15 Must-See Fictional Batter vs. Pitcher Matchups

In the history of Hollywood, many movies have been made that chronicle the lives of great baseball players. The Babe Ruth Story, chronicling the life of the great home run hitter, played by William Bendix; Fear Strikes Out, following the life of Boston Red Sox center fielder Jimmy Piersall and his battle with mental issues, and The Pride of the Yankees, the movie starring Gary Cooper that chronicled the great career of New York Yankees legendary first baseman Lou Gehrig.

However, there have been great baseball movies made with fictional characters as well. Movies that follow the struggles of a young pitcher as he makes his way to the majors (Bull Durham), or a movie about an aging player who is facing life after baseball (For Love of the Game).

How often have we seen scenes in fictional baseball movies that matchup up a bully slugger with a pitcher, or an overpowering pitcher with a struggling hitter.

We at Bleacher Report thought it would be fun to play mix and match. We are going to match up fictional batters with fictional hitters from various movies, and see what the outcome will be.

Here then are 15 must-see fictional batter vs. fictional hitter matchups.

Roger Dorn (Major League) vs. Billy Chapel (For Love of the Game)

We’re calling this one the Prima Donna vs. the Ageless Veteran

Dorn is the one worried about what endorsement deals he can continue to receive, while Chapel is daydreaming through a perfect game at the twilight of his career about the relationship with his girlfriend.

Outcome: We’re calling this one for Chapel. Dollar signs in the head for Dorn far outweigh the musings of an aging pitcher’s relationship with his girlfriend. Dorn gets Chapel to weakly ground out.

Pedro Cerrano (Major League) vs. Steve Nebraska (The Scout)

We’re calling this one Flake Hitter vs. Flake Power

Pedro Cerrano spent his entire career waiting on whatever gods would listen to him to help him hit a curveball. Steve Nebraska never had to worry about even throwing a curveball because no one could hit his 105 MPH fastball.

Outcome: Even though Nebraska struck out 27 batters on 81 pitches in Game 1 of the World Series for the New York Yankees, Cerrano finds a Nebraska fastball to his liking and launches it deep into the bowels of Yankee Stadium. Nobody hit a fastball better than Cerrano.

Jake Taylor (Major League) vs. Sidd Finch (George Plimpton)

We’re calling this one the Savvy vs. the Savant

Pitcher Sidd Finch was blessed with a 168 MPH fastball and could also play a mean French horn. Jake Taylor was a catcher who iced his knees after every game and got a new lease on life after playing in Mexico.

Outcome: Even though Finch was blessed with the greatest fastball ever seen in modern baseball history, power just can’t beat out baseball smarts. Taylor lays down a perfect bunt down the third base line on a 157 MPH offering from Finch, prompting the exasperated eclectic pitcher to throw his hands up in disgust and wonder why he didn’t continue teaching yoga in Nepal.

Bingo Long (The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars...) vs. Haywood (Major League)

We’re calling this one the Entertainer vs. the A-Hole

When Bingo Long left his Negro League team because of his feeling that he was being treated like a slave, he put together a rag-tag group of Negro League players in order to barnstorm around the country and play a more entertaining style of baseball.

Haywood was the hated Yankees slugger who just had “jerk” written all over him.

Outcome: This matchup goes to Long, as entertainment always and easily trumps boorish behavior.

Bobby Rayburn (The Fan) vs. Ryan Dunne (Summer Catch)

We’re calling this one the Stalked vs. the Obsessed

Rayburn spent many months being terrorized by an obsessed fan, while Ryan Dunne spent an entire summer obsessed over a hot local girl.

Outcome: We have to give this matchup to Rayburn—he’s so happy finally getting away from his stalker that he takes advantage of Dunne, who has lusty thoughts of Jessica Biel on his mind.

Then again, who wouldn’t?

Roger Dorn (Major League) vs. Sammy Bodeen (Talent for the Game)

We’re calling this one the Entitled vs. the Endangered

Dorn has been established in the majors for a period of years, and has such has developed an attitude of entitlement, thinking the world owes him for giving his life to baseball.

Bodeen is young upstart pitcher thrown immediately into the pressure cooker after the Angels wildly and enthusiastically promoted him as the next great pitcher.

Outcome: Have to give this one to Dorn, who is walked by Bodeen. Bodeen is still a bit wild, prompting Indians broadcaster Harry Doyle to proclaim, “Just a bit outside!”

Billy “Downtown" Anderson (Major League) vs. Mel Clark (Angels in the Outfield)

We're calling this one the Struggling Phenom vs. the Struggling Franchise

Billy "Downtown" Anderson was the can't miss prospect who finally got his shot in the bigs and failed miserably, returning to the minors to help his team win a league title, and to defeat the major league team that sent him back down.

