Spring Break
baseball flicks without Kevin Costner that satisfy superfans
Justin Pacheco
Issue date: 4/14/09 Section: Entertainment
04/14/09 - Baseball season has just started and with each game played fans seem to become more engrossed with the season. However, there isn't always a game on and fans need to get their baseball fix somewhere. Aa good baseball movie can often fill the void. Here are five great baseball movies that do not feature Kevin Costner.
Why exclude Costner? Because, there is nothing interesting about a list of baseball movies that features "Bull Durham" and "Field of Dreams" in the top two spots followed by another Costner movie, "For the Love of the Game."
There's no denying that they're great movies, but if you have a more than middling interest in baseball or movies, it's pretty impossible to not know about these movies. There's no need to heap further praise on them.
So, onto the list of five great baseball movies. (Non-Costner Division)
1. "The Bad News Bears"
The original 1976 version is preferable to the remake, since the remake concedes to the political correctness of the time by eliminating much of the children's vulgarity. The little leaguers in the 2005 version won't be swearing at each other, and that's really just a shame.
The 1976 version stars Walther Matthau as an alcoholic, washed-up minor leaguer who is currently working as a pool cleaner. He takes over the team and turns them around with the help of two new star players: a female pitcher with a great fastball and a motorcycle-riding, cigarette smoking centerfielder.
The best part of the movie, aside from Matthau's drunken leadership and the kids' prolific swearing, is the ending. While most sports movies have the underdog win, especially when it involves kids, the good guys lose this one. They celebrate despite the loss, and tell the champion Yankees, "You can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!"
2. "61*"
This was a made for HBO movie that takes a look at the 1961 season of the New York Yankees, following Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris as they both chase Babe Ruth's single season home run record.
Why exclude Costner? Because, there is nothing interesting about a list of baseball movies that features "Bull Durham" and "Field of Dreams" in the top two spots followed by another Costner movie, "For the Love of the Game."
There's no denying that they're great movies, but if you have a more than middling interest in baseball or movies, it's pretty impossible to not know about these movies. There's no need to heap further praise on them.
So, onto the list of five great baseball movies. (Non-Costner Division)
1. "The Bad News Bears"
The original 1976 version is preferable to the remake, since the remake concedes to the political correctness of the time by eliminating much of the children's vulgarity. The little leaguers in the 2005 version won't be swearing at each other, and that's really just a shame.
The 1976 version stars Walther Matthau as an alcoholic, washed-up minor leaguer who is currently working as a pool cleaner. He takes over the team and turns them around with the help of two new star players: a female pitcher with a great fastball and a motorcycle-riding, cigarette smoking centerfielder.
The best part of the movie, aside from Matthau's drunken leadership and the kids' prolific swearing, is the ending. While most sports movies have the underdog win, especially when it involves kids, the good guys lose this one. They celebrate despite the loss, and tell the champion Yankees, "You can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!"
2. "61*"
This was a made for HBO movie that takes a look at the 1961 season of the New York Yankees, following Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris as they both chase Babe Ruth's single season home run record.
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