10 Greatest Baseball Films Of All Time

Despite the film’s tendency to unnecessarily use creative licence throughout, Hollywood’s portrayal of the legendary Lou Gehrig is a noble and moving tribute to the former Yankee first baseman. Released only a year after Gehrig’s death from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, the film captures Gehrig’s rise from a working-class background to baseball stardom.

Starring Hollywood icons Gary Cooper and Teresa Wright, the film would receive eleven Oscar nominations at the 1943 Oscars. The film also features multiple acting contributions from Gehrig’s former Yankee teammates, including Bob Meusel, Bill Dickey and the legendary Babe Ruth!

Best Scene:

Lou Gehrig's "Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth" speech is regarded as one of the greatest in not only sporting history, but American history. With this in mind, it only makes sense that director Sam Wood's recreation of the speech is the most memorable moment of the film. To emphasise the emotional gravity of the moment, Wood visualises Gehrig's experiences of the iconic moment leading up to his speech on Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day, July 4th 1939.