Friends,

A League of Their Own was one of my favorite childhood movies. It fell right in the middle of the golden era of baseball movies, a genre unto itself thanks to a decade starting in the mid-80s. The movie is a real touch of Americana. The casting, music, and filmography are all excellent. And the closing credits are probably the greatest credits, replete with "This Used to Be Our Playground," ever scrolled.

Before getting to the top ten scenes from the film, I first want to share my Top 10 baseball movies:

10. Bang the Drum Slowly
9. The Natural
8. Everybody Wants Some
7. Angels in the Outfield
6. The Pride of the Yankees
5. The Rookie
4. Bull Durham
3. Major League
2. A League of Their Own
1. Field of Dreams

TulaneLSU's Top 10 scenes from A League of Their Own:

10. Stilwell takes a glove to the face

The manager gets fed up with Stilwell's nagging "you're gonna lose, you're gonna lose." The glove quiets him.

9. Nod to black female baseball players

Watching the movie now, one notices the lack of any black characters. There is one scene where a black woman picks up a ball and impressively throws it to Ms. Davis as if to say, "I'm as good as you, if not better."

8. Marla's rendition of "It Had to Be You"

Marla was raised by her father and has no womanly graces or looks. No man has ever noticed her before. Indeed, even the scout wants to overlook her due to her lack of graces. That all changes one night when Nelson gives her his focus all while she makes a fool of herself on stage.

7. Closing scene in Cooperstown

All the girls are gathered and singing, "We're the members of the All American team..." It's a stirring ending.

6. Betty Spaghetti gets the telegraph

Until this point, Jimmy Dugan has been a worthless drunk. But when the dispatcher fumbles through with technicalities, Dugan steps up and delivers the sad news to poor, poor Betty Spaghetti.

5. Jimmy Dugan's urinal scene

It may be crass, but there is something about this scene that is unforgettable.

4. Dottie and Kit reconciling

The movie's theme rotates around the relationship between these sisters (are they blood sisters?). What a beautiful scene at the end once Kit can put behind her the jealousy and rebellion she feels against her sister. And perhaps Dottie is able to get over her own quiet arrogance.

3. Dugan and Dottie vie for control

Until this point, Dottie was the chosen leader, as Dugan stumbles from point to point under the influence of alcohol. Dugan's redemption starts with Betty Spaghetti's telegram, but this is the scene where we see life return to him. And ultimately, his coaching is superior to Dottie, who wanted the team's best hitter to bunt.

2. Dottie and Kit showdown at the plate

The climax of the film. Does Dottie make the catch? Or does Kit score the winning run?

1. Crying? There's no crying in baseball!

One of the great scenes in all of cinema.

Faith, Hope, and Love,
TulaneLSU

This post was edited on 5/16/20 at 4:37 pm