Top Ten Baseball Flicks

Take yourself to a ballgame with these top Baseball Flicks by E! Online.

1		The Natural Nothing was going to stop Roy Hobbs from fulfilling his boyhood dream of baseball stardom. As a 14-year-old he fashions a baseball bat from an oak tree. He soon impresses major league scouts with his ability. His talent also catches the eye of a sportswriter who eventually becomes instrumental in Hobbs' career. The appearance of a mysterious woman, however, shatters his dream. Years later Hobbs reappears as a rookie for the New York Knights and has an opportunity to share in their race for the penant. Directed by Barry Levinson.  Starring Robert Redford. Based on the book The Natural by Bernard Malamud. PG
2		Bull Durham American romantic comedy, dealing with a very minor minor-league team and three of its current constituents, an aging baseball groupie that beds one player each season, a cocky foolish new pitcher, and the older, weary catcher brought in to wise up the rookie. Directed by Ron Shelton.  Starring Kevin Costner & Susan Sarandon. R
3		Fear Strikes Out True story of the life of Jimmy Piersall, who battled mental illness to achieve stardom in major league baseball.  Directed by Robert Mulligan.  Starring Anthony Perkins. NR
4		The Bad News Bears A former baseball minor-leaguer coaches a team of tough kids. His star pitcher is a girl. Directed by Michael Ritchie.  Starring Walter Matthau & Tatum O'Neal. PG
5		Field of Dreams Ray Kinsella hears a voice, followed by a brief vision of a baseball field . He believes that if he builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield, Shoeless Joe Jackson from the infamous 1919 Chicago "Black" Sox will return to play baseball. By being willing to take a chance, Ray gets a second time up at bat in life. Directed by Phil Alden Robinson.  Starring Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, Ray Liotta, & James Earl Jones. Based on the book Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella. PG
6		The Pride of the Yankees Lou Gehrig, the Yank's great first baseman and the son of poor immigrants, rose to heights of baseball fame -- only to be cut down at the peak of his career by an incurable disease known as ALS. Directed by Sam Wood. Starring Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, & Babe Ruth. NR
7		Angels in the Outfield A young woman reporter blames the Pittsburgh Pirates' losing streak on the obscenely abusive manager. While she attempts to learn more about him for her column, he begins hearing the voice of an angel promising him help for the team if he will mend his ways. As he does so, an orphan girl who is a Pirates fan and has been praying for the team begins noticing angels on the ballfield. Sure enough, the Pirates start winning, and McGovern tries to turn his life around. But can he keep his temper long enough for the Pirates to win the NL pennant. Directed by Clarence Brown.  Starring Paul Douglas & Janet Leigh. NR
8		Eight Men Out Based on the real-life scandal of 1919, the film tells the story of eight baseball players who plan to throw games for money, and the scorn and anger the scheme earned them. Directed by John Sayles.  Starring John Cusack, Charlie Sheen, & D.B. Sweeney. Based on the book Eight Men Out by Eliot Asinof. PG
9		Damn Yankees! Joe Boyd, an armchair athlete, would give anything to watch his sad-sack Washington Senators murder those invincible New York Yankees and grab the American League pennant--even sell his soul to the devil. The devil interferes in the fortunes of the failing baseball team.  Directed by George Abbott & Stanley Donen.  Starring Tab Hunter, Gwen Verdon, & Ray Walson. NR
10		The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings A group of independent renegade players travel around the Midwest looking for that big home run while playing baseball in the 1930s Negro League. Directed by John Badham. Starring Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones, & Richard Pryor. Based on the book by William Brashler. PG