Talent-Game-Edward-James-Olmos/dp/B00007LP8J/
"Trouble With The Curve" [Malpaso/Warner Bros. Sept 2012]
 | Filmed in Georgia; the eyesight of baseball scout Gus is failing, so his daughter agrees to tag long on what could be his last scouting trip • Co-produced & directed by longtime producing partner Robert Lorenz; written by Randy Brown; co-produced by and starring semi-retired Clint Eastwood; also starring Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake, John Goodman, Matthew Lillard, Robert Patrick
DVD/Blu-ray not yet available full credits at IMDb • official movie site |
"The Unnatural" [for 2012? release]
Announced 11/2011: Andrew Lauren Productions has optioned a script by Ashley Scott Meyers & Nathan Ives
about an aspiring baseball player who has no athletic talent but refuses to let that stop him from trying to
become a professional sports star • still not listed on IMDb {9/2012}
"The Winning Season" [2004] starring Matthew Modine
http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Season-Matthew-Modine/dp/B0007R4TIA/
"The Winning Team"
http://www.amazon.com/Winning-Team-Authentic-Brothers-starring/dp/B000HREKP2/
Baseball Legends
Hank Aaron
"Hank Aaron: Chasing The Dream" 2-hour docufilm [1995] /tt0113254/
Yogi Berra [1925-2015]
Ty Cobb [1886-1961]
Joe DiMaggio [1914-99]
A&E/Biography video [1/94] for $14.95
Lou Gehrig [1903-41]
Sandy Koufax [b. 1935]
Mickey Mantle [1931-95]
Jackie Robinson [1919-72]
A&E/Biography video [1/94] for $14.95
George Herman 'Babe' Ruth, Jr. [1895-1948]
While this section is being added to, the books content will be added to a section on Spirit of America Bookstore's Baseball Page;
eventually the two will be combined into a Babe Ruth Page.
Babe Ruth entry at Wikipedia
Babe Ruth's credits [1915-42] at IMDb
Babe Ruth {as a character} credits at IMDb
listed #75 on The Atlantic Monthly's Top 100 Most Influential Figures in American History [Dec 2006]
GaryS's Babe Ruth fansite
 | "Babe: The Legend Comes To Life" [1974] by Robert W. Creamer, senior editor at Sports Illustrated Kindle Edition from Open Road [6/2011] for $9.99 Simon & Schuster 8½x5½ pb [4/92] for $11.50 Simon & Schuster 8½x5½ hardcover [8/74] out of print/many used Simon & Schuster 8½x5¾ hardcover [8/74] out of print/used Holtzman Press autographed limited edition 9¼x6¼ hardcover [1980] out of print/used |
"Babe Ruth Starring in Headin' Home" [1920 silent] /tt0011267/
http://www.amazon.com/Babe-Ruth-Starring-Headin-Home/dp/B004YWKNZW/
http://www.amazon.com/Headins-Home/dp/B007JYGR20/
"Babe Comes Home" [1927] /tt0017652/
"Speedy" [1928 silent] starring Harold Lloyd & Babe Ruth /tt0019412/
http://www.amazon.com/Speedy-Harold-Lloyd-Comedy-Classics/dp/630293706X/
"The Babe Ruth Story" [Allied Artists Pictures 1948] /tt0040142/
starring William Bendix, Claire Trevor, Charles Bickford
http://www.amazon.com/Babe-Ruth-Story-William-Bendix/dp/B00478ED1S/
http://www.amazon.com/Babe-Ruth-Story-William-Bendix/dp/6301599446/
"My Dad, The Babe: The Babe Ruth Scrapbook" [May 1988] /tt1708531/
http://www.amazon.com/My-Dad-Babe-Ruth-Scrapbook/dp/6302985501/
"Babe Ruth: Sports Legend" video [7/1989] not listed on IMDb
http://www.amazon.com/Babe-Ruth-Sports-Legend-VHS/dp/6300230899/
"Meet Babe Ruth" video [LionsGate 1989] not listed on IMDb
http://www.amazon.com/Meet-Babe-Ruth-VHS/dp/6301683102/
"Babe Ruth: The Man, The Myth, The Legend" video [4/1990] /tt2363089/
http://www.amazon.com/Babe-Ruth-Man-Myth-Legend/dp/630164106X/
"Babe Ruth" [1991 TV] /tt0101388/
"Biography: Babe Ruth" [A&E 1994] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0402728/
http://www.amazon.com/Biography-Babe-Ruth-DVD-Archives/dp/B0007ZENTC/
A&E/Biography video [7/95] for $14.95
"The Babe" [1995] /tt0103747/
http://www.amazon.com/Babe-John-Goodman/dp/B00009AOAX/
