BestBaseball Movies

Golden Age (1930-1969)

best to worst

1. Pride Of the Yankees (1942)... The life of Lou Gehrig could verywell be the best baseball movie ever made. It casts Gary Cooper perfectly asthe Iron Horse with Teresa Wright and Walter Brennan in supporting roles. BabeRuth, Joe McCarthy, Bill Dickey, Bob Muesel and Mark Koenig have cameos.Nominated for best picture, as was Wright for best actress. Ex-National Leagueslugger Lefty O'Doul tutored the right-handed Cooper as best he could.(Ex-Dodger star Babe Herman doubled for Cooper in the long shots.) Finalsequence extremely moving. Filmed at the ubiquitous Wrigley Field in LosAngeles (home of the PCL Angels) where most of the ballpark scenes were filmedprior to 1960 including 1959's syndicated TV show, Home Run Derby.

2. The Stratton Story (1949)... The story of White Sox pitcher MontyStratton, whose leg was amputated at age 26 after a hunting accident was a boxoffice smash starring Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson. Frank Morgan steals a fewscenes as manager Barney Wiles. Stratton, who was an active advisor on the set,won 36 games in his brief career with a trick pitch he called the gander.Ex-players Jimmy Dykes, Bill Dickey, Spec Shea, Ted Lyons and active (at thetime) players Luke Appling, Gene Beardon, Lou Novikoff and George Vico appear.Won an Oscar for best story. Filmed at L.A.'s Wrigley Field and Gilmore Park aswell as scenes in Comiskey Park, Cleveland Stadium, Griffith Stadium and TigerStadium.

3. It Happens Every Spring (1949)... An unpretentious comedy thatstars Ray Milland, a college physics professor, who accidentally invents aformula that, when applied to a baseball, makes it impossible to hit. (MetholEthyl Propin Butyl if anybody asks.) Then, as alias King Kelly, he leads St.Louis to a pennant. Paul Douglas co-stars as his catcher, Monk Lanigan. JeanPeters, Ed Begley, Ray Collins also star. Hollywood special effects wizard FredSersen did wonders with the ball-hopping effects. Filmed at L.A.'s WrigleyField.

4. The Kid from Left Field (1953)... Dan Dailey stars as Pop Cooper,an ex-ballplayer turned ballpark vendor whose temper has kept him from amanaging job. Through a strange twist of events, he manages by proxy throughhis young son. The film is simple but captures the feel of the ballpark verywell. Lloyd Bridges, Anne Bancroft, Billy Chapin and Ray Collins co-star. Alsoappearing are ex-Indian John Berardino (later a star on General Hospital),umpire John "Beans" Reardon, announcer Hank Scott (later the host ofTV's Home Run Derby in 1959) and Fess Parker (Disney's Davey Crockett). Filmedat L.A.'s Wrigley Field.

5. Alibi Ike (1935)... Could be Joe E. Brown's best role as the RingLardner character (pitcher Francis X. Farrell loosely based on Harry Covaleskieand Dizzy Dean) that just has to have an excuse for everything. "Icould've won more than thirty games last season but I had malaria for half theyear." Brown's entrance scene during spring training is a classic as ishis windmill windup. William Frawley and Olivia de Haviland (her debut)co-star. Several big leaguers also appear including Bob and Irish Meusel, SmeadJolley and Babe Pinelli. Filmed at L.A.'s Wrigley Field.

6. The Winning Team (1952)... Ronald Reagan stars in one of hisbetter roles portraying the difficult life of Hall Of Fame pitcher GroverCleveland Alexander. Co-starring Doris Day as the wife, this movie concentratestoo much on her contribution to his success. The movie shines when it gets backto the subject at hand from his neurological disorder to his heroic 1926 WorldSeries save in game seven (he struck out Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded inthe eighth inning). Bob Lemon, Hank Sauer, Irv Noren, Gerry Priddy, Al Zarilla,Peanuts Lowery, George Metkovich and Gene Mauch appear as big leaguers. Filmedat L.A.'s Wrigley Field.

7. Pride of St. Louis (1952)... The story of Dizzy Dean capablyplayed by Dan Dailey. Richard Crenna co-stars as brother Paul. Film isentertaining but misses the mark laugh-wise, especially considering the subjectmatter. Frankie Frisch (the real manager of the 1934 pennant winners) appearsin the film. Filmed at L.A.'s Wrigley Field although special effects man FredSersen did a good job disguising the field to make it look like other parks.

