Pre-War Character Movie Ideas...

[Harliduck]

So one of my favorite things to do when I am bored in my office or on the road is looking through threads here on this site and look for names of players I have never heard of, or know little about. When I see a name, I then love to Wikipedia them or google some of that players life story and learn. I love it. Last night I read about Tommy Leach and Bill Sunday after seeing their names in the "Favorite Card Thread".

A lot of these old time players led AMAZING lives, and did AMAZING things. It leads me to this question...wouldn't it be great to have a high budget Hollywood film about some of these legendary players?

Who would be your choice, and why, to make a movie about?


My first thought would be someone like Nap Lajoie and center it around the Chalmers batting title race and Nap's life. But there are SO many others...

[Sean]

I would make one about Christy Mathewson, Fred Merkle, and the 1908 National League pennant race.

And throw in Mike Donlin and the life that he led.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Moe Berg and it's not even close.

[Mdmtx]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Moe Berg and it's not even close.

+1

[Snapolit1]

Spitball pitcher Urban Shocker.

[Klrdds]

Moe Berg definitely
Satchel Paige
Ted Williams concentrating equally on his baseball career and his military experiences in both wars.

[Harliduck]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Moe Berg and it's not even close.

??

Cool, time to hit google. I've honestly not heard of him...


Edit to add - I have heard of him, and did read all about him when I was putting together a Goudey set. Just forgot his name...and yes...that would be a heck of a movie.

[Harliduck]

So wow...if you read the update to Moe Berg's Wikipedia page you get this -

In April 2016, it was announced that American actor Paul Rudd will portray Berg in an upcoming biographical drama film called The Catcher Was a Spy, based on the book of the same name. The film will be directed by Ben Lewin and is likely to be released in 2017.


Here is the link to the IMDB page-

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4602066/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

I like Paul Rudd, it will be interesting to see how they portray him as Rudd isn't the most serious actor. I'd more excited if say, Tom Hardy was playing him or someone like that. Either way, can't wait to see it.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Way back when I first heard his story I wanted to cast Bill Murray. Back then people thought I was nuts, now he gets a ton of respect as a serious actor. Plus he has a huge love affair with Baseball being part owner of a couple minor league teams. I guess you can figure out that I've been dying to see this movie made for rather a long time.

[esd10]

One of my ideas would be around addie joss from the view of his son and it would start right before he had gotten sick till after the death and first all star game. Another idea would be john mcgraw and focus on the 1904 season or another would be around the 1868-69 redlegs building of the team all the the way till the defeat by brooklyn.

[clydepepper]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Moe Berg and it's not even close.

Absolutely!

Now, let's have some fun...let's cast him!

Any Ideas?

.

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by Sean

I would make one about Christy Mathewson, Fred Merkle, and the 1908 National League pennant race.

And throw in Mike Donlin and the life that he led.

Sean,

As a Cubs fans, this would be relevant to my interests.

[Bocabirdman]

Larry McLean's story would make for a rowdy tale.

[margoaepi]

Ray Chapman!

[bbcard1]

How about the flip side of Ray Chapman? Carl Mays was an interesting player who had his share of demons.

For your next interesting player that few people know about, your assignment is Dan Litwhiler. He is the subject of a very good episode of the Eephus Podcast, which I guarantee is right up your alley and will be a fun diversion for you.

And for Moe Berg I like Adam Sandler. Actually the Eephus Podcast has a good episode on Moe Berg also.

[rhettyeakley]

Eddie Grant.

Be a bit of a sad story obviously but he was the Pat Tillman of his era.

[prewarsports]

Louis Sockalexis' story has everything. He even died dramatically clutching newspaper accounts of his glory days. The twists and turns of his life and ultimate tragedy would be turned down by a Hollywood studio as too much fantasy if it wasn't all true. His homer off Amos Rusie who was jeering his minority status while real life indians gave war chants from the crowd is one of the greatest moments in baseball history. This and his descending from the chief of his tribe are not even in the top ten of the coolest things in his life. I have been a student of the game for three decades and his story is so fantastic that it is still hard for me to believe he was a real person sometimes!

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by margoaepi

Ray Chapman!

How about a story about Ray Chapman and Carl Mays and how their lives intersected on that terrible day.