10 Best Baseball Movies

Here is a list of the 10 best baseball movies. Sports movies are a genre of film that holds a prominent place in the history of cinema. No sport has been more celebrated since the dawn of movies than baseball. From reality to fantasy, from comedy to drama, baseball has served as a rich tapestry of lovable characters and moving stories that rejoice in the glorious pastime. These films, as diverse as they come, are the ten best baseball movies:

1. "The Bad News Bears." Walter Matthau stars in one of his finest and most memorable performances as the legendary Coach Buttermaker. This film is surprisingly raw considering it involves a Little League baseball team of underachieving athletes. There is a message to be found, but with its profane attitude and hardhitting themes, this isn't your ordinary sports movie about kids.
2. "Angels in the Outfield (1994). " The exact opposite of the "Bad News Bears", this film is no less effective, even if it is a bit sentimental. A touching fantasy with baseball to drive the action forward, it is one awesome flick.
3. "Bill Durham."  A baseball movie with more of a romantically comedic edge goes to show how versatile the sport really is. In all seriousness, this is an excellent film about both the minor and major leagues. A baseball classic.
4. "Field of Dreams." Speaking of classics, and Kevin Costner, this is probably the most quoted baseball flick of all time: "If you build it, he will come." Though a fantasy, it is a rousing one with some awesome historical connections and excellent writing. 
5. "A League of Their Own." Another film inspired by history, it tells a story about the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. With a great performance by Tom Hanks as the hard nosed coach, this is baseball royalty.
6. "Major League." You cannot have this list without "Major League". Okay, so it is a bit of a goofy satire, and nowhere the same league as the other movies on this list as far as film is concerned. But when it comes to baseball, it should not be neglected.
7. "The Natural. "Who hasn't stared at a tree or a really thick branch and not fantasized they were Robert Redford carving a baseball bat from it?
8. "The Rookie." When you combine the word inspirational with Disney in a sentence, people roll their eyes. Let's face it though, some awesome flicks have come about from the combo, and "The Rookie" is no exception.
9. "Baseball Bugs." Yes, it is a short cartoon starring Bugs Bunny. Yes, it was first released in theaters in 1946, so it counts as a film, albeit a short one. And yes, it is a classic.
10. "The Sandlot." Okay, so this is a kid's flick. However, when the climactic sequence involves wrangling a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth from a ferocious beast of a dog, you make an exception for it.