8. Fear Strikes Out (1957)... Anthony Perkins is believable (but onlyoff the field as Perkins is a natural left-hander) as the troubled JimmyPiersall who suffered a mental breakdown in his early years with the Boston RedSox. Best line is by Karl Malden as Jimmy's father speaking to him in themental hospital about his success as a ballplayer: "If it wasn't for me,you wouldn't be where you are today!" In reality though, the real Piersallbreakdown did not have much to do with his father nor did it happen on theplaying field. But, even though grossly embellished, the climbing-the-screenscene is not to be missed.

9. The Jackie Robinson Story (1950)... Stars Jackie as himself in alow-budget but effective portrayal of the racial tensions pervading his career.Ruby Dee co-stars as his wife. Filmed at old La Palma Park in Anaheim. Robinsonlater said that he wished the film would have been made by a bigger studio butdid not like the script changes they wanted to make. His stand against racismin the Army was detailed in the made-for-cable movie, The Court-Martial ofJackie Robinson (1990).

10. Elmer the Great (1933)... Brown again stars in another Lardnergem about country bumpkin ballplayer Elmer Kane (based on Big Ed Walsh) thatgets mixed up with the underworld. Not as funny as Alibi Ike but still worthviewing. Several ballplayers appear including Babe Herman, Charlie Root, LarryFrench, Tuck Stainback and George Burns. Based on the play Hurry Kane. Filmedin L.A.'s Wrigley Field.

11. The Babe Ruth Story (1948)... Sentimental telling of Babe's storywith the non-athletic William Bendix in the title role. This movie gets nothingbut bad press but can be entertaining if you do not take it seriously. Ruth wasdying from cancer during the shooting and could not be of any technicalassistance. (He died a month after it's release.) Screenwriter Grantland Ricewanted to make sure that Ruth's legend remained intact, which explains thefilm's overly sentimental flavor. William Frawley, Charles Bickford and ClaireTrevor co-star. Mark Koenig, Bucky Harris and Mel Allen play themselves.

12. Angels in the Outfield (1951)... The original is a true fantasywith angels from heaven looking out for the dreadful Pittsburgh Pirates. StarsPaul Douglas (as manager Guffy McGovern), Janet Leigh and Keenan Wynn. Cameosby Bing Crosby, Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio. Shot in and around Forbes Field.

13. Rhubarb (1951)... Hokey script of a cat inheriting a baseballteam but they pull it off well. The movie was actually based on a best-sellerby H. Allen Smith whose book was a satire on society in general and the legalsystem in particular. Veteran cast includes Ray Milland, William Frawley andJan Sterling. Filmed at L.A.'s Wrigley Field.

14. The Kid from Cleveland (1949)... Several Tribesman, hot off their1948 championship, have cameos in this youth-gone-astray story. Bill Veeck, BobFeller, Lou Boudreau, Satchell Paige and others have speaking lines and thefootage taken at the old Stadium make this a must for Indian fans although theacting is quite stiff. George Brent, Lynn Bari, Ann Doran and Rusty Tamblyn arethe principal members of the cast.

15. Safe At Home! (1962)... The only baseball movie made in the 60'sfinds a young boy caught in a lie about being friends with Mickey Mantle andRoger Maris. M&M star as themselves (though quite stiffly) with cameos byWhitey Ford and manager Ralph Houk. Old friend Bill Frawley is there to makesure everyone behaves. A curiosity at best but fun for fans. Filmed on locationin Ft. Lauderdale during spring training in 1962 after Roger's big 61 home runseason.

16. Kill the Umpire (1950)... William Bendix, Una Merkel, RayCollins, William Frawley. Comedy featuring the problems of umpire Bill Johnsonwhich ends in a rousing chase-scene climax. Bendix (with his encyclopedicknowledge) and Frawley (part owner of the PCL's Hollywood Stars) were two ofthe biggest baseball fans in Hollywood at the time. Filmed at L.A.'s WrigleyField.

17. The Big Leaguer (1953)... Edward G. Robinson, Vera-Ellen, JeffRichards, Richard Jaeckel. Robinson plays real-life scout Hans Lobert in chargeof a New York Giants rookie camp in Florida (filmed on location). The filmsuccessfully captures the feel of a real training camp. Hall-of-Famer CarlHubbell appears as himself.

