After extensive research for my Movie Archive & Bookshelf blogs, I came across a lot of…reoccuring themes, if you will. Some are obvious. Some are just the strange way my mind works.

My Observations of Sports Themed Movies

1. Disney & Sports Flicks go together like arm, gooey chocolate brownies, and ice cream. (Oh who am I kidding, brownies go well with everything. Then again, now that I think about it, so does Disney. Hmm, good analogy).

The evidence: Tons of Disney production films–some of them blockbuster successes and cricically acclaimed. And all of them are heartwarming, or at least inspiring, and loved by pretty much everyone that saw them.

• Angels in the Outfield
• Invincible
• Miracle
• Remember the Titans
• The Rookie
• Glory Road
• Mighty Ducks (and all their sequels)
• The Greatest Game Ever Played

–And those are only the ones I used for reference on my Best Sports Movies lists. There are actually a few dozen more. Check out more Disney Movies for a complete list.

2. Baseball Movies are to A-List actors as Lifetime Movies are to has-been c-listers.

Really, big name actors seem to flock to do a baseball theme movie the way that all our old favorite 90s stars head to Lifetime or Hallmark. The lists for both guys and gals are chock full of stars, more so than any of the other sports genred films. Why is that?

The Evidence:

- Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon, Madonna, Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell, John Cusack, Charlie Sheen, Christopher Lloyd, Kim Basinger, Susan Sarandon, Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Ray Liotta, James Earl Jones, Freddie Prinze, Jr., Brittney Murphy, Jessica Biel, Kelly Preston, Dennis Leary, Tim Robbins, Matthew McConaughey.

Just to name a few!

3. If #2 is true, than Kevin Costner is Tracy Gold. Or Tori Spelling.

It is still undecided who the Lifetime Movie champion actress of all time is but those two always seem to get top bids. And sometimes it feels like there isn’t a baseball movie that Kev isn’t in! And then I found him in a golf movie and totally freaked out. I think they should switch the game from 6 Degrees/Kevin Bacon to 6 Degrees of Sports Movies & Kevin Costner. This man can’t get enough!

The Evidence:

• Bull Durham
• Field of Dreams
• For the Love of the Game
• Tin Cup–aka the Bull Durham of Golf movies

4. If you aren’t an inspiring true story about an underdog, don’t bother.

Okay fine, you don’t have to be true. You can be a tale about a washed up old guy trying to make it. But that just represents the dream of every guy in the world who is not an athlete and they really really really wish it was a true story.

The Evidence:

Um. Pretty much every sports movie in existence.

5. Basketball Sucks.

I don’t mean really. I mean in the movie world. There is a severe shortage of basketball-themed movies. And of those that are out there, only a few are actually really good. Since this is my favorite sport (and the one that really showcases hot men!) I am very disappointed. When I did the baseball movie list I had so many great movies to choose from that I was able to make two separate lists! I could barely make one for basketball. Why is that?

The Evidence:

-I almost had to put Basketball Diaries on the list until I found The Pistol. And while I will never talk bad about a movie with Leo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg in it, I will point out that BD has very little to do with basketball. More about the dark side and drugs.

-You go try to find more than the ones that are on my basketball movie list that are actually good!

Top Boxing/Fighting Films

1. Rocky and all the sequels, and Rocky Balboa

To be honest, I don’t feel I should have to even give a description. If you don’t know this movie, shame on you! It is one of the quintessential American films showcasing the underdog and the pursuit of your dreams against all odds. It’s drive, it’s passion, it’s love. And it’s a really not-attractive man that somehow swept women off their feet. When heavyweight champ Apollo Creed comes to Philly, Rocky Balboa thinks this is his shot to make it. His training sequence of him running in Philly and up the Museum stairs is one of the most famous scenes in movie history. There is even a statue in Philly cementing the event. Now that’s a powerful movie.

