Field of Dreams Team: Almost called up

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"

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.