Baseball Movie Ideas

[Brad Harris]

I'd like to see The Universal Baseball Association, J. Henry Waugh, Prop. by Robert Coover turned into a movie. Particularly with the rise of fantasy baseball these past thirty years, I think this would be both insightful and timely as well as hugely entertaining. Paul Giamatti would be a perfect casting job for the role of Waugh. All-time great players, past and present, might perform the lesser roles of Waugh's many memorable Association stars.

Anyone else got an idea for a baseball movie? Always enjoy reading a great idea. Who knows? Maybe a Hollywood producer trolls these forums. Baseball fans come in all shapes and sizes.

[abolishthedh]

If you know the Pink Floyd song "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", then maybe you can see this one.

The song is NOT an upbeat song, at least musically, althought the lyrics can be used that way.

Scenario: Young player who loves to party as hard as he plays gets messed up with the law, illegal drug addiction, maybe alcoholism, and then is forced to overcome all that baggage in a comeback story. I see the player's fall and comeback as requiring a few years to play itself out.

What'd ya think? I would actually write the screenplay, except that I am terrible at writing fiction.

[No Pink Tea]

I would really like to see a movie about Ty Cobb, but good this time. I am aware that a lot of people enjoyed "Cobb" but it seemed more like a vehicle for Tommy Lee JJones than a movie about the Georgia Peach.

I want it to focus on his whole life, starting as a teen looking for his father's acceptance, to his baseball career, all the way to his death. Show the drive behind the man as well as all of the ugly stuff that made him such a hated rival and team mate.

A young cast (mid to late 20's), zero to little mention of Al Stump, lots of fights, lots and lots of baseball, his home life, and plenty of Detroit and Georgia.

Yes, yes, yes.

[Captain Cold Nose]

I would really like to see a movie about Ty Cobb, but good this time. I am aware that a lot of people enjoyed "Cobb" but it seemed more like a vehicle for Tommy Lee JJones than a movie about the Georgia Peach.

I want it to focus on his whole life, starting as a teen looking for his father's acceptance, to his baseball career, all the way to his death. Show the drive behind the man as well as all of the ugly stuff that made him such a hated rival and team mate.

A young cast (mid to late 20's), zero to little mention of Al Stump, lots of fights, lots and lots of baseball, his home life, and plenty of Detroit and Georgia.

Yes, yes, yes.

There are people on this site who are probably applauding as they read your post.

[ol' aches and pains]

If you know the Pink Floyd song "Shine On You Crazy Diamond", then maybe you can see this one.

The song is NOT an upbeat song, at least musically, althought the lyrics can be used that way.

Scenario: Young player who loves to party as hard as he plays gets messed up with the law, illegal drug addiction, maybe alcoholism, and then is forced to overcome all that baggage in a comeback story. I see the player's fall and comeback as requiring a few years to play itself out.

What'd ya think? I would actually write the screenplay, except that I am terrible at writing fiction.

Wouldn't that be The Josh Hamilton Story?

[Captain Cold Nose]

Wouldn't that be The Josh Hamilton Story?

Or Eastbound and Down?

[Brad Harris]

Between The Natural and The Rookie, hasn't the "comeback" story already been pretty well covered?

Any hope to redeem the franchise with a Major League IV?

[abolishthedh]

I suppose Hamilton's story fits, but what I had in mind is fiction, with plenty of locker room humor to mix with the antidrug message. If Hamilton's story is accurate as he has shared it, then he is too straightlaced.

In other words, "Crazy Diamond" has to remain a nutcase after he beats his demons.

[Eyeshade]

1) The End of Baseball. Movie version of the novel that has as its central plot the idea that Bill Veeck buys the A's in 1946, recruits a team of Negro League All-Stars (Gibson, Paige, Jethroe, Campanella, Charleston, adds Martin Dihigo, has Mickey Cochrane manage) and thumbs his nose at Landis and racism. A great book!!
2) The Iowa Baseball Confederacy. Written by WP Kinsella. Another great book that this time has a supernatural/ fantasy bend to it. Could have great special effects (the Angel of Death playing third base) and be really unique.
Either of these movies, done right, could make a lotta money.

[Captain Cold Nose]

Maybe it's too depressing, but I think, if handled correctly, Hang Tough, Paul Mather, the little league version of Bang the Drum Slowly could be good.

[Calif_Eagle]

How about the story of the 1914 "Miracle Braves" one shot pennant and World Series winning team? I think that would be a compelling cinematic story... lots of baseball... you could use Bosse Field (1915) in Evansville Indiana and Rickwood Field (1910) in Brimingham Ala as well as possibly a digitally altered Fenway Park and Wrigley Field as well...

[ol' aches and pains]

I'd like to see the Ted Williams story on the big screen. Not sure who would play him (Ben Affleck maybe), but it's a great American story that I think would work as a movie.

[StrawberryField]

Maybe a movie about King Kelly, often reported to be the first true baseball superstar, and quite the character who died young.

Has there ever been a movie about 19th century baseball? it seems strange that there hasn't been one IMO. It's a time in baseball seemingly rife with tall tales, and tall tales is Hollywoods specialty....a match made in heaven.