18. Roogie's Bump (1954)... Taunted little Roogie Rigsby is all of asudden blessed with a powerful arm thanks to the "spirit" of deceasedex-ballplayer Red O'Malley. He winds up pitching for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Kindof a 50's version of Rookie of the Year. Stars Robert Marriot, Ruth Warrickand William Harrigan. Members of the current (at the time) Dodgers appear asthemselves including Roy Campanella, Billy Loes, Russ Meyer and Carl Erskine.Campy is bowled over by one of Roogie's pitches too.

19. Death on the Diamond (1934)... Robert Young, Madge Evans, TedHealy. A murder mystery filmed at L.A.'s Wrigley Field and the old Sportsman'sPark in St. Louis. Several ballplayers appear including the Cardinals ErnieOrsatti who is shot as he crosses the plate.

20. It Happened In Flatbush (1942)... Lloyd Nolan, Carole Landis,William Frawley. The real Dodgers pennant winners of 1941 inspired this storyof new owner getting losing team back on track. Lots of newsreel footage ofEbbetts Field included.

Other talkies(some just two-reelers) in chronological order include:

Fast Company (1929)... Jack Oakie, Evelyn Brent, Skeets Gallegher.Original version of Hurry Kane that was remade into Elmer the Great. Manyballplayers appear including Irish Muesel, Jigger Statz, Truck Hannah and IvyOlson.

Hot Curves (1930)... Benny Rubin, Pert Kelton. Early romantic comedy.

They Learned About Women (1930)... Early baseball musical.

Slide, Speedy, Slide (1931)... Mack Sennett comedy starring DaphnePollard as the star of the girls baseball team.

The Loud Mouth (1932)... Stars Matt McHugh as a loud-mouthed fan.

Fireman, Save My Child (1932)... Joe E. Brown as pitcher Smokey JoeGrant in Brown's first baseball comedy. Major Leaguers Ernie Orsatti and JimCrandall appear as ballplayers. Filmed at L.A.'s Wrigley Field.

Stealin' Home (1932)... James Gleason comedy. Also starring Mae Buschand Eddie Gribbon with a script by popular sports humorist Bugs Baer.

Too Many Women (1932)... High School pitcher Mickey Daniels and MaryKornman play teenagers in love. Both originally starred in the silent Our Gangcomedies and some flashback scenes are included in this movie.

Swell Head (1935)... Wallace Ford, Dickie Moore, Barbara Kent. Leadcharacter gets beaned and nearly goes blind. Turkey Mike Donlin, a veteran of12 big league seasons and several Hollywood movies, makes his last appearancein a baseball movie before his death.

One Run Elmer (1935)... A Buster Keaton comedy of endless sight gags.Two bas it's only a two-reeler. Shot in the same California desert town wherethe Bad News Bears was filmed.

Dizzy & Daffy (1935)... The Deans hot of a world championshipplay themselves with comic relief provided by Shemp Howard of the ThreeStooges. The boys cannot act but the film allows us to see them close up inaction. Great shot of Ole Diz going into his famous windup and firing a hummerright at the camera.

Girls Can Play (1937)... Jacqueline Wells, Charles Quigley, RitaHayworth. Women's League version of Death on the Diamond.

Gracie at the Bat (1937)… Andy Clyde, Ann Doran. The adventures of awomen's softball team.

The Heckler (1940)... Veteran comedian Charley Chase plays anobnoxious fan in a funny, rapid-fire movie but on-the-field baseball action isfew and far between.

Two Mugs From Brooklyn (1942)... William Bendix.

Whistling In Brooklyn (1943)... Red Skelton. Skelton plays radio sleuth"The Fox" trying to elude gangsters by donning a beard and playingwith the Battling Beavers, a House of David-like team. Filmed at L.A.'s WrigleyField.

Ladies Day (1943)... Lupe Velez, Eddie Albert, Patsy Kelly, Max Baer,Sr. Forgettable romantic comedy that follows the exploits of Sox star pitcherWacky Walters.

Mr. Noisy (1946)... Shemp Howard in remake of The Heckler.This was the last baseball two-reeler ever made.

Take Me out To the Ballgame (1949)... Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, EstherWilliams, Edward Arnold. Musical depicting turn-of-the-century double playcombo. Average at best and Sinatra is not an athlete.

The Great American Pastime (1956)... Tom Ewell, Anne Francis, AnnMiller, Dean Jones. The first feature length motion picture about LittleLeague.

Damn Yankees (1958)... Gwen Verdon, Tab Hunter, Ray Walston. Rousingmusical in which Joe Boyd sells his soul to beat the Yankees. Based on the 1954novel, The Year the Yankees Lost the Pennant.