Baseball Videos

It makes no difference if you’re a Met’s fan, a Dodger diehard, a Braves devote, or a Giant’s adherent, watching baseball games is summertime fun. It’s also an American obsession that has made its way to Hollywood time and again.
The Library’s collection of DVD’s and videos of baseball movies is extensive. Just as everyone will watch a game, so everyone likes movies about baseball.

In “Upside of Anger” (2005), Kevin Costner, a has-been baseball-player-turned radio-personality, meets a woman filled with anger about her husband who abandons her and her four daughters. This anger marginalizes Costner’s relationship with her until she makes a discovery.

“Field of Dreams” (1989), another Costner movie, takes the viewer to Iowa where Costner plays a farmer and novice baseball player who is inspired to build a baseball diamond in his cornfield.

“Rookie of the Year” (1993) is a fun film about a boy who, after breaking his arm, turns out to have an incredible fastball pitch. He’s so good he becomes a star pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.

“Bull Durham “ (1988) is a sassy film about a minor-league North Carolina baseball team and a hardened veteran (Kevin Costner) whose job is to help an undisciplined but talented pitcher do his best. Susan Sarandon plays a groupie who has eyes for the pitcher.
“Fever Pitch” (2005) is a comedy about a workaholic, just-turning-30 woman, who meets a nice-guy schoolteacher. She learns that, come spring, he become obsessed with the Boston Red Sox’s and to keep her man, she must learn to relax and enjoy the game.
“The Rookie” (2002), stars Dennis Quaid as a high school teacher/baseball coach who inspires his ragtag team to win the state championship. His team, in turn, eggs him on to follow his longtime dream of pitching in the major leagues. This story is based on the true story of Jim Morris.

“The Natural” (1984) is a story of a young man (Robert Redford) with a gift for baseball who finally, after many turns in the plot, realizes his dream.

“Bad News Bears” (1976) stars Walter Matthau and Tatum O’Neal in a heartwarming comedy about a hopeless Little League baseball team that makes great strides with the help of a beer-guzzling coach and a female star pitcher.

“Angels in Outfield” (1994) is a comedy-fantasy staring Danny Glover as a hot-tempered foul-mouth manager of the last-placed California Angels. The prayers of a boy, (Gordon-Levitt), results in a miracle---a winning streak---for the team.

“Damn Yankees” (1958), an older film now in DVD format, stars Tab Hunter as one of the baseball players. An aging and frustrated Washington Senators baseball fan say’s he’d sell his soul to see the club get one good hitter. Rewritten from a Broadway musical, this movie includes such songs as “You Gotta Have Heart” and “Whatever Lola Wants”.

“Bang the Drum Slowly” (1973) stars Robert De Niro as a simple-minded catcher and Michael Moriarty as a hustling star pitcher, one of whom is dying of leukemia.

“Eight Men Out” (1988) is a period piece about the infamous 1919 “Black Sox” World Series in which members of the Chicago White Sox throw the game for money. The baseball scenes are superb.

If your special team is not playing and you must see some baseball, stop by the library and select from one of the above movies. They are all “home runs”.