"Babe Ruth: The Life Behind The Legend" [H.B.O. Sports 1998] /tt0166497/
starring Babe Ruth, Jean Shepherd, narrated by Liev Schreiber
http://www.amazon.com/Babe-Ruth-Life-Behind-Legend/dp/0783114419/
http://www.amazon.com/Babe-Ruth-Life-Behind-Legend/dp/B00005Y6YH/
"Sportscentury Greatest Athletes: Babe Ruth" [ESPN 12/1999] series=/tt0281488/
http://www.amazon.com/Sportscentury-Greatest-Athletes-Babe-Ruth/dp/B000RMJ4EO/ DVD 9/2007
"Famous Americans: Story of Babe Ruth" [Questar 4/2002] not listed on IMDb
http://www.amazon.com/Famous-Americans-Story-Babe-Ruth/dp/6301959507/
"Jackie Mitchell: The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth" [Fox Sports May 2008]
"Amazing Sports Stories" episode=/tt1245131/ + series=/tt1245131/
"Babe Ruth Newsreel Collection, 1933 - 1948" [5/2009] not listed on IMDb
http://www.amazon.com/Babe-Ruth-Newsreel-Collection-1933/dp/B001TIPZSY/
Books About Baseball and Movies
| At first, we tried to restrict books coded here to those about baseball movies; but over time, we found too many books about baseball trivia and baseball history and kept adding them; this section is now split into three parts: Baseball and Media • • Baseball History • • Baseball Trivia |  |
Baseball fiction is over on Spirit of America Bookstore's Baseball, USA Page
Baseball and Media
 | "Touching Base: Professional Baseball and American Culture In The Progressive Era" [1980, rev 1999] by Steven A. Riess Univ Illinois Press 9x6 pb [7/99] for $20.01 Univ Illinois Press 8½x6¼ hardcover [7/99] out of print/used Greenwood Publng 8¼x5½ hardcover [1980] out of print/used |
 | "Baseball In The Movies: A Comprehensive Reference, 1915-1991" [1992] by Hal Erickson McFarland and Co. 9½x6½ library hardcover [8/92] for $49.95 |
 | "The Baseball Filmography, 1915 Through 2001" [2002] by Hal Erickson McFarland & Co. 2nd edition 9¾x6¾ pb [4/2010] for $49.95 McFarland & Co. 2nd edition hardcover [8/2002] out of print/used |
 | "Reel Baseball: Baseball's Golden Era, The Way America Witnessed It - In The Movie Newsreels" book & DVD combo [2006] by Les Krantz, Foreword by Yogi Berra Doubleday 10¾x8½ hardcover & DVD combo [10/2006] out of print/many used |
 | "The Baseball Film In Postwar America: A Critical Study, 1948-1962" [2011] by Ron Briley McFarland & Co. 9x6 pb [8/2011] for $40.00 |
 | "Broadcasting Baseball: A History of The National Pastime On Radio and Television" [2011] by Eldon L. Ham Kindle Edition from McFarland & Co. [7/2011] for $14.99 McFarland & Co. 10x7 pb [7/2011] for $39.97 |
Baseball History
 | "The American League: The Early Years, 1901-1920" [2000] by David Lee Poremba Kindle Edition from Arcadia Publng [9/2012] for $9.99 Arcadia Publng 9¼x6½ pb [10/2000] for $21.99 |
 | "Baseball: An Illustrated History - including The Tenth Inning" [2010] by Geoffrey C. Ward & Ken Burns companion book to the Ken Burns 1994 miniseries and the 2-part 2010 sequel Knopf 10¾x9¼ pb [9/2010] for $26.37 Knopf 11½x9½ hardcover [9/2010] for $52.50 |
"501 Baseball Books Fans Must Read Before They Die" [Univ Nebraska Press] by Ron Kaplan
"Sports Illustrated: The Baseball Book" /1933405236/
Baseball Trivia
 | "Baseball's Greatest Quotations: An Illustrated Treasury of Baseball Quotations and Historical Lore" [1991] by Paul Dickson Collins Reference 9x7½ revised edition pb [2/2008] for $7.98 HarperResource 8½x7¼ pb [3/92] out of print/many, many used Edward Burlingame Books hardcover [2003] out of print/used Edward Burlingame Books 9x7½ hardcover [1991] out of print/many used |
 | "Standard Catalog of Vintage Baseball Cards, 6th Edition" [2016] from Sports Collectors Digest Krause Publns 10¾x8¼ pb [9/2016] for $21.15 |
"Baseball Haiku" []
L i n k s
browse Sports Movies / Baseball on DVD category at Amazon
Spirit of America Bookstore's Baseball, USA Page
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