Top Five - Favorite Baseball Movies

Winter has all but ended and spring time for so many means it's time to play ball!! Baseball and movies are two of America's favorite past times so it's no surprise that putting the two together is a recipe for success. Over the years Hollywood has hit many "home runs" of their owns giving audiences compelling films about the game so many of us love. Baseball movies range from tales from the big leagues, young boys playing in the backyard, unlikely underdogs, and even stories from behind the scenes of the game. Here is my Top 5 list of my favorite baseball themed movies and a quick run down of each. What do you guys think? I'd love to hear what your favorite baseball movie is!

5.) Rookie of the Year - Disney's 1993 film "Rookie of the Year" was a favorite of mine as a kid and after seeing it again recently, I still found a lot of enjoyment from the film. Thomas Ian Nicholas stars as young Henry who wishes nothing more than to play baseball in the major leagues one day. Only problem is, he's terrible at executing every possible aspect of the game. That all changes after Henry suffers a broken arm while playing ball with his friends in the park. Henry's tendons in his arm heal tighter than normal and he soon learns he can pitch a baseball like nobody has ever seen. Now the newest sensation in baseball - Henry joins his favorite team, The Chicago Cubs, and brings some child's play to the big leagues. This a great light hearted and fun movie, check out the preview here!

4.) The Sandlot - "The Sandlot" is another timeless classic about a group of young boys and their love for the game of baseball. Scotty Smalls is the new kid on the block and when his mother encourages him to go out and make new friends, he stumbles across a group of young boys playing ball. The baseball guru of the group, Rodriquez takes Scotty under his wing and soon Scotty is part of the group. One day while playing ball, their baseball is hit over the fence into the neighbors yard where a gigantic dog they call, "the Beast" resides and the boys are about to call it a day. Still trying to prove himself within the group of boys, Scotty runs home to grab his step-father's baseball so they can continue to play. When this ball sails over the fence and into the jaws of the Beast, Scotty panics and then informs his friends the ball was signed by some famous baseball player - Babe Ruth. The group of young friends now go about the task of getting the ball back before it's gone for good! You've never seen this movie?? "You're killing me Smalls!" Here is the trailer for "The Sandlot."

3.) Trouble with the Curve - The newest addition to my list. I reviewed "Trouble with the Curve" a few weeks ago but I have to mention it again here on this list. Clint Eastwood plays Gus Lobel, an aging baseball scout who is struggling with that fact that his poor vision may soon cause him to give up his beloved career as a scout for the Atlanta Braves. With pressure from the organization to scout a young player they're interested in drafting with their first pick, Gus is sent to see if the player lives up to the hype. Gus's daughter Mickey (Amy Adams) accompanies her father as she recently found out about her father's poor vision. Along the journey they will try to mend their rocky relationship and realize that baseball is the true passion in each of their lives. Here is the preview for "Trouble with the Curve".

2.) A League of Their Own - If  I'm being honest, this movie could solely contain Tom Hanks' famous line "There's no crying in baseball!!!" and it would still be number two on my list. When World War II sees most of the star baseball players of America heading over seas, a league of professional female baseball players is formed to fill the void. Twin sisters Dottie (Geena Davis) and Kit (Lori Petty) are discovered by a scout and sent to the tryouts. Both sisters eventually make the team for the Rockford Peaches coached  by former baseball star Jimmy Dugan (Tom Hanks). Due to an existing injury, Jimmy wasn't able to fight in the war nor is he able to continue playing his beloved game of baseball. He reluctantly takes the offer to manage the Peaches from the dugout. Throughout the season, Jimmy and the team go through the ups and downs of baseball and life together and create memories that would last forever. "A League of their own" is such a great film that I'm sure most of you have seen but if not, please watch this trailer and go out today and see the full film.

1.) ?????? - What's my favorite film about baseball?? Come back Wednesday for the answer, my full review and recommendation of the film, and of course a recipe for a great dinner to go with it!