A Few Great Baseball Films for Fans of the Game
Baseball is one of the biggest sports in the United States of America, with millions of fans all over the country, and around 340 million dollars of annual revenue. While it has been overshadowed by the NFL as the years have gone by, baseball is still one of America’s favorite sports, and still holds the title of America’s pastime.
Baseball is also one of America’s favorite betting sports. Baseball is the third most popular sport to bet on in the United States of America, superseded by Basketball, which is the second most popular sport, and American Football, which is by far the most popular sports in terms of fans and bettors in the United States. Still, with millions of dollars being placed on baseball games, the success of the baseball betting industry is undisputed.
With the world moving more and more toward the “cyber”, betting is also becoming more “online”, with the popularity of betting websites becoming greater and greater. Many new websites have been popping up all over the internet, and by visiting this website, we can see the most popular, new betting sites currently on the internet.
The popularity of baseball in America, has not escaped the notice of Hollywood. Several baseball films have been produced, many of which have risen to the cream of the crop, not just of sports films, but also some of the best films of all time. In this article, we will take a look at a few great baseball films.
A League of their Own (1992)
Directed by Penny Marshall, A League of their Own is a heart-warming, comedy telling the fictionalized account of All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The film takes place in 1943, when the heightening threat of World War II threatens to shut down Major League Baseball. This event leads to a number of baseball team owners funding a female league, called the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
The film features a star-studded cast, including Tom Hanks, Madonna, Geena Davis, etc. It is a funny and heart-warming fictionalization of one of the most important events in American sports history. The film was met with massive monetary success, positive reviews, and, in 2012, was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry (NFR).
Major League (1989)
David S. Ward’s 1989 sports comedy, Major League, is a cult classic among fans of sports films, and fans of baseball. The film tells the story of a fictionalized version of the Cleveland Indians, and stars Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, Tom Berenger, and others.
The film has spawned two sequels, however, neither came even close to the success and popularity of the first film. The movie was massively successful in the box office, having a budget of only $11 million dollars, but grossing $75 million worldwide.
Field of Dreams (1989)
Based on Kinsella’s novel Shoeless Joe, Field of Dreams is one of the best sports films ever produced. It is a heart-warming film which infuses the excitement of baseball, the drama of a man’s family life, and the magic and fantasy common in the genre of magical realism, to produce, not just a great baseball movie, but a great film in general.