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List of baseball films

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This is a list of films about baseball, featuring notable films where baseball plays a central role in the development of the plot.

Title Year Type Summary
The Ball Game 1898 Documentary Short film depicting an 1898 baseball game between Reading Phillies and Newark Bears.
Baseball and Bloomers 1911 Short An all-girl baseball team uses two Harvard boys in disguise.
Right Off the Bat 1915 Drama A bio-pic of sorts starring professional baseball player Mike Donlin
Casey at the Bat 1916 Drama A lost five-reeler based on Ernest Thayer's poem and starring DeWolf Hopper
Somewhere in Georgia 1917 Drama Ty Cobb as a ball-playing bank clerk in a story by Grantland Rice.
Baseball Madness 1917 Comedy A silent film starring Gloria Swanson.
The Busher 1919 Comedy Small-town ballplayer gets a big head after joining the St. Paul Pink Sox.
Headin' Home 1920 Biographical A silent film about young Babe Ruth, who stars as himself.
Life's Greatest Game 1924 Drama Chicago Cubs pitcher Jack Donovan refuses to throw a game.
The Battling Orioles 1924 Comedy A barber enlists the help of his father and his old professional baseball teammates to solve a problem.
The New Klondike 1926 Comedy A pitcher and his manager clash over a Florida land purchase.
Casey at the Bat 1927 Comedy Wallace Beery in slugger's fable based on Ernest Thayer poem.
Slide, Kelly, Slide 1927 Comedy A cocky newcomer thinks he's the New York Yankees' new star.
The Bush Leaguer 1927 Comedy
Warming Up 1928 Romance New player competes with team's star for owner's daughter.
Fast Company 1929 Comedy Elmer Kane (Jack Oakie) hopes the Yankees and an actress are interested in him.
Hot Curves 1930 Comedy Pittsburgh pitcher finds romance with manager's daughter.
They Learned About Women 1930 Musical Two pals play ball by day, perform in vaudeville by night.
Up the River 1930 Comedy A game behind bars brings Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart out of the pen.
Fireman, Save My Child 1932 Comedy Joe E. Brown as a small-town fireman who is also the town's star ballplayer.
Elmer, the Great 1933 Drama Joe E. Brown as an egotistical Chicago Cubs baseball star. Remake of 1929 film.
Death on the Diamond 1934 Mystery Ballplayer (Robert Young) tries to find who's killing his fellow St. Louis Cardinals.
Alibi Ike 1935 Comedy Joe E. Brown as a pitcher with a million excuses.
Girls Can Play 1937 Mystery A women's softball team owner murders a player (Rita Hayworth) by poisoning her catcher's mitt.
The Pride of the Yankees 1942 Biographical The life and career of Lou Gehrig, with Gary Cooper as Gehrig and Babe Ruth as himself.
It Happened in Flatbush 1942 Comedy Hard-hearted manager (Lloyd Nolan) falls for Brooklyn team's owner.
Ladies' Day 1943 Comedy Sox pitcher Wacky Waters (Eddie Albert) is distracted by a hot Hollywood movie star, Pepita Zorita (Lupe Vélez).
The Babe Ruth Story 1948 Biographical The life and career of Babe Ruth, starring William Bendix.
It Happens Every Spring 1949 Comedy Ray Milland as a scientist whose secret formula turns him into a great pitcher.
The Stratton Story 1949 Biographical The career and fateful accident of pitcher Monty Stratton, starring James Stewart.
Take Me Out to the Ball Game 1949 Musical Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly as singing, dancing ballplayers.
The Kid from Cleveland 1949 Drama The '48 World Series champion Cleveland Indians come to the aid of a young fan.
Kill the Umpire 1950 Comedy William Bendix as a baseball fan who becomes an umpire.
The Jackie Robinson Story 1950 Biographical Baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson as himself, with Ruby Dee as his wife.
Angels in the Outfield 1951 Comedy A Pittsburgh Pirates manager (Paul Douglas) gets some help from above.
Rhubarb 1951 Comedy Ray Milland in a cute tale about a cat who inherits a baseball team.
The Pride of St. Louis 1952 Biographical Dan Dailey as the colorful pitcher Dizzy Dean.
The Winning Team 1952 Biographical Based on pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander, played by Ronald Reagan.
The Kid from Left Field 1953 Comedy The son of a peanut vendor (Dan Dailey) becomes the leader of a big-league team.
