Baseball is one of the biggest sports in some parts of the world. While it might not be the game of choice around Europe, it’s huge in sections of North America and Asia. The MLB is the biggest league for the game, with some of the teams and players to have played in it having gone on to achieve global fame.
Given the status of the sport, it’s unsurprising that it has gone on to become popular in other mediums. The game has become a popular sport betting option for punters who continually seek new and interesting ways to enhance their wagering experiences, especially with games like the World Series being played at the end of the season; akin to the NFL’s Super Bowl (without a series of games being played), the NBA Finals, and the Stanley Cup in the NHL.
The movie industry has looked to highlight baseball’s popularity further with various releases over time. In fact, there have been several films to have been created since the very first, which is widely believed to be “Right Off the Bat,” in 1915. But what are the best to have depicted the game on the big screen?
1. Bull Durham
Released in 1988, Bull Durham is widely regarded as the all-time best baseball flick to have ever been created. It takes the audience through all the nuances of the sport, looking at what goes on during a game and how each aspect of the sport needs to be considered. With every minute detail of the game being analyzed and shown in this movie, it’s no shock that it continually sits near the top of any great baseball-themed film list.
2. Moneyball
In 2011, Aaron Sorkin released “Moneyball”, a film that looks at a completely different side of baseball, and perhaps a more modern look at how professional sports can be viewed upon today. There is very little baseball action in this film, but it shows how statistics and analytics have become important in the sport, with a look at what goes on behind closed doors.
3. Field of Dreams
Kevin Costner (who starred in “Bull Durham”) made another baseball-themed movie appearance a year later, in 1989, with the release of “Field of Dreams”, which would also wound up being another top hit. The film is focused on how sport can bring families together, providing several sentimental moments that can evoke emotions in the audience.
4. Eight Men Out
The 1988 release of “Eight Men Out” was based on the scandal that had been experienced in 1919 involving the Chicago White Sox. The team conspired with gamblers to lose the World Series on purpose, with the Cincinnati Reds winning 5-3. Eight of the players that were involved in the scandal were banned from baseball forever. It’s a film that provides a real take on something that happened in the history of the game, making it a truly interesting watch.
5. A League of Their Own
The 1992 release of “A League of Their Own” is based on the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, a franchise that was real and existed during the Second World War as a supplement to the MLB. It’s another movie that tells an important story that is part of baseball history and features Tom Hanks and Madonna.
