Have There Been Any Good Baseball Movies Lately?

[KG Erwin]

So, has this subgenre died out? I ask because last night I saw Bingo Long and the travelling whatchamacallits for the first time. Heck, that one came out many years ago. I really enjoyed it. I had no idea James Earl Jones was in that movie. The connection between that and his role in "Field of Dreams" makes more sense to me now.

It got me to thinking, though, that's it's been quite a while since a good baseball movie's been released.

The last one I recall was "61*" (2001). Before that was "For Love of the Game" (1999).

[Jestre]

Some liked '61', although I was not one of them. The last one I really enjoyed was Eight Men Out. Of course Ken Burns 'Baseball' series is always worth going back to every once in awhile.

[KG Erwin]

ORIGINAL: Jestre

Some liked '61', although I was not one of them. The last one I really enjoyed was Eight Men Out. Of course Ken Burns 'Baseball' series is always worth going back to every once in awhile.

So, what put you off about "61*"? I have a copy of "Eight Men Out" on VHS, but I thought it dragged in some spots.

As is perhaps well-known, my all-time faves are "The Natural" (director's cut) and "Field of Dreams".

HBO had an excellent documentary about the Brooklyn Dodgers called "Ghosts of Flatbush". I'm hoping they'll release it on DVD. Did anyone happen to record that one? I'd love to have a copy.

[KG Erwin]

Hmm...check this out: "Untitled Jackie Robinson Project (2008)" . See http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453562/

It's reported that Robert Redford has been cast as Branch Rickey. No word on who will portray Jackie.

[motnahp]

Funny that you mentioned Bingo Long (& the Traveling All-Stars). Having gone to Jr High and High School in middle Georgia, I had the chance to visit the "stadium" where some or all of the baseball scenes were filmed. The old park was (is ?) in Macon, GA and was (is ?) known as Luther Williams Field. Many Class A and AA teams have called it home.

I'm not sure if it's still standing today. It was back in the 80's when I attended a couple of minor league games at the old venue. It's been quite awhile since I've seen the movie, as well. If I remember right, Richard Pryor was also in the cast.

To answer your question, not really. I know it doesn't fit the category, but I really enjoyed the ESPN series The Bronx is Burning. I ended up buying the book and it was just OK. The book focuses a great deal of time on the political environment in NYC at the time. While the series touches on it a little, the book gives it about equal weight with the baseball stories.

Since I was a teenager during that time, I remember most of the baseball things I saw in the series and was very impressed with the accuracy. Seing actual footage of those 1977 games was quite cool. It makes me wonder if those games will ever be released on video/DVD. Obviously, ABC/ESPN has them in their vault somewhere.