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| "If you build it, he will come." |
What a game! It’s only been around in its current form for about 150 years. And baseball has been the subject of scores of novels and movies. Two come to mind: Shoeless Joe a 1980 novel by W. P. Kinsella, adapted to the big screen as Field of Dreams in 1989; and The Natural, a 1952 novel by Bernard Malamud, the basis for a movie of the same name in 1984. There are probably other baseball novels that were made into movies.
Seems to me that most baseball novels
and movies involve baseball, but they really aren’t about baseball. They’re
about life, and love, and so many other things.
I could name several favorites. But one,
a very old one, comes to mind. It’s a 1953 black-and-while movie called The Kid from Left Field. The plot is simple,
and a bit sappy. With thanks to Wikipedia and IMDB, here’s a description:
Former ballplayer 'Coop' (Dan Dailey) is working as a peanut vendor at the ballpark of a struggling major league club, the Bisons. He has passed on his love of the game to his son Christie (Billy Chapin), but after sneaking his son into the game one too many times, he is fired from his job. Christie ingratiates himself with the former owner's niece (Anne Bancroft) and gets his father's job back as well as a position as batboy for himself.
Coop coaches Christie about the finer points of baseball. Christie makes recommendations to the team and they start winning. As a publicity stunt, the team’s owner, Fred Whacker (Ray Collins) names Christie as their youngest manager ever. The team keeps winning. But when Christie falls ill, he confesses that his Dad (Coop) is the source of his managerial wisdom. Coop replaces Christie as manager. The Bisons win the pennant and earn a spot in the World Series.
Yes, baseball forms the major part of
the plot. As a matter of fact, baseball
is the plot. But it’s more than that. It’s really a father-son story, a
testament to love and faith.
What is your favorite baseball-themed novel
or movie? Why do you like it? What is it “really” about? Are there other
sport-themed novels and books you like?
10 comments:
You brought back some great movie memories. And so true, they are all about life as much as baseball. Favorites around here are THE SANDLOT ("You're killin' me, Smalls!") and A LEAGUE OF THERE OWN ("There is no crying in baseball!") Great post, thanks Mr. Doubleplay!
Comment from Jayne O...don't know why Blogspot didn't ask my name...sigh...
THE SANDLOT makes my point that these movies are not entirely about baseball. Where else could you learn such a creative use of a vacuum cleaner? /s/ A. Doubleplay.
Wow! Baseball movies are great! How about "For Love of the Game," a 1999 film with Kevin Costner? A pitcher, facing his final appearance on the mound, focuses on pitching a "perfect game" while reflecting on his career ups-and-downs, life in general, and his on-again-off-again romance with Kelly Preston. "Anonymous," a/k/a Michael Rigg
You are right. Most books and movies about baseball aren't really about baseball. They are about life. I think that baseball is unique in that you can play it and watch it while also doing something else. The guys on the bench and the fans in the bleachers can be dealing with something else while the game is on. You can't do that in basketball.
Thanks, Maria. And the players may be dealing with issues as well, but they hide them for the sake of the fans. Bang the Drum Slowly, a 1973 film, tells the story of the friendship that develops between a pitcher (Michael Moriarity) and catcher (Robert de Niro) on the fictional New York Mammoths. The pitcher soon learns a dark secret--the catcher has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. All the best, "Anonymous," A. Doubleplay
Thanks so much for this! I have a lot of favorites...both movies & books. Of course, I love the ones mentioned, so will add these: Eight Men Out; Major League; and anything written by Ring Lardner!
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