Big Leaguer 1953 Drama Hans Lobert (Edward G. Robinson) runs a training camp for baseball's New York Giants.
Roogie's Bump 1954 Comedy A mysterious bump somehow gives a boy a big-league arm.
The Great American Pastime 1956 Comedy A man (Tom Ewell) decides to coach a Little League team, then regrets it.
Fear Strikes Out 1957 Biographical The life and career of Jimmy Piersall, played by Anthony Perkins.
Damn Yankees 1958 Musical A man sells his soul to the devil on behalf of Washington's baseball team.
Safe at Home! 1962 Comedy With Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris as themselves.
Bang the Drum Slowly 1973 Drama A pitcher's friendship with a catcher (Robert De Niro) who has a terminal disease.
It's Good To Be Alive 1974 Biographical TV movie about former Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella, whose career was cut short when he lost the use of his legs in an auto accident in January 1958.
The Bad News Bears 1976 Comedy Walter Matthau's bad Little League team gets help from a girl pitcher (Tatum O'Neal) and a motorcycle-riding slugger (Jackie Earle Haley).
The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings 1976 Comedy A barnstorming team of Negro leagues players, with James Earl Jones, Billy Dee Williams, Richard Pryor.
Murder at the World Series 1977 Drama TV film starring Karen Valentine and Janet Leigh.
The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training 1977 Comedy Sequel to 1976 film, with William Devane as the team's coach.
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story 1978 Biographical TV film on the life and career of Ron LeFlore, starring LeVar Burton.
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story 1978 Biographical TV film on Yankee immortal's marriage and tragedy, featuring Blythe Danner and Edward Herrmann.
The Bad News Bears Go to Japan 1978 Comedy Second sequel to 1976 film, this time starring Tony Curtis.
The Kid from Left Field 1979 Comedy TV film, remake, with Gary Coleman.
Aunt Mary 1979 Drama A disabled women sets up a baseball team of street kids to save them from juvenile delinquency.
Squeeze Play! 1980 Comedy Sexy women form a softball team.
The Comeback Kid 1980 Comedy Former minor leaguer (John Ritter) begins coaching underprivileged kids.
Don't Look Back: The Story of Leroy 'Satchel' Paige 1981 Biographical TV film with Louis Gossett Jr. as the ageless 1940s pitcher.
Only The Ball Was White 1981 Documentary A tribute to the topflight players of the Negro leagues.
Blue Skies Again 1983 Comedy Denver Devils' potential second baseman isn't a man, it's a young woman.
Tiger Town 1983 Comedy Early Disney Channel film about an aging Detroit Tigers (Roy Scheider).
The Natural 1984 Drama Robert Redford in a fable about an unlikely, unlucky hero, Roy Hobbs.
Brewster's Millions 1985 Comedy Richard Pryor as a minor-leaguer with a chance to inherit 300 million dollars.
The Slugger's Wife 1985 Romance An Atlanta Braves player tries to break Roger Maris' record and make a marriage work.
A Winner Never Quits 1986 Biographical A television film on one-armed pro ballplayer Pete Gray, played by Keith Carradine.
Long Gone 1987 Comedy Early cable television film about a minor-league ballclub starring William Petersen.
Trading Hearts 1987 Comedy Has-been player (Raúl Juliá) and his romance with a Florida single mom.
Amazing Grace and Chuck 1987 Drama A Montana boy refuses to pitch Little League until the world bans nuclear weapons. With Gregory Peck as President of the United States.
Bull Durham 1988 Rom-Com Ron Shelton's screwball comedy of a woman's (Susan Sarandon) summer with two minor-leaguers (Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins).
Eight Men Out 1988 Biographical Based on the 1919 Black Sox Scandal.
Stealing Home 1988 Drama Mark Harmon and Jodie Foster in a fictional tale of lost love.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! 1988 Comedy Someone's out to kill the Queen of England during a California Angels baseball game, and it's up to bumbling detective Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen) to foil the plot.
Field of Dreams 1989 Drama Voices tell an Iowa farmer (Kevin Costner) to build a baseball stadium in his cornfield.
Major League 1989 Comedy Fictional story of a team of misfit Cleveland Indians.
Night Game 1989 Crime drama A ballpark murder mystery starring Roy Scheider.
Mr. Destiny 1990 Comedy A man (James Belushi) blames his misfortune on a long-ago baseball game.
