PLAY BALL: BASEBALL AT THE MOVIES

Latest Episodes:

Episode 203: The Phenom Jun 30, 2020

On this episode, we dive into the 2016 indie drama The Phenom starring Ethan Hawke and Paul Giamatti. After introducing the movie, we walk through the plot (13:17) and review the film (1:08:34). Rounding the bases on Inside Baseball, Andrew walks us through famous teenage phenoms (1:19:55); Paul gives a rundown of sports psychology (1:39:25); And we name our Top 5 Most Intimidating Pitchers (2:07:55). Sliding into home, we name the movie's MVP and rate the film (2:35:38).

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul Leschofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast. *Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.

Episode 202: Kill the Umpire Apr 30, 2020

On this episode, we’re stepping into the past to take on the 1950 William Bendix comedy Kill the Umpire. After introducing the movie, we walk through the plot (10:21) and review the film (44:48). Then, on Inside Baseball, Paul walks us through the history of the MLB Umpire (54:25); We share a Top 5 of historic calls made by umpires (1:04:53 & 1:37:00); We break down the vigorous training that umps have to undergo (1:19:47); Rounding third, we discuss technological advances being made in umpiring and debate Robot Umps (2:05:25); Sliding into home, we rate the film (2:35:11) and hope we don’t have to KILL THE UMPIRE!

Episode 201: Mr. 3000 Mar 20, 2020

Hey baseball fans! We’re still hard at work on Season 2 of Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies (Update as of 3/20/2020). However, due to the delay of the 2020 baseball season, we’ve decided to release the Season 2 premiere early for everyone practicing social distancing and self-quarantining. Wishing you all a safe and healthy start to the Spring!

On this episode, we’re diving into Bernie Mac’s screwball comedy Mr. 3000. After introducing the movie, we walk through the plot (11:18) and review the film (48:27). Then, on Inside Baseball, we give a rundown of the actual 3000 hit club (1:01:14); We discuss the greatest player comeback of all time (1:15:50); And we name our top 5 women baseball journalists (1:32:45); Rounding Third, it’s time for another round of everyone’s favorite segment - Barry Bonds: What the Fuck?! (1:59:16); Sliding into home, we look into Bernie Mac’s real baseball fandom (2:08:00), then rate the film (2:10:34) and preview Episode 2.

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul Leschofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham(Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast. *Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.

SEASON ONE ALL STAR GAME Jul 09, 2019

On this special episode of Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies, we’re celebrating the All Star Game. Leading off, we give our thoughts on the 2019 All Star Selections. Rounding second, we review all 10 movies from Season 1 and select one player from each movie to fill out our Season 1 All Star lineup. Sliding into home, we deliver a special message for YOU, our listeners, before signing off to get back to work on Season 2 (coming soon!) of Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies.

Twitter: @BaseballPodShow

Instragram: playballpodcast.

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul LeSchofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films, of which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures).

*Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.

Episode 109: Field of Dreams Jul 01, 2019

On the first Season Finale of Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies, we bring in filmmaker and friend of the show Tom Ptasinski to talk Kevin Costner’s all time baseball classic, Field of Dreams. Reaching first, we walk through the plot (8:27) and review the film (1:23:50). Then, on Inside Baseball, we discuss baseball in 1989, the year the movie came out (1:45:34); Andrew tries to figure out who won the actual Red Sox / A’s game that Kevin Costner takes James Earl Jones to in the film (1:51:34); we go through the history of the real Field of Dreams field (1:56:51); and we discuss the magical story of “The Chicken Runs at Midnight” (2:06:01). Rounding third and sliding into home, we rate the movie (2:18:21) and close out Season 1.

Thanks for a great season everybody! Have a wonderful summer, a winning season, a happy Bobby Bonilla day, and we’ll catch you right back here soon for Season 2 of Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies.

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul LeSchofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast.

*Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.

