Today is the Opening Day of the Major League Baseball season. Those who know me well know that I believe this should be a national holiday – that everyone should stay home from school or work and watch baseball today! But, alas, that will not be. However, I will make my annual trek to Kansas City for the Royals’ home opener. I’ll tailgate with three of my best friends from high school and we’ll cheer on the Royals with hearts confident that this will be the year! (You are know we are true fans, because who but true fans would continue to cheer for the Royals after all these years of disappointment.)
In honor of Opening Day and the start of a new season, here is my lists of the best baseball movies and the baseball songs. They aren’t in any particular order. Let me know what you think or what I may have missed …
Best Baseball Movies
The Natural (A little slow in spots, but the final home run is classic.)
A League of Their Own (Even if it is about girls, they can play the game.)
The Rookie (I love stories of people who got to fulfill their dreams.)
Bull Durham (Some of my more conservative friends will probably disagree, but it’s a great and funny baseball movie.)
The Sandlot (A little cheesy but brings back a lot of memories for those of us who spent our summers at ballparks or on schoolyards.)
Eight Men Out (Not every baseball movie is about just the good things and happy endings. Most Royals’ games don’t have either.)
Field of Dreams (Not sure of the metaphysics of it all, but James Earl Jones’ soliloquy on baseball is classic.)
Best Baseball Songs
Who’s on First – Abbott and Costello (A classic who can listen to and laugh at again and again)
A Song About Baseball – Bob Bennett (Wish I could have found this online. A great song on unconditional love set to a baseball theme. Worth the time to track down.)
Willie, Mickey, and the Duke (Talkin’ Baseball) – Terry Cashman (This song just got Cashman into Cooperstown. I couldn’t find a link to the original, so here is a link to the Tigers’ version.)
The Cheap Seats – Alabama (We love minor league baseball. Go Naturals – the team that gives us Royals fans hope!)
Centerfield – John Fogerty (Brings back memories of when I coached the Kiwanis Babe Ruth team. Don’t ask.)
Take Me Out to the Ballgame – Edward Meeker (A 1908 version of the baseball classic with verses I had never heard.)
What do you think? What have I missed?
2 comments:
From Bull Durham: Man that ball got outta here in a hurry. I mean anything travels that far oughta have a stewardess on it, don't you think?
I always laugh when Nuke sings, "... girls get woolly..." Such a funny movie.
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