Take Me Out to the Ballgame! Celebrating America's Pastime on Film | Pt. 2

For those who balk at fiction, we continue our two-part series about the all-American pastime of baseball, with a look at non-fictional dramas that tell the stories - inspirational, sad, and sometimes egregious - of this beloved game.  Let’s play ball!

For a thorough history of the first century of major league baseball, there is no better source than Ken Burns' 1994 miniseries "Baseball," clocking in at 18 1/2 hours. But if you're looking for shorter history lessons, there are plenty of films that touch all the bases.

In 1942, Gary Cooper brought the inspiring and tragic story of Lou Gehrig to the big screen with the critically acclaimed and influential "The Pride of the Yankees." Just one year before the film's release, the first baseman nicknamed "the Iron Horse" died at the age of 37 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which later became known as "Lou Gehrig's disease."

One of baseball's most infamous scandals concerns the "Black Sox," members of the Chicago White Sox who conspired with gamblers to throw the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The 1988 film "Eight Men Out" takes us back to a time when players lacked free agency, and "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, and other stars struggled to make ends meet despite their success on the field.

Moving ahead in time, on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made history when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers. The first Black man to play in the majors, Robinson overcame constant harassment and discrimination to help the Dodgers win their first World Series in 1955. Robinson's number 42 has since been retired by every team in the majors. The 2013 film "42" tells his story, with Chadwick Boseman starring as Robinson and Harrison Ford co-starring as Branch Rickey, the Dodgers general manager who signed him.

Lastly, if you are interested in more recent baseball history and love statistics (or if you're a big fan of Brad Pitt), then 2011's "Moneyball" is for you. Pitt stars as Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane, who used statistical analysis (known as sabermetrics) to scout and evaluate players. The film, an adaptation of Michael Lewis' 2003 book of the same name, follows Beane through the 2002 season, when the Athletics won 103 games (including a 20-game winning streak) and finished first in their division despite a lack of star power and one of the lowest payrolls in the game.

Check back in a few days when we spotlight some of the local teams that make our community cheer!