2. Million dollar baby

I am not sure what to say about this movie because 1. I don’t like boxing. 2. I don’t like Clint Eastwood (oh shut up, I know that’s practically unAmerican). 3. I don’t like Hilary Swank. So really, there wasn’t a chance that I was going to like this movie. Yet somehow, I thought it was fantastic. Shockingly fantastic. Definitely worthy of their Academy Awards. Maggie is determined to be a fighter but experienced trainer Frankie Dunn wants no part in helping her train. Over the years he has become a hard man and refuses to let anyone get close. He finally agrees. The movie isn’t just about her training, it’s about the evolution of their relationship as coach and student, and as each other’s family. Amazing. The tagline for the movie is: “Beyond his silence, there is a past. Beyond her dreams, there is a feeling. Beyond hope, there is a memory. Beyond their journey, there is a love.”

3. Cinderella Man

This one is based on the true story of James J. Braddock, the Cinderella Man. He was on track to be a great star in the fighting world when the Great Depression hit and he lost everything, just like so many others. But through all the suffering and sacrifices to keep his family alive, he never gave up. He returned to the ring in 1934 to help his family survive and to the shock of everyone, he began to win. And win. And soon, he became the beacon of hope and inspiration for so many others battling the Depression. If he could survive and rise above, maybe they could too. He became a sports legend.

4. Ali

I started to say that if you don’t know who this film is about then get off my site, but then I remembered I promised to be nice. But really, who hasn’t heard of Muhammed Ali? This biopic tells the tale of Cassius Clay aka Muhammed Ali. It only spans 10 years of his life, the ones that turned him from good into a legend. It shows his trials and stuggles as well as his success. While the film garnered nominations, it fell a bit flat of the praise it deserved. Will Smith’s study of Ali was remarkable. He trained physically, mentally and emotionally and it showed. It’s worth watching just to see how well he was able to portray him. Oh and for THE quote: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see”

——————-

Top Golf Films

1. Caddyshack

What do you get if you put Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray and Ted Night in the middle of a country club golf tournament? This classic movie full of fun, one-liners and entertainment. Not to mention the war betwen the greenskeeper and the gopher digging up the green! Ranks in the top funniest comedies of all time. Though how it can upset Spaceballs, I’ll never know!

2. Tin Cup

Hey look, it’s Kevin Costner! What’s he doing here? I thought he did baseball movies? Oh wait. Funnily enough, Tin Cup has been called Golf’s Bull Durham ( a baseball movie for those that haven’t read my Baseball Movie Blog yet!). That’s better! Roy “Tin Cup” McAvoy tries to jump start his failing golfing career, win the U.S. Open, beat his arch rival, steal his woman and make her fall in love with him, and sink the unsinkable shot to the green. All in one movie! It’s a great romantic comedy full of defining moments. “You define it or the moment defines you.” And another fun quote that Roy says to his caddy and best friend Romeo, “Well, if you can remove the sexual overtones and add a golf theme, then Romeo, I am your Juliet.”

3. Happy Gilmore

This one almost defies description. Seriously, how do you tell someone to watch a movie where Adam Sandler stars as Happy Gilmore, an ex-hockey player with a sever temper problem who joined the PGA tour because he discovered he can drive a golf ball hundreds of yards while wacking it with his club like a hockey stick. If you are a fan of Sandler, this one has to be in your list.

4. The Greatest Game Ever Played

Based on the story of Francis Ouimet, a caddy who turned pro golfer in 1913 against all the odds, and at the young age of 20. He challenges his idol Harry Vardon, who is still considered one of the best golfers ever to have played,  in the U.S. Open Championship.

——————–

Top hockey Films:

Miracle

I hate to do this but since I haven’t seen the movie and have run out of ways to spin “the inspiring true story of underdog athletes brought to you by Disney” I am going to give you a description from Amazon. I have heard that it is an amazing movie so I didn’t want to give a bad review!  “MIRACLE. Filled with exhilarating nonstop hockey action and heart-racing suspense, it’s the inspiring true story behind one of the greatest moments in sports history — the 1980 United States ice hockey team’s triumphant Olympic victory against the Soviet Union. Kurt Russell gives a brilliant performance as the dynamic and determined coach Herb Brooks, who had an impossible dream — beat the seemingly unbeatable Soviets at their own game. Starting with a handpicked group of 26 undisciplined kids, Brooks coached them to play like they never played before, and turned 20 of them into a team that believed they could achieve the unachievable — and in the process, united a nation with a new feeling of hope.”

