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Major League

1989
Posted By Andres Larranaga

Famed sports blog The Ringer calls Major League one of the best baseball movies of all-time. Some have even labelled the film as the most accurate movie based on the big leagues.

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About Major League

Released in April 1989 in the United States, Major League initially made waves for the amount of foul language that was used in the dialogue. Although commonplace nowadays, the language took some people aback over 30 years ago. Starring Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Corbin Bernsen, Major League is the story of a down and out big-league franchise, the Cleveland Indians, who are taken over by the former owner’s widow after his passing. A former Las Vegas showgirl, Rachel Phelps, played by Margaret Whitton, hates the city of Cleveland and wants to move the franchise to Miami. To accomplish this, she needs the team to draw fewer than 800,000 fans for their 81 games played at home during the season. Phelps gets the team’s general manager and executives to cull together some of the worst baseball players in the professional game and invites them to spring training.

 

Major League's Relation To Sport Business

One of the things that makes Major League so relatable is that it captures the essence of being a fan of a losing team. Cleveland is a working-class city and scenes portray citizens through discussing their team’s ups and downs, just like in real life. When the film was made, the Cleveland Indians were one of Major League Baseball’s worst franchises. They were simply terrible and far different than the team of today. Just like in the film, the Indians played in an old deteriorating stadium and struggled to draw fans to games. The film certainly fit the franchise making it relatable once more to anyone who watched it. When the film was released, the Indians hadn’t made it to the World Series in 35 years.

It also shows just how stressful and difficult life can be for a team’s executives working to put a team together. Charlie Donovan, played by Charles Cyphers, is Cleveland’s general manager having been promoted from the manager’s role. He knows Phelps’ plan and desire to lose baseball games. He is torn between doing his job as the GM and trying to actually win games. It is an internal conflict that many real-life sports executives feel. Do they do the job the owner of the team wants or do they work to achieve their own objectives? The GM has to put together a coaching staff and spring training playing roster all while being actively sabotaged by the team’s new owner. This isn’t fantasy as sports executives often find themselves working against those who own the teams.

Donovan’s job as GM of the Indians is to put together a team that can compete, but not look like the franchise is throwing games. Of course, he still brings together a group of talented players. The portrayal of Donovan piecing together the team isn’t too dissimilar to what a real sports GM must do. Of course, it is a little different nowadays, but at one time, GMs and talent scouts looked all over to find the best players at the right price to play. One of the film’s early scenes is Donovan calling around to invite players to spring training. One such player, veteran catcher Jake Taylor (Berenger), a former big-league star, is playing in the Mexican Baseball League. Struggling with alcohol and an ageing body, Taylor gets one last call up to the Show.

Major LeagueSport Industry Areas Touched

Major League Industry Endorsements

Major League has been suggested to us by sport industry professionals we talk to on a regular basis. See a list of those individuals below.

 Industry Professional  Organization  Position
Ryan Cameron Oklahoma State University Media Relations Coordinator
Stephen Yoo Toronto Blue Jays Pro Scout
Josh Goshin Miami HEAT Director of Game Presentation and Events
Andrea Di Nardo Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club Fan & Membership Services Executive
Zack Fisch Hershey Bears Manager of Media Relations & Broadcasting

Why watch Major League?

Major League belongs on The Shelf because it is a sports movie that showcases all aspects of the game like no other. Major League examines the relationships between front-office employees, owners, and the team. It does so much more than other baseball movies that simply want to tell an underdog story or coming of age tale. It shows the inner workings of a pro sports team in the form of a comedy with some very serious elements.

From the front office to the players to the fans, no other sports movie gets it this accurate. It showcases the conflicts of a GM and management when faced with ownership that has objectives of their own. While there are some plot holes, the film offers sports fans and those interested in working in sports some valuable lessons. 

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