A definitive ranking of the 10 best baseball movies ever

Happy Opening Day!

Baseball is back!

And it seems to me that everyone on social media commemorated Opening Day with this GIF:

That is, of course, Hamilton “Ham” Porter from the iconic movie “The Sandlot.” Ham is the author of one of the best phrases the English language has ever created: “You’re killing me, Smalls.” (My late father-in-law loved that line.)

Thinking about Ham and “The Sandlot” and Opening Day and my father-in-law led me to this: What is the single best baseball movie ever?

After all, baseball, more than basketball or football or, certainly hockey, has been the subject of a whole lot of films.

And, because I have two sports-addicted kids (and was a sports addicted kid myself!), I have seen the vast majority of them — often multiple times.

So, what better way to celebrate Opening Day then to rank the 10 best baseball movies ever? Right? Right!

Before we get to it, one (obvious) caveat: This list is VERY subjective. I am a product of my time (I am 48 years old) and my circumstances. I like to laugh more than I like to cry — so comedies trump dramas on my list.

You may not going to agree with all (any?) of my picks. But that’s why we have the comments section! Tell me where I went right — or wrong!

Ok, let’s do this!

10. “The Rookie”: Old fireballer promises the kids he coaches that he will try out one last time for the majors if they win the championship? They do! And he does! And he makes it! That this is based on a true story makes it all the better.

9. “Moneyball”: As good as this movie was, I liked Michael Lewis’ book (on which it was based) better. (I know, I know…). But, Brad Pitt as Billy Beane is an inspired choice. As is Philip Seymour Hoffman as Art Howe. And Jonah Hill!

8. “Eight Men Out”: I will admit I have a soft spot for John Cusack — which may explain why I think so highly of this movie. But, the real-life story of Shoeless Joe Jackson and the 1919 Black Sox scandal is the stuff of Hollywood!

7. “The Bad News Bears”: This movie was made in 1976. But, if you watch it today, it feels like it was made in 1876. Still, Walter Matthau as the little league team’s manager is amazing. And Tatum O’Neal! Also, this final scene is amazing.

6. “The Natural”: There’s not a ton of actual baseball in this movie. (A fact my two boys pointed out to me, repeatedly, when we first watched it together.) And, yes, it’s a drama. And, no, I never totally understood why Barbara Hershey shot Robert Redford in the first place. (This was based on a real incident!) But, there’s “Wonderboy.” And this unforgettable scene:

5. “Major League”: This is probably the most quotable baseball movie ever. “JUST a bit outside.” “You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?” “Look, I go to you. I stick up for you. You no help me now. I say ‘Fuck you Jobu’, I do it myself.” “You may run like Mays, but you hit like shit.” Also, Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn (“A juvenile delinquent in the offseason”) is Charlie Sheen’s finest hour.

4. “A League of Their Own”: Not only did this movie unearth a little-known part of baseball history — there was a women’s baseball league during World War II! — but it had Madonna in it. What more could you want? Tom Hanks as the alcoholic, washed-up former baseball great who manages the team? It has that too! Also, food for thought: What if Dottie purposely dropped the ball in the play at the plate with her sister, Kit…

3. “Field of Dreams”: Yeah, I know it’s a little hokey. Ok, a lot hokey. But man do I love it. Kevin Costner as a guy with a dream? James Earl Jones as a reclusive writer? Burt Lancaster as a small-town doctor who had exactly one at bat in the big leagues? And, even without ALL of that, this movie would still be way up there in my rankings because of this one scene (I tear up every time I watch it):

2. “The Sandlot”: Baseball is our summer sport — the game that matches our desire to be languid, to leave off the cares of school or work for a while. No movie better captures that summer spirit — and the power of baseball to connect us — than this one. Also, Wendy Peffercorn forever.

1. “Bull Durham”: The cast — Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon — is amazing. Both Costner’s Crash Davis and Robbins’ Nuke LaLoosh are iconic. But it’s Sarandon’s “Annie Savoy” who steals the movie. Show me a better monologue about baseball than this one — I’ll wait.