JUST MISSED THE CUT Others under consideration for our "All-Star Team" of great performances in baseball movies:
Pitcher: Tim Robbins in "Bull Durham"; Tatum O'Neal in "Bad News Bears"; Jimmy Stewart in "The Monty Stratton Story"; David Straithairn in "Eight Men Out"; Dennis Quaid in "The Rookie"; Lori Petty in "A League of Their Own"; Billy Dee Williams in "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings"; Ronald Reagan in "The Winning Team"; Dan Dailey in "The Pride of St. Louis" ; Michael Moriarty in "Bang the Drum Slowly"
Catcher: Robert De Niro in "Bang the Drum Slowly"; Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham"
First base: Michael Rooker in "Eight Men Out"; Dennis Haysbert in "Major League"
Second base: Dermot Mulroney in "Long Gone"
Shortstop: Sam (Birmingham) Brison in "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings"
Third base: Corbin Bernsen in "Major League"
Left field: D.B. Sweeney in "Eight Men Out"
Center field: Jackie Earle Haley in "The Bad News Bears"; Thomas Jane in "61*"; Wesley Snipes in "Major League"
Right field: Barry Pepper in "61*"; Michael Madsen in "The Natural"
Manager: Trey Wilson in "Bull Durham"; John Mahoney in "Eight Men Out"; William Petersen in "Long Gone"; Wilford Brimley in "The Natural"
Bill Ward
DIAMOND GEMS A very subjective look at nine of the most popular baseball movies of all time:
"Bad News Bears"
What works: The kids are more than all right, and Walter Matthau is just right as their crusty mentor.
What doesn't: An uneven pace. The sequels that followed.
Score it: A stolen base, with spikes (and profanities) flying.
"Bang the Drum Slowly"
What works: Robert De Niro at his youthful best. A deftly written, wrenching saga, sweet and sad.
What doesn't: Not enough baseball.
Score it: A leisurely afternoon at the park, with a dramatic ending.
"Bull Durham"
What works: Crackling dialogue, realistic characters, cast chemistry, minor league trappings.
What doesn't: Tim Robbins' pitching delivery, especially when barely clothed.
Score it: Grand slam.
"Eight Men Out"
What works: Great performances all around, period details nailed on and off the field.
What doesn't: A few overly earnest or melodramatic moments.
Score it: Three-run homer.
"Field of Dreams"
What works: An endearing Kevin Costner performance. A sweet story, capped by a grand finale.
What doesn't: The annoying Amy Madigan, and some hokey moments.
Score it: RBI double, batter thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.
"A League of Their Own"
What works: Tubby Tom Hanks, snarky Jon Lovitz and spunky sisters Geena Davis and Lori Petty.
What doesn't: Madonna. A dumb and unnecessary urination gag.
Score it: A feisty victory followed by a tearful news conference.
"Major League"
What works: Rollicking humor. A team worth rooting for. The inimitable Bob Uecker.
What doesn't: Characters get a bit cardboard at times.
Score it: A wild pitch that beans the team owner.
"The Natural"
What works: Perfect casting, with Robert Redford as a hitter and Glenn Close as an angelic figure(!). Randy Newman's music.
What doesn't: The scenes with the batboy.
Score it: A mythic home run in a Pyrrhic victory.
"Pride of the Yankees"
What works: Gary Cooper at his Gary Cooper-est. Babe Ruth as himself. A gripping real-life story.
What doesn't: A lot of historical and continuity errors.
Score it: A solo, game-winning, career-ending homer.
BILL WARD