12 Best Baseball Movies of All Time

'If you build it, he will come.' This magical-realist classic tells the story of an Iowa farmer who builds a baseball field in his cornfield, after which the ghosts of legendary players appear. Field of Dreams isn't a standard sports film but a moving story about fathers, sons and second chances.

Based on the true story of Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland A's, who built a competitive team on a tiny budget using statistics instead of instinct. With Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in top form, it's a smart, gripping sports film about thinking against the grain.

Robert Redford shines as Roy Hobbs, a mysterious player with a mythical past and a bat carved from a lightning-struck tree. It feels like an American legend, complete with grand drama, classic imagery and an iconic finale in which his home run shatters the stadium lights.

A sexy, sharply written mix of romance, comedy and sport. Kevin Costner plays a veteran minor league catcher tasked with mentoring a hotshot young pitcher (Tim Robbins), with Susan Sarandon completing the love triangle. Funny, raw and realistic, with some of the best dialogue in sports film history.

'There's no crying in baseball!' This film tells the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II, when many men were fighting overseas. With a great cast (Tom Hanks, Geena Davis, Madonna) and a gripping mix of humor and drama, it's a loving tribute to forgotten sports history.

A powerful, moving portrait of Jackie Robinson, the first African American player in modern Major League Baseball. Chadwick Boseman portrays Robinson with conviction, and Harrison Ford surprises as Branch Rickey, the executive who gave him his chance. An important film about courage, racism and perseverance.

For many, the ultimate baseball nostalgia. The film follows a group of kids who spend their summer on their local sandlot, full of mischief, first crushes and legendary mistakes. With iconic scenes and quotes ('You're killing me, Smalls!'), it's a heartwarming, timeless childhood classic.

A comedy about a bunch of misfit underdogs on the Cleveland Indians, assembled by an owner who hopes they'll fail so she can move the team. Of course, this unlikely team rises above itself. A true feel-good film full of humor, iconic characters and ballpark magic, including Charlie Sheen as 'Wild Thing'.

A tragic chapter in baseball history: the 1919 Black Sox scandal, in which eight Chicago White Sox players were accused of deliberately losing the World Series. John Sayles' film is historically careful and morally complex, with strong performances and a sober atmosphere.

Based on the true story of Jim Morris, a high school teacher and coach who made it to the Major Leagues at 35. Dennis Quaid brings great warmth to this inspiring film about dreams you're never too old to chase.

An introspective baseball film with Kevin Costner as aging pitcher Billy Chapel, who reflects on his life and loves while pitching what may be the last game of his career. A quiet, almost philosophical sports film about sacrifice, love and saying goodbye, with a beautifully filmed perfect game.

A romantic comedy about love and fandom in which a diehard Boston Red Sox fan (Jimmy Fallon) has to balance his relationship with his baseball obsession, during the season the Red Sox finally broke their curse. Lighter than the other films on this list, but it captures exactly what sport can mean to people in their daily lives.