Now this list really isn’t in ranking order. I’ve searched and searched and every list I’ve seen and guy I’ve talked to has ranked them different. So rather than dispute and try to figure out what the best baseball movie of all time really is, I just wanted to give a list of really good ones that everyone likes! And if you haven’t checked out the Baseball Movies for Girls who Like Crying…In Baseball, there are some great films in there that guys love too so check them out!
The one thing really intereting thing I have noticed about baseball movies is that they are FULL of famous actors. It seems like A-list celebrities flock to do baseball movies the way has-been C-listers flock to Lifetime and Hallmark to do Holiday movies. (But seriously, why do they all migrate to do bad Holiday films anyway?)
Stiletto Set’s Guide to Top Baseball Movies
“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.
Bull Durham is not just a baseball fim, it's a buddy bonding film too!
2. Bull Durham
This is usually the #1 or #2 movie on any baseball movie list and often argued as the best all-around baseball movie ever. There is something for everyone: a love story, comedy, an inspirational tale, a buddy film and lots of baseball. The mentoring relationship between Crash and Nuke is great. My favorite quote that I found about this film was that “the film allows the game to take on the persona of an allegory for life.”
Um, okay. Don’t know about all that but it sure makes it sound like something my boyfriend would fall for!
3. The Natural
This one I have not personally seen so I asked my father about it because he always gets all enthusiastic about it whenever it’s mentioned. “What, you’ve never seen The Natural? That is my favorite movie! It’s a great movie!” (I must mention here that my father has about 500 movies and he says that about most of them!) But anyway, I know he is a big fan of the movie so I asked him why and he said “I guess it’s just because an old guy can have one more shot at the big leagues and get his 15 minutes of fame. Gives the rest of us hope.”
So there ya have it!
I have also been told that no, it’s not a romance but it is a romantic portrayal of baseball. I say fine, I’ll watch this is he’ll watch The Notebook, a real romance, with me after!
This is actually from 1942 and it is the story of Lou Gehrig. It’s inspirational, powerful and emotional and at the center of it all is the game Gehrig loved: baseball. It is a classic that follows his life from childhood through his career until his “Luckiest Man” speech on his final day in 1939. Lou Gehrig’s Speech
5. 8 Men Out
Another baseball movie stuffed full of stars. Here we have John Cusack, D.B Sweeney (The Cutting Edge!), Christopher Lloyd, and Charlie Sheen. Based on the true story of the Black Sox scandal of 1919 when the Chicago White Sox accepted bribes to lose the World Series.
6. 61*
The real life story of the summer of 1961 and the race to beat Babe Ruth’s record of 60 home runs in a single season. Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle compete, on the same team, throughout the season to beat the record yet are friends through it all. Or as I was told “it’s not just a story of baseball and teammates, it’s a story of the bonds between men and their friendships. How they mature through the season. And blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…” No really, he actually said that. It’s his favorite baseball movie but you know how guys get when they start talking all mushy!
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Rounding out the top list are two comedies, similar basic underlying plots yet drastically different!
Both feature underdog teams, the absolute bottom of the barrells that everyone had given up on. And who doesn’t love the underdog? That plus a change to give them a winning season is a recipe for a winning movie!
7. Major League
The classic screwball comedy approach to baseball. Guys love this!
The underdog movie of all time! Reject kids + alcoholic coach + really talented girl = winner! 
About the author: Jennifer Taglione is the owner of this fabulous website Stiletto Sports. Despite writing well over 500 posts, she still maintains that she is not a sports writer! She is however a huge fan of Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Mark Sanchez, the Celtics, and totally kicks butt on March Madness brackets! Connect with her by following her on Twitter @StilettoSportsJ and subscribing to her weekly newsletter. For more info check out the About the Editor page!Now Available!
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