Slap Shot

This is pretty funny! It’s from 1977 and with Paul Newman as a washed-up hockey coach for a crappy team. However, instead of being the inspiring underdog story, he actually gets them to win by teaching them to play dirty! Fights and violence to win their games! Gotta love it. This is THE hockey movie. Every hockey lover needs to own this!

The Mighty Ducks

80′s favorite Emilio Estevez takes to the ice! He plays a smug lawyer who has to do community service after getting arrested for DWI. His service is to coach a pee wee hockey team that truly sucks! Cute story. Oh and it features my man, Josh Jackson when he was young!

—————————————————————-

And two others that I am throwing in here because they are really great sports movies!

chariots of fire

seabiscuit

1. Brian’s Song

This was actually a made for TV movie in 1971 that was so successful that they brought it to the theaters, to DVD and in 2001, had a remake by Disney with Mekhi Phifer. It is the true story of Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers. Amazon.com describes it as “one of those transcendent stories that struck a rare cultural nerve, a sensitive film about love, friendship, cancer, racial harmony, and football that came along at just the right time.”  I like to call it the Guys Version of Beaches, much to my boyfriend’s dismay. But it is. The two friends, while in competeion for the same spot on the Chicago Bears, become friends against the odds and the social stereotypes of the times. And together, with their wives, they battle against Piccolo’s cancer. It’s actually known to bring grown men to tears. And…if he ever picks on you again for watching cheesy Hallmark or Lifetime movies, remind him the Brian’s Song got it’s start as a made-for-tv special!  The Quote: “I love Brian Piccolo…and tonight, I want you to love him too.” – Gale Sayers

2. Rudy

Gosh, I really don’t know anyone that doesn’t like this movie or wasn’t moved by it. How could you not love Sean Astin as Rudy Ruettiger? Little Rudy grew up dreaming of playing Notre Dame football but his small size and poor grades didn’t give him much of a chance. But he kept on, despite the negativity around him, the lack of support from friends and family and the odds stacked against him. He went to junior college and kept plugging away in the hopes that one day he would get in to Notre Dame. And the end, when he is carried off the field and everyone is chanting for him “Rudy, Rudy, Rudy…” not only is it an iconic movie moment it really is heartwarming. Such a feel good story set in a college football movie. And there is just something about it that makes you think he was living the dream for all of us. Even though I have never once hoped to play for the Fighting Irish.

3. Remember the Titans

First, who will complain if Denzel is in a movie? IMy mother always said she just wanted to nibble on on his lower lip (sorry Dad). Oh wait, I forgot, this is supposed to be a list of movies for guys! Um. It’s Disney and it’s football, how bad could it be? This is the true story of Herman Boone who is asked to coach a Virginia high school team right after the school had been desegregated in the 70s. He overcomes the blatant rascism to lead the team onwards towards an undeafeated season and inspires teamwork and comraderie throughout. The film has been so motivational and influential it was been used before NFL games to actually inpsire the players to work together.

4. Invincible (mark wahlberg! yay)

I don’t care if this is for guys, this one has Mark Wahlberg and I love him. In fact that is the reason I was given this movie. But I will say that once again Disney + football + true stories ( + hot actors) = an unbeatable combo. Invincible is the story of Vince Papale, a down-on-his-luck 30-year-old bartender from South Philly. In 1976, new head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Dick Vermeil announced he was having open tryouts for the team and Papel reluctantly went to the tryouts. And remarkably made the team!

5. the longest yard (1974)

This one has been remade by Adam Sandler a few years ago but, shockingly that one doesn’t really make the top lists anywhere. But this one does. It’s a story about a former pro quarterback who is doing time in jail. The warden makes him organize a football league of innmates to challenge the other guards, aka let the guards beat them up. Then the quarterback is offered an early release if he throws the game. Funny and unqiue storyline. Not your typical sport movie with the true story and underdogs!

