Wahoo’s on First Argues Baseball Movies

For this week’s Wroundtable question, I decided to take a break from the usual line of questioning and focus on something a little bit more fun. After all, why rehash the eight game losing streak or Chris Perez‘s legal situation more than we already have? I think I speak for everyone on the site when I say that we needed a break from all of the negative stuff. So, with that in mind, this week’s Wroundtable question was: With the summer movie season in full swing this question is semi-relevant. What is your absolute favorite, have to watch it if I find it on television, can quote about 100 different lines of dialogue verbatim,  baseball movie of all time?

Also, instead of copying and pasting specific answers, I decided to just copy and paste the whole email chain. Buckle-up folks. You’re getting a peek behind the curtain on this one.

Brian Heise: Ok, time for another Wroundtable question. Since things have been so god awful terrible lately losing 8 in a row, I’m switching up things a bit with the question. So here it goes. With the summer movie season in full swing this question is semi-relevant. What is your absolute favorite, have to watch it if I find it on television, can quote about 100 different lines of dialogue verbatim,  baseball movie of all time.

Like always, answers to me by Thursday night.

Steve Kinsella: I’m tempted to go with Brewster’s Millions not because it was such a great baseball movie, but I’m a huge Richard Pryor and John Candy fan. Field of Dreams adapted from a story written by W.P. Kinsella is tempting too.

Photobucket: Pacersfan33

Evan Vogel: Favorite baseball movie is Major League. It’s just crazy enough to satisfy my stupid sense of humor and there are so many great one-liners that I’ve taken to the field, typically mocking poor fielding by calling someone Dorn. It perfectly mocked the ineptitude of the Cleveland Indians and it led right into, arguably, their most successful decade in the franchise’s history, the 1990’s. The characters are great, the story is fantastic, and I never stop laughing. If I find it, it has to stay on, I don’t care how many times I’ve seen it and whether I’m missing Chad Johnson smack his attorney’s behind to make it happen.

Brian Heise: Brewsters millions is a gem. Love that movie.

Steve Kinsella: Brian….I think I need you to get busy on a video for me….

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH9eSrAbM10

Pac & Bones …. Oh, and the Durham Bulls…some sick plays by Upton at shortstop… and Delmon Young skinny!

Ed Carroll: Major League, Eight Men Out, Little Big League. I will get flamed for this, but I kinda hate Field of Dreams.

Brian Heise: I love Little Big League. I like to think that Billy Heywood is the real forefather of sabermetrics and that Lewie Pollis character is just trying to ride his coat tails to glory. Also, Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey Jr. as the bad guys was too awesome.

Steve Kinsella: A lot of people hate Field of Dreams…

Evan Vogel: Yeah, they’re called unAmericans. Next you’re going to tell us you don’t like spray can cheese or red meat.

Geordy Boveroux: I agree with Ed on Field of Dreams. Oh, and hate the former, love the latter, Evan.

Steve Kinsella: You all just hate the name Kinsella…admit it.

Geordy Boveroux: We’re all bitter we weren’t invited to your super cool parties at Kinsella Party Rentals.

Steve Kinsella: I figured as much….

Ed Carroll: Agreed. When I get my invite, we can have a Field of Dreams marathon if you want.

Mitchell Below: My eyes got a little sweaty when I watched Major League for the first time (Indians win the pennant!), but my favorite baseball movie is Bull Durham.  Props to The Sandlot and Bingo Long’s Traveling All-Stars (starring Leon “Daddy Wags” Wagner!) as well.

Steve Kinsella: You all suck…Lou Gehrig Story, Jackie Robinson Story, The Natural, and any Bugs Bunny cartoon where he dons a uniform and pitches.

The end.

Merritt Rohlfing: I’d say the best baseball-related, and really sports-related, movie of all time is BASEketball. Oh, you say, it doesn’t involve baseball? Guess what Jack, it does. Home runs and limited running and stuff. Plus, the scene where Remer has Coop promise the kid with the dead liver he’d hit three home runs? Straight out of Babe Ruth. I mean, he never did it, they all got wasted that day and Joey (the sick kid) smelled like Robert Downey Junior according to the nurse and Coop falls asleep at the plate with the chance to make the final homer, but hey. It’s the thought that counts. Along with all that, I like that the spirit of the movie is based in friendship and just a bunch of guys messing around playing a game. That’s just what baseball is – it doesn’t matter if you’re a hyperathletic monster or some fatass who has one thing going for him or you’re even if you’re Nick Johnson, it’s a game for you. Combine all that with the story of the big business trying to ruin a pure sport, just like it has already with baseball, and the going back to the times of the Reserve Clause, it’s a beautiful thing. I could go on for hours about that movie, it’s one of the top five all time, but instead, just go watch it. It’s uplifting. Plus, Yasmine Bleeth at the height of her powers, AND Bob Costas and Al Michaels in their finest roles.

Photobucket: pittsburgh100000

Nick Houghtaling: My favorite baseball movie is the first 15 minutes of Space Jam when Michael Jordan is playing baseball.

Brian Heise: I’m calling it now. Nick wins this email chain in a landslide. That just cracked me up for a good five minutes.

Ed Carroll: Well, if we’re including cartoons, that Simpsons episode is classic …. And yeah, Space Jam.

Kyle Downing: Hands down, Rookie of the Year. Angels in the Outfield gets an honorable mention.

Ed Carroll: Ohhh! Rookie of the Year is fun. Forgot about that one. Which Angels in the outfield? Never saw the old one, new one too sappy.

Brian Heise: There was such a good run of solid baseball movies in the 90’s. Rookie of the Year, The Sandlot, Little Big League. Even Angels in the Outfield was decent. Although, Tony Danza… that was a questionable choice. And for the record, we can learn quite a lot from Rookie of the Year.

Kyle Downing: Old one with Christopher Lloyd and Danny Glover.

Ed Carroll: Disney. Sappy. No.

Mitchell Below: That’s the new one.  The old one is from 1951. God forbid that any more get made.

Steve Kinsella: Naked Gun is my favorite baseball movie…….steeeerrrrrriiiiiikkkkeeee!

Mitchell Below:  The Natural is a great movie if you can set aside: a) any scene where Robert Redford is supposed to be a teenager. b) any scene where Robert Redford pitches or swings a bat.

Katrina Putnam: For me, it’s definitely Moneyball. Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? Plus, anything Aaron Sorkin touches is entertainment gold. I could probably quote every line of the movie in my sleep, but sometimes I skip the other stuff and just watch the actual game footage because it’s awesome. I also hold my breath every time Scott Hatteberg comes up to bat, and then clap at my tv when he hits that home run. Apparently I’m still convinced that it will go horribly wrong.

Jeff Mount: 

Photobucket: serieverslaafde

Anyone who hasn’t seen Ken Burns’ Baseball should make time for it, maybe during the next losing streak.

Brian Heise: I guess I should probably go ahead and give my answer. For me it has to be Major League. It’s rare that I can actually go a full day without quoting Harry Doyle at least once. However, other favorites of mine definitely include the trifecta of movies from my childhood otherwise known as Little Big League, Rookie of the Year, and the Sandlot. Honorable mention also for The Scout, Bull Durham, and Field of Dreams. On a side note, I can’t believe no one mentioned a League of Their Own.

Ed Carroll: Cannabis in the Basement: the Chris Perez Story. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

Brian Heise: Who plays Chris Perez? Method Man or Redman? Personally, my choice is Method Man.

Ed Carroll: Hell no. Danny McBride.

Evan Vogel: No, Snoop Lion.

Lewie Pollis: My once proud team… *shaking my head*