Big Leaguer

Cinema Monolith: 7/10
IMDb: 5.9/10
Radio Times Guide to Films: ** out of 5

Released on August 19, 1953
Not rated
71 minutes

Directed by Robert Aldrich

Written by Herbert Baker

Cast: Edward G. Robinson, Vera-Ellen, Jeff Richards, Richard Jaeckel, William Campbell, Paul Langton, Frank Ferguson, Carl Hubbell, Al Campanis, Bob Trocolor, Lalo Rios, Bill Crandall, Bing Russell

Wait, what’s this? A baseball romance drama starring Edward G. Robinson, Richard Jaeckel, and legendary Giants pitcher Carl Hubbell, that takes place in the February sunshine of coastal Florida? At an idyllic complex of baseball diamonds surrounded by trees and open sky, that would be considered heaven to every baseball-minded person on Earth? You bet it is, and no, the romance angle does not involve the three men mentioned above, thankfully, but is instead a sweet courtship between cute Vera-Ellen and shy, quiet ballplayer Jeff Richards.

However, in Big Leaguer that romance story runs a distant second; this movie is about baseball, through and through, and contrary to the title, it has nothing to do with the big leagues. A busload of college-age prospects arrive at the New York Giants tryout camp in Melbourne, Florida, intent on proving themselves to management and coaches in hopes of continuing on to the team’s spring training facility in Arizona. Tasked with teaching these young hopefuls is Hans Lobert, a tough but kindhearted former player who now spends his time coaching and scouting for the Giants.

Lobert’s niece Christy, an employee at the Giants’ home office in New York, soon arrives at the complex, and she brings some unfortunate news: Lobert’s job is on the line, and if he doesn’t produce, his coaching career may be over. Now, with that cloud hanging over his head, he and his staff open camp, with the story concentrating on a handful of prospects, all with varying backgrounds, attitudes, and skills. Which of these players will make the trip to Phoenix, and who will be cut and sent home? And will Hans prove to the higher-ups that he’s still worth keeping around, especially after his ragtag future Giants take on a sleek Dodgers rookie team in the big finale?

Being a fan of baseball, there was so much for me to enjoy about this film, I couldn’t help but give it high marks, on an emotional level as well as a technical one. As I’ve mentioned, I’m a stickler for authenticity in baseball movies, and Big Leaguer went all-out in that regard. Besides the overall look, location, and level of play, there were dozens of other touches that added realism, including dressing many of these rookies in their hometown college and semi-pro uniforms, and peppering the dialogue with references to real-life baseball, which included nods to Leo Durocher, the Polo Grounds, the Dodgers’ spring training site in Vero Beach, and even the lousy play of the current Pirates club!

This was director Robert Aldrich’s first film, before he went on to helm such well-known classics as Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, The Dirty Dozen, and The Longest Yard, and I thought he did an outstanding job, especially when it came to staging the action scenes on the field. I especially loved when he placed the camera behind home plate or the pitcher’s mound, where the entirety of the play could be watched: the pitcher’s windup and delivery, the batter making contact, and the ball either being scooped up by a fielder or dropping into the outfield for a base hit, all in one shot.

The actors and background players also contributed to making the action believable, in contrast to what you’d normally find in Hollywood productions like this. Robinson was great, as always, and though it was odd at first to see this one-time film gangster dressed in baseball attire, it didn’t take long at all to accept him in the role. The same goes for third-billed Richards, as third baseman Adam Polachuk, who looked smooth and accomplished on the field, and for good reason: before taking up acting, he was actually a player in the minor leagues, before an injury ended his short career.

For me, Big Leaguer was a quiet little winner all around, and though I can see where it would appeal more to a baseball fan than the average viewer, I still think it deserves a better endorsement than the dismissive Aldrich gave it during its release. Granted, there’s no real conflict—Jaeckel appears to be the antagonist, but he didn’t really do anything bad—and everyone treats each other well, and everything plays out happily in the end…and that’s okay. We need pleasant, good-natured films like this every now and then, just to give us a reprieve from the ones that aren’t.  (7/10)