The Best Baseball Movies Featuring Pitchers

A list of the best Baseball Movies of all time that feature pitchers as the main character.

The Natural

The Natural is a 1984 film adaptation of Bernard Malamud’s 1952 novel of the same name, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert Redford Glenn Close, and Robert Duvall. The film, about an aged baseball player who becomes a successful hitter for the Brooklyn Dodgers grossed more than $50 million in the United States

Eight Men Out

Eight Men Out is a 1988 American sports drama film based on Eliot Asinof’s 1963 book Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series It was written and directed by John Sayles. The film tells the story of the Chicago White Sox team that threw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds

Bull Durham

Released in 1988, Bull Durham is considered by many to be the best Baseball Movie of all time. However, its focus is not on a pitcher, but on a catcher, played by Kevin Costner The film follows the story of minor league player ” Crash ” Davis (Costner), who is brought in to mentor young pitcher Ebby Calvin ” Nuke ” LaLoosh (Tim Robbins). While the film is not specifically about pitchers, it does offer a very memorable portrayal of what it takes to succeed in the world of professional baseball

Major League

Major League is a 1989 sports comedy film directed by David S. Ward, starring Charlie Sheen Wesley Snipes and Tom Berenger. The film tells the story of an expansion Cleveland Indians team that unexpectedly finds success under the guidance of their new manager, played by Berenger. Sheen plays Rick “Wild Thing” Vaughn, a former relief pitcher who struggles to find control of his fastball but eventually becomes the team’s ace starter. Snipes plays Willie Mays Hayes, a speedy lead-off hitter and center fielder who uses his speed to his advantage on the base paths and in the field.

The film was a commercial success, grossing over $50 million at the box office. It was also well received by critics, with many praising Ward’s direction and the performances of Sheen and Snipes. Major League is considered one of the best baseball films of all time and ranks #43 on Bravo’s 100 Funniest Movies list.

Fever Pitch

Fever Pitch is a 2005 American romantic comedy sports film directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly and starring Drew Barrymore and Jimmy Fallon The movie is based on Nick Hornby’s 1992 autobiographical novel Fever Pitch.

For Love of the Game

The 1999 Kevin Costner film “For Love of the Game” is one of the best baseball movies ever made, and it features a great pitcher at its center. Costner stars as Billy Chapel, an aging Detroit Tigers pitcher who is facing the end of his career. Chapel is given one last chance to start a game on the final day of the season, and he takes full advantage of it, pitching a perfect game

The Bad News Bears

The Bad News Bears is a 1976 American sports comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie. It follows an underdog Little League team managed by an alcoholic ex-minor League Baseball player (Walter Matthau) who recruits talented players (including newcomer Tatum O’Neal). The film became an instant classic, spawning two sequels and a short-lived television series.

A League of Their Own

A League of Their Own is a 1992 American sports comedy-drama film directed by Penny Marshall, starring Tom Hanks Geena Davis, Lori Petty, and Madonna. The film tells the story of the first all-female Professional Baseball League in the United States The league existed for only 12 weeks in 1943 but inspired many women to pursue their dreams of playing baseball

Little Big League

This 1994 classic starring Timothy Busfield and Luke Edwards tells the story of a 12-year-old who becomes the manager of the Minnesota Twins after his grandfather, the team’s owner, dies. The Young Boy Billy Heywood, manages to turn the team around and lead them to the playoffs. This heartwarming film is a must-watch for any baseball fan

The Sandlot

The Sandlot is a 1993 American coming-of-age baseball film directed by David Mickey Evans. The screenplay by Evans was inspired by his own childhood playing baseball in Los Angeles California. Scott Porter stars as a Young Boy who befriends a group of boys who play baseball at a local sandlot. They engage in various adventures involving rival teams, lifeguards, and other neighborhood characters.

The film also features James Earl Jones as Porter’s father and Denis Leary as the lifeguard. The Sandlot was released in the United States on April 7, 1993, and grossed $32 million against its $7 million budget.