Episode 108: American Pastime Jun 24, 2019

This week on Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies, we’re talking about the little-known American Pastime, about the baseball leagues in the Japanese-American Internment Camps during World War II. First up, we give some historical background on the internment camps, walk through the plot (5:20) and review the film (23:34). Then, on Inside Baseball, we discuss the history of baseball in Japanese American communities (32:00) and give a rundown of the many baseball leagues played in the Internment Camps (36:16). Rounding second, we highlight some major baseball figures from the camps, including Kenichi Zenimura, the “Father of Japanese-American baseball” (45:07) and famous MLB scout George Omachi, whose life took him from the camps all the way to the Major Leagues (54:53). Rounding third, we discuss Masanori Murakami, the first Japanese baseball player to play in Major League Baseball (1:00:10) and highlight the incredible career of the one and only Ichiro Suzuki (1:06:50). Sliding into home, we rate the film (1:16:15) and preview next week’s Season 1 Finale.

Read more on Major League Scout George Omachi: https://sabr.org/node/27240

Check out Ansel Adams’ “Baseball game at Manzanar, 1943”: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ansel_Adams,_Baseball_game_at_Manzanar,_1943.jpg

See the original home plate from the Manzanar Internment Camp’s baseball diamond http://www.nationalparksgallery.com/item/10839?order=added_desc

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul LeSchofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast.

*Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.

Episode 107: The Fan Jun 17, 2019

Attaboy Bobby! Today on Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies, we’re talking about Robert De Niro and Wesley Snipes’ rollercoaster ride of a thriller, The Fan. Leading off, we walk through the bonkers plot (5:50) and review the movie (58:31). Then, on Inside Baseball, we discuss baseball in 1996 (1:10:15) and compare Wesley Snipes’ Bobby Rayburn to his real-life inspiration, Barry Bonds (1:17:05). Rounding second, we discuss just how insane Barry Bonds’ talent was when we play everyone’s favorite game, “What the Fuck, Barry Bonds?” (1:28:08); Paul introduces us to the Giants’ original mascot, Crazy Crab (1:38:38); Andrew discusses Mo Vaughn’s relationship with a child cancer patient (1:44:48); We try to recount the craziest things to ever happen on a baseball diamond, as Paul tells the story of Demolition Disco Night (1:49:24) and Andrew reviews the game’s most notorious fans (1:56:06) including Billy Crystal and Robin Williams, the first streaker in sports history, and the entire attending audience of 10 Cent Beer Night. Sliding into home, we rate the movie (2:14:08) and preview next week’s episode.

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul LeSchofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast.

*Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.

Episode 106: Sugar Jun 10, 2019

We’re talking Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s 2009 gem Sugar. Leading off, we walk through the plot (6:06) and review the film (17:33). On Inside Baseball, we talk about baseball in the year the movie came out (42:48); We give a full breakdown of modern baseball culture in the Dominican Republic (46:39), including representation of Dominican players in MLB and the many different Dominican Leagues; We investigate the wild history of how baseball first came to the D.R. (56:46); We discuss Major League Baseball Academies in the D.R. as a source of developing talent and their impact on their local communities (1:07:02); We highlight the career of Osvaldo “Ozzie” Virgil, the first Dominican player in Major League Baseball (1:19:50); We take a look at the tradition of minor league players living with local chaperones during their stay in the minors (1:25:13); and Paul introduces a new trivia segment to the show (1:28:25). Sliding into home, we rate the movie (1:34:45) and preview next week’s episode.

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul LeSchofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast.

*Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.

Episode 105: A League of Their Own Jun 03, 2019

There’s no crying in baseball! Today on Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies, we’re joined by friend of the show Susan Mangan for the all-time classic, A League of Their Own. Leading off, we walk through the plot (11:44) and discuss the deleted romance subplot between Tom Hanks and Geena Davis (50:05) before we give our reviews (1:15:10) and debate the climactic dropped ball in the final game (1:31:30). Then, on Inside Baseball, we dive into the history of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, or AAGPBL (1:38:00) and name our top 5 women players (1:55:25). We then investigate why women traditionally play softball instead of baseball (2:19:18) and speculate on who could actually become the first woman to play in Major League Baseball (2:41:50). Sliding into home, we rate the film (2:55:22) and preview next week’s episode.

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul LeSchofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast.

*Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.

Episode 104: Ed May 27, 2019

Get ready to go bananas! Today on Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies, we watch the 1996 comedy Ed, starring Matt LeBlanc and his baseball playing chimpanzee Ed Sullivan. Leading off, we walk through the plot (06:24) and give our reviews. Then, on Inside Baseball (45:42), we discuss famous players who suffered from the yips, the Angels’ “Rally Monkey” and the Dodgers “Rally Banana,” the very rare feat of the unassisted triple play, and baseball’s craziest promotions, starring Bill Veeck and Eddward Carl Gaedel. Sliding into home, we rate the movie (01:36:04) and preview next week.

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul LeSchofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast.

*Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.

Episode 103: 42 and The Jackie Robinson Story May 15, 2019

Let’s play two! Today on Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies, it’s a Jackie Robinson double header. We discuss 42, starring Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson, and 1950’s The Jackie Robinson Story starring Jackie Robinson as himself. After walking through the plots of both movies (06:04) we’re joined by special guest Dr. Raymond Doswell, Vice President of Curatorial Services at the Negro Leagues Museum (14:28) for a wide-ranging interview on the legacy of Jackie Robinson and the Negro Leagues. We discuss the state of the Negro Leagues in the years leading up to integration, why Jackie was the perfect candidate to break the color barrier, Jackie’s activism off the field, and past attempts to bring Jackie’s story to the big screen. After Ray rates both movies (01:08:00), we share some final reflections on the big screen legacy of Jackie Robinson and rate the films ourselves (01:25:23).

Visit the Negro Leagues Museum at 1616 East 18th Street, Kansas City, MO 64108. Phone: info@nlbm.com. Admission only $10.00 for adults, $9.00 for seniors (65+ years) and $6.00 for kids (5-12 years). Call 816-221-1920 for group discounts and Jazz Museum “combo ticket” discounts. The NLBM is a self-guided tour experience. The exhibition features text panels, hundreds of photographs, artifacts and several film exhibits that is integrated with a timeline of baseball and African American history. For more, visit https://nlbm.com.

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul LeSchofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast.

Episode 102: Take Me Out to the Ball Game May 15, 2019

Buy us some peanuts and cracker jacks! Today on Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies, we’re dancing our way through Gene Kelly’s 1949 musical, Take Me Out To The Ballgame. Leading off, we walk through the plot, listen to the film’s most memorable songs, and give our reviews. Then, on Inside Baseball (45:50), we discuss the feminist origins of baseball’s favorite anthem; We see if sabermetrics can tell us if Gene Kelly’s fictional 1908 world champion Wolves would have beaten the REAL 1908 world champion Cubs; Paul attempts to uncover the first double play in history, while Andrew identifies the top double play combos of all time; Rounding third, we unveil our top 5 women in baseball before we rate the movie (01:34:30) and preview next week’s episode.

Check out Edward Meeker’s original September 1908 recording of Take Me Out to the Ball Game here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4-gsdLSSQ0

Read George Boziwick’s essay, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”: The Story of Katie Casey and our National Pastime, on the feminist origins of the famous anthem here: https://ourgame.mlblogs.com/take-me-out-to-the-ball-game-the-story-of-katie-casey-and-our-national-pastime-c8f76a0fc6ba

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul LeSchofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast.

Episode 101: The Sandlot May 15, 2019

The series premiere of Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies! The show where your hosts, Andrew and Paul, watch and analyze every baseball movie. On the mound for our pilot episode is the 1993 classic The Sandlot. Leading off, we walk through the plot and give our reviews. Then, on our Inside Baseball segment (16:03), we dive into the history, trivia, lore, stats, and theories from the baseball in the movie. We discuss the REAL story behind Babe Ruth’s legendary “Called Shot” home run. We explore the theory of The Sandlot as a metaphor for breaking baseball’s color barrier. Andrew reveals exactly how much the Hank Aaron rookie card Benny gives away to ghost Babe Ruth is worth today. Lastly, we name our picks for the best trash talkers in the game. Sliding into home, we rate the movie (47:00) and preview next week’s episode.

Play Ball: Baseball at the Movies is produced by Paul LeSchofs and Andrew Knopp. Our theme music, Slow Burn, was created by Kevin MacLeod. Our mascot was designed by Yehudi Mercado. Our intro uses clips from the following films from which we do not claim any ownership: Field of Dreams (Universal Pictures), The Natural (TriStar Pictures), Moneyball (Columbia Pictures), The Sandlot (20th Century Fox), Bull Durham (Orion Pictures), and A League of Their Own (Columbia Pictures). Follow us on Twitter @BaseballPodShow and Instragram @playballpodcast.