PITCHER: CHARLIE SHEEN

Ricky (Wild Thing) Vaughn in "Major League"

The raffish reliever made the girls' hearts sing and the ball zing in the LOL-est baseball movie ever.

CATCHER: GEENA DAVIS

Dottie Hinson in "A League of Their Own"

Her deft portrayal of one of the film's only likable, non-buffoonish characters made it easy to root for her.

FIRST BASEMAN: GARY COOPER

Lou Gehrig in "Pride of the Yankees"

Strong, silent, statuesque and superb in the role, Coop was born to portray the tragic Yankees hero.

SECOND BASEMAN: WILLIAM O'LEARY

Jimmy in "Bull Durham"

His wide-eyed, Bible-quoting, groupie-marrying naïf was a nice counterpoint to his cynical mates.

SHORTSTOP: CHRISTOPHER BARNES

Tanner Boyle in "Bad News Bears"

Ah, not-so-sweet youth! This foulmouthed, foe-tripping, pint-sized kid was the Baddest of the Bears.

THIRD BASEMAN: JOHN CUSACK

Buck Weaver in "Eight Men Out"

In his first "adult" role, Cusack was the conscience of an earnest but riveting film featuring a fabulous cast.

LEFT FIELDER: RICHARD PRYOR

Charlie Snow in "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings"

A breakout role for the comedian, playing a character also known as Carlos Nevada and Chief Takahoma.

CENTER FIELDER: ANTHONY PERKINS

Jimmy Piersall in "Fear Strikes Out"

Warming up for his "Psycho" turn, Perkins nailed the role of this (real-life) talented but tortured soul.

RIGHT FIELDER: ROBERT REDFORD

Roy Hobbs in "The Natural"

The very definition of a signature role: Try to imagine anyone else as the über-talented, star-crossed Hobbs.

MANAGER: TOM HANKS

Jimmy Dugan in "A League of Their Own"

There is crying at baseball movies -- but not on the field, at least according to this besotted taskmaster.

FAN/GROUPIE: SUSAN SARANDON

Annie Savoy in "Bull Durham"

Oh, my. She adroitly came across as smart and tough on the outside but sweet and soft on the inside.

Criteria: These actors must have played important if not pivotal characters, with bonus points for a career performance. Only one "player" per movie.

BILL WARD