Baseball at the Movies: A.J. Martelli's Top 10

I gained a new level of respect for Billy Crystal after I saw this movie. Now I know it's about the Yankees, and I want to be unbiased, but this was an amazing picture. The actors playing Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle (Barry Pepper and Thomas Jane, respectively) did such a masterful job of portraying their feelings during the roller coaster ride that was the 1961 season.

It's not easy chasing the greatest record in baseball, and at the film's end, I truly feel that Maris is the rightful single season Home Run King. After going through death threats, losing his hair out of stress, and the media making his life a living hell, Maris deserves the right to be called the King.

4) For Love of the Game
I saw this movie with my uncle and my cousin the weekend it opened. This was more of a love story, but it is such a touching movie.

The last place Detroit Tigers play the Yankees with washed-up Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) on the mound. As Chapel pitches, he reflects on his love life with Jane Aubrey (Kelly Preston). He notices after seven innings that he's pitching a perfect game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on the final game of the regular season.

Vin Scully's quote still gives me goosebumps: "Tonight, Billy Chapel will take the walk to the loneliest spot in the world, the pitching mound at Yankee Stadium to use that achy arm to push the sun back into the sky and give us one more day of summer."

When he finally records the last out and notches the perfecto, Scully says, "The Cathedral of Yankee Stadium belongs to a Chapel." If you are a guy and love baseball, watch this movie with your girlfriend. There's something there for both of you.

3)  The Rookie
High School baseball coach Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) tries his luck and makes it to the majors after his high school team makes the championship. It gives everyone hope that you can still fulfill your dreams, no matter how old you are.

After playing for the Durham Bulls, Morris makes it to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and pitches in a game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington. His players are there in the nosebleeds to root him on. This is a movie that will most likely stand the test of time, and will be watched for a long time to come.

2) Bull Durham
This movie came out exactly a year after I was born. Coster plays Crash Davis, who is an aging catcher called up to tutor rookie pitcher "Nuke" LaLoosh. Unfortunately for them, they are both romantically involved with a woman which makes a love triangle.

I learned something from this movie. 108 beads in a rosary, 108 stitches in a baseball. Coincidence? I think not. This will always be revered as one of the greatest baseball movie of all-time. They'll be talking about Bull Durham for years to come.

1) Field of Dreams
Costner again. He must love the game. Anyone who has seen this movie knows how great it is. Ray Kinsella (Costner) interprets voices to build a baseball field on his farm. When he does, the Chicago Black Sox, or at least their ghosts, come to play there.

Who wouldn't want to build a diamond and see their favorite players come out and play there? If I could pick a team, I would build my field and have the 1998 Yankees play on it. Kinsella's line, "I'm pitching to Shoeless Joe Jackson..." speaks volumes. If I had it my way, it'd be, "I'm pitching to Tino Martinez..." This movie is the best of the best.

According to the Internet Movie Database, this movie ranks a 7.6 out of a possible 10. I could easily rank this 10 out of 10. After this movie is over, go play catch with your dad. You need to. It is one of the most engrossing films I've ever seen.

There you have it. My top 10 baseball flicks. There are so many other great ones, but this is just my opinion. If anyone would like to share their favorite baseball movies, feel free to comment!

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