Taking Care of Business 1990 Comedy A man (James Belushi) escapes jail to see the Chicago Cubs play in a World Series.
Pastime 1990 Drama A pair of minor leaguers, one 17, one 40, form a bond.
The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson 1990 Drama Andre Braugher in TV biopic of Robinson's court-martial in U.S. Army.
Talent for the Game 1991 Drama A fictional Los Angeles Angels baseball scout (Edward James Olmos) finds a fantastic young pitcher.
The Babe 1992 Biographical Based on the life and career of Babe Ruth, starring John Goodman.
The Comrades of Summer 1992 Comedy A television film about a manager (Joe Mantegna) asked to take over a Soviet ballclub.
A League of Their Own 1992 Comedy A fictionalized account of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League of the 1940s, starring Geena Davis and Tom Hanks.
Mr. Baseball 1992 Rom-Com Tom Selleck as a baseball star who ends up in Japan.
Rookie of the Year 1993 Comedy A boy develops a magical right arm and becomes a big-league pitcher for the Cubs.
The Man From Left Field 1993 Comedy A television film about a homeless man (Burt Reynolds) coaching a Little League team.
The Sandlot 1993 Comedy A man reminisces about his childhood friends and the games they played.
Cooperstown 1993 Drama A former pitcher is visited by the ghost of his catcher.
Baseball 1994 Documentary Comprehensive history of the game, 18 hours-plus, as chronicled by Ken Burns.
Angels in the Outfield 1994 Comedy Disney remake of the 1951 film of the same name.
Cobb 1994 Biographical The career and last days of Ty Cobb, played by Tommy Lee Jones.
Little Big League 1994 Comedy A child becomes owner of the Minnesota Twins.
Major League II 1994 Comedy Second film in the Major League series about the Cleveland Indians.
The Scout 1994 Comedy A New York Yankees scout (Albert Brooks) finds a phenomenal but psychologically troubled prospect.
Baseball Girls 1995 Documentary A history of women's baseball
Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream 1995 Documentary Aaron's pursuit of Babe Ruth's all-time homer record, directed by Michael Tollin.
Dorf on the Diamond 1996 Comedy Direct-to-video short film in the Dorf series starring Tim Conway.
Ed 1996 Comedy Matt LeBlanc befriends a baseball-playing chimpanzee.
The Fan 1996 Thriller A deranged San Francisco fan (Robert De Niro) kills a player, kidnaps another's son.
Soul of the Game 1996 Biographical Story of baseball trailblazers including Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson.
Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the Way 1997 Biographical Paul Sorvino as the former New York Yankees manager.
The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg 1998 Documentary The life and career of a former Detroit Tigers star and war hero.
If the Sun Rises in the West 1998 Drama South Korean story of an umpire.
Major League: Back to the Minors 1998 Comedy Third film in the Major League series.
For Love of the Game 1999 Drama In possibly his last start, a Detroit pitcher (Kevin Costner) goes after a perfect game.
Perfect Game 2000 Comedy Television film starring Ed Asner.
Angels in the Infield 2000 Comedy Patrick Warburton in second made-for-TV sequel to the 1994 film.
61* 2001 Drama HBO film directed by Billy Crystal about the 1961 season of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.
Hardball 2001 Drama Keanu Reeves as a young man who takes charge of an inner-city team.
Summer Catch 2001 Romance Fictional love story starring Freddie Prinze, Jr.
Air Bud: Seventh Inning Fetch 2002 Comedy Fourth entry in the Air Bud series.
The Rookie 2002 Biographical Based on true story of a high school coach, pitcher Jim Morris, portrayed by Dennis Quaid.
Bleacher Bums 2002 Comedy TV version of the 1970s stage play about diehard fans in the outfield bleachers.
Battlefield Baseball 2003 Action Japanese film.
Day of Independence 2003 Drama Short film
Hustle 2004 Biographical ESPN dramatization on success and scandal of Pete Rose, starring Tom Sizemore.
Mickey 2004 Drama John Grisham story about a Little Leaguer and his father.
Mr. 3000 2004 Comedy A potential Hall of Famer (Bernie Mac) is told he's actually three hits shy of 3,000.
Nine Innings From Ground Zero 2004 Documentary How the 2001 World Series helped America cope with 9/11.
This Old Cub 2004 Documentary Chronicles life of Ron Santo, focusing on his struggle with type 1 diabetes.
Up for Grabs 2004 Documentary A battle over who owns ball hit in 2001 by Barry Bonds for his 73rd home run.
The Winning Season 2004 Drama A child from 1985 wakes up in 1909 and meets hero Honus Wagner (Matthew Modine).
Fever Pitch 2005 Rom-Com Loosely based on Nick Hornby soccer story, in this case a Boston Red Sox fan (Jimmy Fallon).
Game 6 2005 Drama A playwright (Michael Keaton) has a wild night during a Red Sox playoff series.
Bad News Bears 2005 Comedy Remake of 1976 film of same name, starring Billy Bob Thornton.
The Sandlot 2 2005 Comedy Direct-to-video sequel to The Sandlot.
The Benchwarmers 2006 Comedy David Spade and Rob Schneider as middle-aged nerds who want to play ball.
Everyone's Hero 2006 Animation Cartoon family film with baseball theme.
Beer League 2006 Comedy A town drunk plays in a big softball game.
Off the Black 2006 Drama An umpire (Nick Nolte) befriends a high school player who hated him.
Kokoyakyu: High School Baseball 2006 Documentary Broadcast on the U.S. PBS series POV. Explores the phenomenon of high school baseball in Japan.
The Final Season 2007 Drama Based on 1991 season of Norway High School in Norway, Iowa, before it was closed and consolidated into its county school district, starring Sean Astin.
The Sandlot: Heading Home 2007 Comedy Second direct-to-video sequel to The Sandlot.
The Bronx Is Burning 2007 Biographical A docudrama of 1977 New York Yankees, with John Turturro as Billy Martin.
Black Irish 2007 Drama Boston teen tries to escape family problems through his pitching.
American Pastime 2007 Drama Based on true events, depicts life inside internment camps, where baseball was one of the major diversions from the reality of the internees' lives.
City Without Baseball 2008 Drama Chinese film.
Signs of the Time 2008 Documentary Hour-long film which focuses on the origin of hand signals in baseball.
Sugar 2008 Drama Story about a Dominican prospect and his adjustment to life in the U.S.
Touching Home 2008 Drama Brothers with pro-ball ambitions deal with their homeless father (Ed Harris).
The Perfect Game 2009 Drama Based on true story of Mexico team that won 1957 Little League World Series.
The Open Road 2009 Drama Minor leaguer Justin Timberlake has issues with baseball-legend dad Jeff Bridges.
Calvin Marshall 2009 Comedy Talentless baseball player Alex Frost tries to make Steve Zahn coached college team.
4192: The Crowning of the Hit King 2010 Documentary Reviewing the achievements, controversies of all-time hit leader Pete Rose.
Chasing 3000 2010 Drama Two boys go a long way to witness 3,000th career hit of Roberto Clemente.
Fernando Nation 2010 Documentary Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Chronicles impact of Fernando Valenzuela's 1981 rookie season with Los Angeles Dodgers.
Four Days in October 2010 Documentary Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. On the Boston Red Sox' comeback from 3–0 series deficit against Yankees in 2004 ALCS.
Hero 2010 Drama Christian film about fathers and sons.
How Do You Know 2010 Rom-Com A romantic triangle involving a softball player (Reese Witherspoon) and a Washington Nationals pitcher (Owen Wilson).
The House of Steinbrenner 2010 Documentary Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores the legacy of George Steinbrenner's ownership of the New York Yankees.
Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story 2010 Documentary Documentary film on the connection and history between American Jews and baseball.
Jordan Rides the Bus 2010 Documentary Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores Michael Jordan's brief career in minor league baseball after his first retirement from basketball.
Little Big Men 2010 Documentary Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. On a Kirkland National Little League team's stunning victory in 1982 Little League World Series, and players' lives in the decades that followed.
Silly Little Game 2010 Documentary Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. About the New York City writers and academics who created Rotisserie fantasy baseball, and how their creation eventually left them behind.
Catching Hell 2011 Documentary Made for TV as a follow-up to ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores relationship between Steve Bartman and other Chicago Cubs fans since foul-ball incident in Game 6 of 2003 NLCS.
A Mile in His Shoes 2011 Drama A minor-league manager stumbles on a hidden talent who throws apples on a farm.
Moneyball 2011 Drama Based on a true story, the Michael Lewis best-seller about Oakland A's exec Billy Beane, played by Brad Pitt, and assistant general manager Peter Brand (based on Paul DePodesta, played by Jonah Hill).