6. North Dallas Forty

This is loosely based on the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970s. It’s about a team called the North Dallas Bulls and a player on the team that is getting close to the end of his career. It takes a look at the wilder side of the sport: the drugs, the violence, the rock and roll lifestyle that the pro athletes endure. Almost thirty years old and somewhat dated in certain aspects of the movie, there are other themes that are still prevelant in the pro football world today.

7. All the Right Moves

A very young Tom Cruise plays a high school football star desperate to get a college football scholarship so he can get out of his small Pennsylvania steel town. After a blowout with his coach, he is kicked off the team and becomes blacklisted among the top colleges until they make up. If anything watch it just to remind yourself of how things used to be, before Tommy went crazy.

8. Friday Night Lights

From typical Friday night event in every town across the courtry, to a best-selling book, to this movie to a popular TV Show…who knew high school football could be this contagious! I’m actually going to quote from imdb.com on this one because I really liked what they said about it: “Friday Night Lights displays the stress that the town gives the high school players to win, and the hope that the team gives to a small town, and how a team has its low points, its high points, and how they come together as a team on their way to victory.” Although I swear my little town wasn’t like that growing up, was it?

9. Jerry Maguire

Oh that’s right, I went there! How could I not put this on a list! It may be way over-cliched but come on, who doesn’t love the scenes in this movie? “Show me the money!” I’m not really saying its the best football movie of all time, but it is a great lighthearted romantic comedy with a some football thrown in there! Jerry Maguire was the top of the top in sports agents until he wrote a “mission statement” that got him booted from his agency. Now he tries to start his own with only one client: a very tempremental, very egotistical, very-not-so-great football player Rod Tisdale (played by a sometimes shirtless Cuba Gooding, Jr!)

10. School Ties

Yeah, just look at the cover and you will understand why this is on here. Matt Damon. Ben Affleck. Chris O’Donnell. Brendan Frasier. Are you kidding me? It’s like a buffet of the hottest actors, and this is before they were even really known! And I think there is even some football in there somewhere. The main story is about a young Jewish boy who goes to an elite prep school in the 1950s. But he is not one of the “good old boys” that comes from an upscale background, a Cathlotic background. He got in purely for his football talent to help the struggling school team. And everything is good until it is discovered that he is Jewish. A very powerful film.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000J122?ie=UTF8&tag=stisetspo-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00000J122

——————————————————————————————

I will, for God only knows why, add the Adam Sandler football movies and other spoof comedies on here, too. Apparently, guys think these ones are funny.

The Waterboy

The Longest Yard, remake

The Comebacks

I am also adding The Replacements because even though no one but me likes it, I do. I find it quite hysterical. And everytime I hear “I Will Survive” I think of the football players dancing to it.

And I am being forced to add Any Given Sunday. Even though REALLY no one likes it. In fact it’s been hailed in the worst football movie hall of fame on occassion. But for some reason, my boyfriend said that if it is on tv, guys always find themselves watching it.

Stiletto Set’s Best Basketball Movie Guide

*See a movie you like or want to give as a gift? Just click the pic or name and you will be taken to Amazon.com to get prices!

Inspirational High School Ball:

1. Hoosiers

Referred to over and over again as the best basketball movie of all time and in the top sports movies of all time, Hoosiers is an iconic classic. It’s based on a true story of the high school basketball team in Milan, Indiana in 1954 that made it to the state championships, against all the odds.  Inspirational, powerful, uplifting and full of basketball plays!

2. Coach Carter

Also based on a true story and has a very similar feel as Hoosiers. However this is about a coach’s struggle and his unconventional methods with his academically stuggling team. It’s almost like taking Hoosiers and mixing it with Gangsters Paradise or The Principal.

3. Hoop Dreams

I will admit I’ve seen it and now, 14 or so years later I’d probably see it again. I just know that is was very long. Good, but long. It’s a documentary about two very talented players, Arthur Agee and William Gates, and their dreams of making it in the NBA. The film follows them through high school and into college and it’s a remarable portrayal of their struggles to succeed.