Mel Clark was a pitcher who had struggled with a losing franchise who finally got his shot at a title after getting divine help.

Outcome: This one easily goes to Anderson, who hits a 573-foot homer off Clark. Any pitcher who needs help from a REALLY ugly angel should get lit up for the longest homer in history.

Note: Billy Downtown Anderson was a character in the third installment of the Major League series, Major League: Back to the Minors.

T-Rex Pennebaker (Mr. 3000) vs. Eddie Harris (Major League)

We're calling this one the Jerk vs. the Junkball.

T-Rex Pennebaker was the guy who thought his you-know-what didn't stink and had to be brought back in line by a former star. Eddie Harris was the guy who threw baseballs that would make Gaylord Perry blush, using whatever substance he could to beguile hitters.

Outcome: Harris wins this matchup, as he throws a third strike past Pennebaker with a pitch that wildly dipped as Pennebaker flailed away with what he thought was a home run swing.

Turns out that Harris borrowed some potion from Pedro Cerrano to coat the baseball with.

Stan Ross (Mr. 3000) vs. Henry Rowengartner (Rookie of the Year)

We're calling this one the Screwed vs. the Scary Kid.

Stan Ross was the one who seemingly got screwed out of his 3,000th hit by a clerical error and came back to collect three more hits. Henry Rowengartner was the one who continually saved games for the perennial losers, the Chicago Cubs.

Outcome: Ross finally collects his 3,000th hit off Rowengartner, who throws an eephus pitch to Ross because his arm actually returns to normal.

Nuke Laloosh (Bull Durham) vs. Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez (The Sandlot)

Nuke Laloosh starts playing for the Durham Bulls while being mentored for the major leagues by a journeyman minor league catcher.

Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez is a kid playing sandlot baseball and is known throughout the neighborhood as the best player in the land.

Outcome: Rodriguez takes this matchup, hitting an inside-the-park home run off a bewildered Laloosh, who is still trying to figure out how to get Susan Sarandon back.

Jack Elliot (Mr. Baseball) vs. Billy Chapel (For Love of the Game)

We're calling this one the matchup of the aging heroes.

Jack Elliott was the one who went to Japan to try to resurrect his career. Billy Chapel was the one trying to pitch a perfect game at the end of his 19-year career.

Outcome: This one goes the Chapel, who finally figures out he's at the end of a perfect game after daydreaming about his girlfriend throughout the game. Elliott meekly strikes out after returning from Japan.

Henry Rowengartner (Rookie of the Year) vs. Kelly Leak (Bad News Bears)

We're calling this one the matchup of the Young Guns.

Henry Rowengartner of the Chicago Cubs is trying to slow down the surging Bad News Bears, led by 12-year-old Kelly Leak, who is loaded with baseball savvy and street smarts.

Outcome: Leak schools Rowengartner, taking him deep to give the Bears a lead they would not relinquish.

Come on, did you REALLY think for one second that the Cubs were ever going to beat the Bears?

Crash Davis (Bull Durham) vs. Amanda Wurlitzer (Bad News Bears)

We're calling this one Beauty vs. the Beast.

Amanda Wurlitzer is a cute 12-year-old girl who throws a mean fastball. Crash Davis is the veteran minor league catcher who once spent "the best 21 days of my life" in the majors.

Outcome: Wurlitzer uses her vast array of pitches to keep Davis off-balance, fouling off several pitches before finally striking out on a change-up.

Jack Parkman (Major League II) vs. Chet "Rocket" Steadman (Rookie of the Year)

We're calling this one the Bozo vs. the Boozer.

Jack Parkman is the hated slugger for the Chicago White Sox who is easily the most arrogant player in the league. Chet Steadman is the almost washed-up pitcher for the Chicago Cubs who generally says things that no one can understand.

Outcome: In a thrilling matchup of cross-town rivals, Steadman takes his time in pitching to the ever-dangerous Parkman, working a 3-0 count, not wanting to give Parkman anything good to hit.

Finally, forced to throw a strike, Steadman gives up a screaming line-drive homer to Parkman.

What, once again you honestly thought the Cubs were going to win?

Roy Hobbs (The Natural) vs. Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn (Major League)

And finally, we get to the epic matchup. The ailing veteran, Roy Hobbs, who is sacrificing life and limb to lift his New York Knights to the title, matching up against Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn, who has electrified crowds all season with his uncanny ability to steer his team to victory in the late innings despite his penchant for wildness.

Outcome: Hobbs, with blood seeping from his side right through to his uniform, lines up in the batters box ready to face the young gun Vaughn. With the count full, Vaughn unleashes his mighty fastball. Hobbs swings, wincing with pain, and launches a majestic blast that not only clears the ballpark, but travels all the away across the world, prompting a Hawaiian luau girl to say when she sees the ball in flight, "Wow, he got ALL of that one!"

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.