10. THE BAD NEWS BEARS (1976)

What can you say about Walter Matthau's turn as the coach to a group of little league misfits. It's one of those classic films that can't be touched (as proven by Richard Linklaiter's try at remaking it with Billy Bob Thornton). Matthau is the perfect grumpy coach, and the foul-mouthed kids in "Bad News Bears" introduced a new form of comedy into the Hollywood system. I wonder if we'd have "South Park" or "Bad Santa" had the "Bad News Bears" never existed? Regardless, it's one of the funniest movies ever made, let alone baseball movies.

USELESS TRIVIA COURTESY IMDB.COM: The script was written by Bill Lancaster, son of legendary actor Burt Lancaster. The role of the coach was based on Burt's grumpy nature while coaching Bill's little league team.

9. LITTLE BIG LEAGUE (1994)

I know I'm going to catch some heat for this one, but I'll take it. Not to be confused with the TERRIBLE "Rookie of the Year," "Little Big League" is my ultimate guilty pleasure. I'll admit to probably watching it more times than many films on this list. It's about a young boy who inherits the Minnesota Twins. Being somewhat of a prodigy when it comes to memorizing and understanding baseball statistics, he makes himself the manager. It's one of those movies that makes you smile, and considering it's about a kid manager of a major league ballclub, it's almost realistic. I said ALMOST, alright? Plus, what's better than seeing then Seattle Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. rob a home run ball....or Mariner Randy Johnson coming out of the pen to close out a game? And what about that awesome mullet?! That thing is priceless!

USELESS TRIVIA: Real-life Twins announcer John Gordon plays the film's broadcaster Wally Holland.

8. 61* (2001)

The only "made-for-TV" movie to make my list. "61*" chronicles the battle between Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle - both men on a quest to break Babe Ruth's single season home run record. It's a great example of how the media can manufacture the perfect story. Maris (Barry Pepper) is the misunderstood bad guy, soft-spoken and shut off, alienating the gossipy press. Mantle (Thomas Jane), on the other hand, is the golden boy of baseball with a legion of fans cheering each dinger. In actuality they were good friends, and the scene where Maris breaks the record is priceless. In case you missed this one, here's the trailer for you:

USELESS TRIVIA: This was the third film directed by Billy Crystal ("Forget Paris," "Mr. Saturday Night"). Easily his best work.

7. THE SANDLOT (1993)

"The Sandlot" sums up what it feels like to be a kid. Sure it's about baseball, but it's also about growing up and the strange things that happen along the way. There are so many classic moments in this movie. Check out my favorite scene from the film, the best campaign against tobacco the movies have ever seen:

USELESS TRIVIA: The dog "Hercules" is an English Mastiff.

6. THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES (1942)

One of the old classics about Lou Gehrig. Not much more to say than see it if you haven't already. I still get choked up during the final sequence, especially considering the struggles Lou would go on to have with ALS - a disease which would eventually take his name. Here's the moment:

USELESS TRIVIA: In real life, Gary Cooper was not a baseball fan. He needed lots of extra training to be passable as Lou Gehrig.

5. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (1992)

There's no crying in baseball! The real-life story of the All American Pro Girls League features the all-star cast of Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna, Rosie O'Donnell, and more. It's one of those great movies that features so many interesting, likable characters. Even the villains of the film are likable. I'd post the classic scene, but unfortunately Hanks drops the S-bomb, prohibiting me from doing so! Thanks Tom!

USEFULL TRIVIA: If you live in the Chicago area, take a drive out to Rockford sometime and visit the Midway Village & Museum Center's "Girls of Summer" exhibit. It's a detailed walk-through of the old Rockford Peaches chronicled in the film. More on that here.

4. THE NATURAL (1984)

Not much you can say about Robert Redford's interpretation of Roy Hobbs, the classic ballplayer from Bernard Malamud's "The Natural." An everyday guy becomes a major league hero with the help of some courage and a magic bat named Wonderboy. If you get a chance, I highly recommend reading the original short novel. It goes in a few different directions, especially in the end. But the film's conclusion works well in its own way:

USELESS TRIVIA COURTESY IMDB.COM: The scene where Hobbs breaks the scoreboard clock with a home run was inspired by Bama Rowell of the Boston Braves. He doubled off of the Ebbets Field scoreboard clock on May 30, 1946...showering Dixie Walker with glass.

3. MAJOR LEAGUE (1989)

This is one of those movies that pops up on a Sunday afternoon and you end up watching it all the way through. The basement dwelling Cleveland Indians try to win a pennent before they're shipped out of town. The team features an aging veteran (Tom Berenger), a young punk (Charlie Sheen), an ego-maniac who doesn't live up to his own hype (Wesley Snipes), a pretty boy (Corbin Bernsen), a strange foreigner (Dennis Haysbert), and a wise cracking announcer (Bob Eucker).

My father owned a copy of this when I was about 11 years old, and when the parents weren't around, it was on repeat in the ol' VCR. I almost shaved my side burns like Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn. Notice I said "almost." Even I had some common sense back in the early '90s.

Here's practically the only thing I can show you from the film. Gotta love the excessive slow motion (like we don't know where it's going, right?):

USELESS TRIVIA: The home games for the film's Cleveland Indians were shot in Milwaukee at the old Milwaukee Country Stadium. If you look carefully during the season-opener scene, you can see an ad in the outfield featuring the Brewers' old "mitt and ball" logo. OOPS!

2. BULL DURHAM (1988)

Too bad I can't show you any clips. I mean, these baseball movies are filthy...but this one takes it to another level! Susan Sarandon plays a minor league baseball groupie of sorts who works her way around the Durham Bulls. Kevin Costner is an aging veteran assigned to help mature the team's wild young pitcher, Tim Robbins. Both end up involved with the groupie...hilarity ensues. Easily the best movie about small town baseball, less about the Bulls winning a championshiop, more about the way players conduct themselves off the field. Forget just "baseball movies" - "Bull Durham" is one of the best overall comedies of the last 30 years.

USELESS TRIVIA COURTESY IMDB.COM: Actor Kurt Russell helped real-life minor leaguer Ron Shelton develop "Bull Durham's" script. Russell, a former minor-league ballplayer himself, was penciled in to play the role before it went to Costner.

1. FIELD OF DREAMS (1989)

Hands down the most original baseball film ever - and by far the best. Kevin Costner is perfect as Ray Kinsella, a regular farmer who one day hears a voice telling him to build a baseball field in his backyard. Suddenly the ghosts of the Black Sox appear on the field. To this day, if I see this film the entire way through, the scene below makes me tear up like a little girl. Enjoy:

USELESS TRIVIA COURTESY IMDB.COM: Tom Hanks was originally offered the role of Ray Kinsella but turned it down. OOPS!

So did I leave anything off the list? Be sure to let me know!