RIP 'Major League' Star James Gammon

The acting and baseball community lost a great one yesterday as actor James Gammon, who famously played manager Lou Brown in the movie, Major League , passed away at the age of 70. He passed away at his home in Costa Mesa, CA. 

This is definitely sad news.

Gammon's Lou Brown character in Major League was one of the classic sports movie characters of all time.

You know a guy is great in a role when you can’t picture anyone else playing that character.

Between his froggy voice, mustache, and quick-witted humor in the movie, he played the manager role to a tee. Here is a classic exchange between Indians GM Charlie Donovan and Brown in the movie:

Charlie Donovan : How would you like to manage the Indians this year?
Lou Brown : Gee, I don’t know…
Charlie Donovan : What do you mean, you don’t know? This is your chance to manage in the big leagues.
Lou Brown : Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

That is just great! Perhaps Brown is most famous for this line:

“Come on Dorn, get in front of the damn ball! Don’t give me this 'olé' bullsh^t!”

That line is used by every guy who is in their late 20s/early 30s who still plays softball or baseball and sees a guy field the ball off to his side.

RIP James Gammon.You played one of the great roles in American sports movie history. Major League wouldn’t have been a classic without you.

You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg