Comedy
Bull Durham 1988
First overall. Her favorite baseball movie and a top-three film of any kind; taken in comedy over a possible drama slot.
The Big Picture · Draft
The Baseball Movie Draft
September 30, 2026/ 102 min/ Sean Fennessey · Amanda Dobbins · Chris Ryan · Mallory Rubin
A four-way baseball-movie draft across six categories, with the wild-card rules loosened mid-draft until Interstellar and a nine-part Ken Burns documentary count as picks.
24 films across 1 segment.
AI-generated This episode was transcribed and analyzed with AI models. The matches aren't perfect — expect the occasional misheard title or a link to the wrong film.
The Baseball Movie Draft drafting baseball movies
Mallory Rubin
High concept
The Natural 1984
Argued in on the mythic-bat, baseball-gods reading; Roy Hobbs as comic-book figure.
Kids movie
The Bad News Bears 1976
The 1976 original, not the breaking-training sequel or the Linklater remake.
Amanda Dobbins
Drama
Moneyball 2011
Taken over a hoped-for League of Their Own; the romance built out of statistical analysis.
High concept
Ed 1996
The baseball-playing-chimp movie, Matt LeBlanc's post-Friends feature. Ruled eligible late.
Kids movie
The Sandlot 1993
The clear kids-movie leader; shown to her four-year-old, who asked to rewatch.
Wild card
Good Will Hunting 1997
Not a baseball movie; in on the 'had to see about a girl' Fenway scene.
Sean Fennessey
Based on a true story
A League of Their Own 1992
The AAGPBL film; Penny Marshall, Hanks as Jimmy Dugan.
Comedy
Everybody Wants Some!! 2016
The elite baseball hangout movie; Linklater drawing on his own college playing days.
Drama
Sugar 2008
Boden and Fleck's Dominican-farmhand story; the most realistic minor-league portrait.
High concept
Rookie of the Year 1993
A 12-year-old throwing 104; Daniel Stern's directorial debut, deranged Gary Busey.
Kids movie
The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training 1977
Cash-grab sequel that works; William Devane as Kelly Leak's estranged dad, plus Astrodome footage.
Wild card
Baseball 1994
Ken Burns' nine-inning documentary, admitted as a wild card after debate.
Chris Ryan
Drama
Field of Dreams 1989
Emotional kryptonite; noted as closer to a horror movie about obsession than its poster suggests.
High concept
Night Game 1989
Roy Scheider chasing a serial killer who strikes during Astros night games. The draft's first real twist.
Based on a true story
Eight Men Out 1988
John Sayles on the Black Sox scandal; power and ownership, not romance.
Kids movie
Summer Catch 2001
PG-13 Cape Cod-league romance, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jessica Biel; taken as a loose kids/young-adult pick.
Wild card
Interstellar 2014
In purely for the dust-storm Yankees game; a deliberate wild-card stretch.
On the board, undrafted honorable mentions
Angels in the OutfieldLittle Big LeagueThe Pride of the YankeesFor Love of the GameFever PitchMillion Dollar ArmHardballBang the Drum SlowlyThe Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor KingsCobbThe Catcher Was a SpyMr. 3000The FanThe ScoutTrouble with the CurveGame 6Fear Strikes OutThe Slugger's WifeIt Happens Every SpringBrewster's MillionsSpeedyBASEketballMajor League IIThe Life and Times of Hank GreenbergThe LeagueUp for GrabsKnuckleball
Also mentioned raised along the way
Non-baseball films with a baseball scene, floated for wild card TwilightBoyhoodMy Best Friend's WeddingThe TownA Few Good MenDazed and ConfusedFerris Bueller's Day OffWar of the WorldsCasablancaGone with the WindPocahontasThe New WorldThe Naked GunAvengers: Endgame Encore
In passing Captain MarvelHalf NelsonMississippi GrindMonkey ManAny Given SundayThe Best of TimesEverybody's All-AmericanChasing LibertyFirst KidThe Princess Diaries 2: Royal EngagementBeethoven's 4thNational Lampoon's Barely LegalTop GunCarsF1Kill BillGhostbusters IIChildren of the CornJeepers CreepersMy Octopus TeacherMiami ViceStar WarsPrimetimeDiggerMr. Irrelevant
Not films filtered out: TV, games, ads
TV Masters of the AirDrive to SurviveSuccessionSex and the City
Web Channel 5
Games Guitar Hero
Ads State Farm