Ballplayer: Pelotero 2011 Documentary A behind-the-scenes glimpse into the remarkably organized and well-managed system in the Dominican Republic that has produced an inordinate amount of elite athletes.
Trouble with the Curve 2012 Drama Clint Eastwood as a veteran Atlanta Braves scout whose vision is fading.
Knuckleball! 2012 Documentary A season following pitchers Tim Wakefield and R. A. Dickey.
You Don't Know Bo 2012 Documentary Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series about baseball and football star Bo Jackson.
Home Run 2013 Drama A ballplayer dealing with substance abuse returns to his hometown.
42 2013 Biographical Story of Jackie Robinson's (Chadwick Boseman) historic signing with Brooklyn Dodgers under guidance of team executive Branch Rickey (played by Harrison Ford).
Gibsonburg 2013 Drama Story of 2005 Gibsonburg High School team from Ohio, the first U.S. high school team in any sport to win a state championship with a losing record.
Million Dollar Arm 2014 Drama A sports agent (Jon Hamm) arranges a baseball tryout for two cricket players from India.
The Vancouver Asahi 2014 Drama Set in Canada during the 1930s.
The Battered Bastards of Baseball 2014 Documentary Look at a Portland minor-league team, featuring Bing (the team's owner) and Kurt Russell (who played for the team and later worked in its front office).
Henry & Me 2014 Animation Guardian angel introduces an ill 12-year-old to New York Yankees of different eras.
The Phenom 2015 Drama A talented young baseball player struggles professionally as he deals with his abusive father.
Everybody Wants Some!! 2016 Comedy Film by Richard Linklater about immature 1980 college baseball players in Texas.
Doc & Darryl 2016 Documentary Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. Explores the lives, careers, and struggles with addiction of former New York Mets stars Dwight "Doc" Gooden and Darryl Strawberry.
Fastball 2016 Documentary With Kevin Costner narrating, lead a cast of baseball legends and scientists who explore the magic within the 396 milliseconds it takes a fastball to reach home plate, and decipher who threw the fastest pitch ever..
Spaceman 2016 Biographical Josh Duhamel portrays a colorful left-handed pitcher, Bill Lee.
Undrafted 2016 Comedy After a college baseball star doesn't make the Major League Baseball draft, an intramural game with friends becomes hugely important to him as he tries to accept his broken dreams.
World Beaters 2017 Documentary ESPN Films production chronicling the Maine–Endwell Little League team that won the 2016 Little League World Series, becoming the smallest community ever to win that event.
Heading Home 2018 Documentary About the underdog Israel national baseball team competing for the first time in the World Baseball Classic.
Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams 2019 Documentary US–Japanese coproduction exploring Japanese high school baseball, focusing on two schools trying to reach the 100th Summer Koshien national tournament and the differing approaches of their coaches.
Bottom of the 9th 2019 Drama After serving 17 years in prison for a violent mistake he made in his youth, a once-aspiring baseball player returns to his Bronx neighborhood.
Baseball Girl 2020 Drama Story of a high school student who tries to join a professional team with the help of her coach.
Long Gone Summer 2020 Documentary Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A look back at the 1998 home run chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa.
Once Upon a Time in Queens 2021 Documentary Made for TV as a part of ESPN's 30 for 30 series. A four-part exploration of the 1986 New York Mets and their enduring place in sports culture.
It Ain't Over 2022 Documentary Explores the life and career of New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra.
Facing Nolan 2022 Documentary Explores the life and career of Hall of Fame Pitcher Nolan Ryan
Tomorrow's Game 2023 Children and family, Science fiction On the day of his uncle's ascendance into the Baseball Hall of Fame, Daniel is forced to embark on a journey through time that sees him restore his family's legacy and rewrite baseball history. With Paul Rodriguez.
Shohei Ohtani: Beyond the Dream 2023 Documentary Documentary made by ESPN Films exploring Shohei Ohtani's rise from his beginning in Japan to becoming a two-way superstar in Major League Baseball. Starring Pedro Martinez as narrator.
The Hill 2023 Biographical The true-life story of Rickey Hill's improbable journey to play Major League Baseball.

See also

References

  1. Kevin Ma (December 24, 2014). "Yo-kai Watch breaks Toho record in Japan". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
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