4. The Pistol

This has just been released on DVD and after reading about it, I actually can’t wait to see it. It is the story of Pete Maravich, or Pistol Pete as he is commonly known, the basketball prodigy who stunned and inspired the nation with his unparalled talent. He was a scrawny white kid in the deep south playing the black man’s game. And he was good. I’m actually going to send you to Amazon’s review of the book so you can read more about it because I loved what the had to say and I personally can’t wait to learn more. Amazon’s Review of The Pistol, the novel.

—————————-

NCAA:

5. Glory Road

The true story of Texas Western’s 1965-66 controversial team and their Coach Don Haskins.The Miners had the first all-black starting lineup team and they made it to the NCAA national basketball championships. The team was mocked and hated then but became a legend.

————————–

NBA

6. Forget Paris

Now this I like! Not sure any male in the country would call it a good basketball movie (although I know my dad likes it). It’s a romantic comedy set around the basketball court! Billy Crystal is an NBA referree that travels around the country. The story is actually told by their friends that are sitting in restaurant waiting for the couple to arrive and are recapping their up and down history over the years. It’s cute!

Comedies:

7. White men Can’t Jump

Hilarious classic comedy with Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes and Rosie Perez. The unlikely combo pair up to hustle other players around town. Best known for its trash talking sequences between the “teammates.

8. The Air up There

The only way Coach Jimmy Dolan is going to get his promotion is to get a superstar on his team. He heads to Africa to convince Saleh, a basketball prodigy to come to the US to play. But in order to get him, Jimmy has to convince Saleh and help his tribe. Full of funny moments and great basketball moves like the “Jimmy Dolan shake and bake!”

9. Semi-Pro

It’s 1976. The American Basketball Association is about the go under and merge with the National Basketball Association. Only the top four teams get to go, and the Flint Michigan Tropics are not in the top. Enter Will Farrell, aka Jackie Moon, the owner, promoter, coach and star player of the team. Moon rallies his team with the hopes of moving from last place to top four! And underdog story and a Farrell comedy? Can’t beat that!

A few other “baskeball movies” with at least some ball in them:

-He Got Game–Great story between father and son starring Denzel Washington and real NBA star Ray Allen. The basketball scenes are great and the relationship between the two is very intense.

-Teen Wolf–Who doesn’t love Michael J. Fox???

-Above the Rim

-Like Mike

-Eddie

-O – I am sneaking this one in at the very bottom because I am a huge Josh Hartnett fan!

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

1. Field of Dreams

“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!

4. The Pride of the Yankees

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!

—————————-

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!

8. Bad News Bears

The underdog movie of all time! Reject kids + alcoholic coach + really talented girl = winner!

That said, if you are looking for the perfect gift for your baseball lover, the second list might be better! Unless he is going to make you watch them with him. Then sneak in one from the first list! If one appeals to you, simply click the name or picture and you will be directed to amazon.com to get pricing!

Top Baseball Movies that Girls Love Too

My #1 pick is a tie between Fever Pitch and A League of Their Own.

1. Fever Pitch. It’s a Farrelly Brothers movie with SNL’s Jimmy Fallon so you know its going to be entertaining and it has Drew Barrymore so you know it will be super cute! In short, the couple in the movie–Lindsey & Ben–falls for each other in the winter and he seems so perfect. Then, baseball season kicks off it’s spring training and suddenly Mr. Perfect starts becoming Mr. Obsessed Sports Fanatic. (Ah, so many of us can identify with this!) Ben’s love for the Red Sox is deeply rooted and unbreakable and Lindsey’s love of baseball is, well, nonexistent. The clincher of why this is getting the top spot: Because even though the film documents the Red Sox 2004 World Series Winning Year, Yankee fans will actually admit to liking the film. It’s got to rank on the list just for that miraculous event alone!

Quote: “where do the Red Sox rank in terms of importance in your life?”  BEN: “I’d say the Red Sox…sex…breathing”

1a. A League of Their Own

Okay, first, this is an iconic movie. The quotes alone are in the top of all time. “To achieve the incredible, you must first attempt the impossible”  And of course, : “Are you crying? There’s no crying baseball!”