[TonyK]

I'd love to write the screenplay for a movie about the famous Cuban Giants black baseball team. They played nearly every day on the road against racist teams, umpires, and fans. They entertained hostile crowds when necessary and defeated many minor league teams. Somehow they earned a living and developed a reputation as one of the finest baseball teams of any color in America. It's an amazing story.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I would love to see a Jackie Robinson movie. Spike Lee was supposed to make one in the late 1990s but nothing ever came of it.

http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/...spike_lee.html

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethe...lee-doesn.html

[Gehrig27]

Luckiest Man by Jonathan Eig would be fantastic; a modern Pride of the Yankees. Crazy 08' or something along those lines would also be quite enjoyable. Also, has there ever been a good Babe Ruth movie or a Joe Dimaggio movie?

[Captain Cold Nose]

Luckiest Man by Jonathan Eig would be fantastic; a modern Pride of the Yankees. Crazy 08' or something along those lines would also be quite enjoyable. Also, has there ever been a good Babe Ruth movie or a Joe Dimaggio movie?

We talked about the Babe Ruth TV movie a bit in another thread. Those who have seen it have enjoyed it. It has never available on DVD.

I've never heard of them making a movie about Joe DiMaggio. Bill Murray played Joe in a SNL (or was is a guest SCTV spot) skit, based on the DiMaggio restaurant. Joe and his brothers were hitting baseballs at their customers.

[Dalkowski110]

I would say The Life and Times of John McGraw would be pretty good.

[ol' aches and pains]

1) The End of Baseball. Movie version of the novel that has as its central plot the idea that Bill Veeck buys the A's in 1946, recruits a team of Negro League All-Stars (Gibson, Paige, Jethroe, Campanella, Charleston, adds Martin Dihigo, has Mickey Cochrane manage) and thumbs his nose at Landis and racism. A great book!!

I hadn't heard of this book. According to the unanimously favorable reviews at Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/End-Baseball-N...0434119&sr=1-1, it actually takes place during the WWII season of 1944. They would have clinched the pennant by the 4th of July!

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Maybe some have already been made and I'm unaware of it...

-1927 Yankees
19th century baseball (maybe make a fictional character who plays in baseball during the 1800's)
-1908 season (possibly base it on the book)
-A good Ty Cobb movie

Another cool one would be a movie baseball-related that takes place during a baseball game. Every now and then it would go back to the game. Certainly a challenge

....and maybe one on Harry Carray

[OleMissCub]

A young cast (mid to late 20's), zero to little mention of Al Stump, lots of fights, lots and lots of baseball, his home life, and plenty of Detroit and Georgia.

I've posted this pic before that I photoshopped, but I think Eminem would be a PERFECT Ty Cobb. He not only looks like him in the face, but is athletically built, and has an heir of arrogance and attitude, and he's also a bit of a punk like our dear Ty was.

[OleMissCub]

Just had an epiphany!

Crazy 08 would make an OUTSTANDING miniseries like on HBO or something similar to John Adams or Band of Brothers. A single film probably wouldn't be able to contain all the information necessary for Crazy 08 to be a cohesive story.

Think about all the characters that would be in it, guys like John McGraw, Rube Waddell, Frank Chance, Three Finger Brown, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, etc. Also, how cool would it be to see the Merkle Boner played out on screen?

Damn...that would be an awesome miniseries I think.

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Just had an epiphany!

Crazy 08 would make an OUTSTANDING miniseries like on HBO or something similar to John Adams or Band of Brothers. A single film probably wouldn't be able to contain all the information necessary for Crazy 08 to be a cohesive story.

Think about all the characters that would be in it, guys like John McGraw, Rube Waddell, Frank Chance, Three Finger Brown, Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, etc. Also, how cool would it be to see the Merkle Boner played out on screen?

Damn...that would be an awesome miniseries I think.

Christy Mathewson- Ben Affleck?
Rube Waddell- Russel Crowe?
Frank Chance- Robert DeNiro
Ty Cobb-
Three Finger Brown- Christian Bale
Fred Merkle- Tommy Lee Jones
Honus Wagner- ?
John McGraw- Daniel Craig

Al Pacino would be the perfect Ty Cobb when he was younger.

[Honus Wagner Rules]

I've posted this pic before that I photoshopped, but I think Eminem would be a PERFECT Ty Cobb. He not only looks like him in the face, but is athletically built, and has an heir of arrogance and attitude, and he's also a bit of a punk like our dear Ty was.

I think Bill Burgess just had a heart attack!

[OleMissCub]

Christy Mathewson- Ben Affleck?
Rube Waddell- Russel Crowe?
Frank Chance- Robert DeNiro
Ty Cobb-
Three Finger Brown- Christian Bale
Fred Merkle- Tommy Lee Jones
Honus Wagner- ?
John McGraw- Daniel Craig

Al Pacino would be the perfect Ty Cobb when he was younger.

I hope some of those are jokes....DeNiro is like 70 and so is Jones. Craig is also too tall to be McGraw. A young Al Pacino as Cobb?? Goodness.

Also, as I've previously displayed, there is only one choice to play Cobb, and that is Marshall Mathers.