PLAY BALL: BASEBALL AT THE MOVIES playballmoviepodcast

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 *Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.







 






 

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 *Discussions regarding current baseball news may be out of date.







 






 

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.

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.








 

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.

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.