Second, who isn’t in this movie? Tom Hanks, Madonna, Geena Davis, Rosie O’Donnell, Lori Petty, Bill Bullman, Tea Leoni, Jon Lovitz… with Penny Mashall directing

Third, it’s really good. It’s fiction but based on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League developed in the 1940s. The story shows the Rockford Peaches breaking down baseball, and female, stereotypes while throwing in a great sibling rivalry that makes OTH’s Scott brothers look like born BFFs.

"He believes in the small of a women's back, the hanging curveball, good scotch, chocolate chip cookies, and long, slow, deep soft wet kisses that last for three days" um, YUM!

3. Bull Durham

Why you ask? Hello, did you see that poster? He looks hot! Not to mention there is major love triangle & love story action! We have Kevin Costner, the aging minor league player and Tim Robbins, the young hotshot pitcher, both trying to seduce Susan Sarandon. One review I read talked about how yes, there is a lot baseball in the movie but it doesn’t take over the movie. That the plot, the dialogue and the characters are so well done that you don’t feel like you are watching a “baseball movie.” It’s just a great romantic comedy

4. Angels in the Outfield

There are a few versions of this one but I’m going for the 1994 Tony Danza/Danny Glover/Christopher Lloyd film because I’ve seen it and I love it. Could be in the top cutest family/kid friendly movies of all time.  It’s definitely a “feel good” inspirational movie, I mean, come on, it’s Disney!Oh okay, and it has the added bonus of a really young Matthew McConaughey without a shirt! Roger has been orphaned and dreams of having a family again. His father promised him that he’ll be back and they would be a family when “the Angels win the pennant.” So Roger begins to pray for the California Angels, the worst team in the league, to be good and win. And suddenly, he is seeing real angels helping out the team. Aw, I’m getting choked up just thinking about it. Just get it! It’s heartwarming and sweet. And has baseball.

Quote: “It could happen”

5. The Sandlot

Aw geez, I’m still choked up from the last plot summary! I adore this one too. It’s another family friendly film about a gang of misfit kids playing ball in the rundown lot down the road. They don’t have a lot of money but they have talent, heart and Benny “the Jet” Rodriguez! There is only one rule of the lot, do not hit the ball over the fence because if you do, it’s gone forever. Accidentally, Scotty Smalls hits a home run over the fence with his step-dads priceless signed Babe Ruth baseball and the group must now go over the fence and try to get it back.

Great Quotes: “You’re killing me, Smalls!” ”

-”It was signed by Babe Ruth.”

-”Yeah, you keep telling me that. Who is she?”

-”What? WHAT? The Sultan of Swat! The King of Crash! The colossus of clout! Babe Ruth! The GREAT BAMBINO!”

-”Oh My God. You Mean that’s the same guy?”

6. For the Love of the Game

Another baseball flick starring Kevin Costner! Billy’s a washed up pitcher about to pitch what could be his final game. Jane’s his fed-up girlfriend who decides she has had enough and is leaving him. In this potential career ending game, he starts flashing through his life, his career, and his memories of Jane. As each inning goes on and he becomes closer and closer to pitching the Perfect Game, he recalls the first time they met, their first date, all the happy times…. And what would it matter if he did pitch a Perfect Game if Jane was not there with him to share it? It is really well done and a beautiful story.

7. Summer Catch

It has Freddie Prinze, Jr., do I really have to say more? Okay fine, and Jessica Biel, Brittney Murphy and Matthew Lillard (you know, the Scream guy). It’s cute, it’s fun and it’s set in the summer in Cape Cod. Ryan finally gets into the elusive baseball summer leagues where all the top college players are but he is attention is divereted by a rich girl summering on the Cape with her family.

8. Field of Dreams

Crossover: I wasn’t going to put this in the girl category, however, I read this review and based soley on what the author said, I have decided to add it (sorry Rookie of The Year, you got bumped!)

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.

Couldn’t say it better myself and you know I’m a sucker for happily ever afters and fairy tales!