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Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins are joined by Chris Ryan and Mallory Rubin for a baseball movie draft on The Big Picture. The hosts and guests discuss their favorite films across categories including comedy, drama, high concept, based on a true story, kids movie, and a wild card. Along the way, they debate the status of baseball in pop culture, the unique pain of supporting a major league team, and memorable cinematic performances.
Throughout the conversation, participants analyze classics like Bull Durham, Moneyball, Field of Dreams, and A League of Their Own while also highlighting unexpected choices such as Night Game and the monkey-starring comedy Ed. The episode combines nostalgic reminiscing about 1990s baseball cinema with passionate arguments about sports fandom, player achievements, and the cinematic qualities of America's pastime.
Conversation about why there are relatively few baseball films and the limited pool of high‑quality options.
The panel outlines the draft categories—drama, comedy, kids, high‑concept, wild card—and how picks will be made.
Participants reveal their first‑round choices, debate the best picks, and establish the draft order.
Debate over whether Moneyball changed the appetite for baseball movies and how it influenced modern storytelling.
The group selects iconic films like Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, and Major League, discussing their significance.
The hosts pick A League of Their Own and other beloved titles, reflecting on personal memories and cultural impact.
Final picks include Field of Dreams, Major League, and Everybody Wants Some, wrapping up the draft.
The episode concludes with reflections on the draft, future baseball film prospects, and thanks to listeners.
The hosts discuss how Richard Linklater’s upbringing at Sam Houston State informs the authentic depiction of a Texas college baseball team in the film.
The conversation turns to the character of Wyatt Russell, highlighting his musical influences and the reveal of his age and departure from the team.
The group debates picking the 1993 film Sandlot, recalling childhood memories and its ensemble cast’s impact.
A lively discussion about whether The Natural qualifies as a high‑concept baseball movie based on its mythic and magical qualities.
Mallory Rubin shares how she and her husband play catch inside their home using indoor-friendly balls while watching sports.
Discussing the Pain of Fandominsight
Mallory Rubin describes how investing in a baseball team mirrors real-life relationships with its distinct highs and lows.
The Hollywood Storybook Seasonstrategy
The hosts discuss how the Philadelphia Phillies' season has the makings of a Hollywood baseball story if they get hot at the right time.
The 90s Boom in Baseball Filmsdata
Sean Fennessey explains why the early 1990s produced so many youth-focused baseball movies that created a new generation of fans.
Drafting Bull Durham First Overallstrategy
Mallory Rubin selects Bull Durham with the first overall pick, calling it one of her favorite movies ever made.
Field of Dreams Emotional Impactinsight
Chris Ryan notes that Field of Dreams is his emotional kryptonite and contains some of the hardest cries in cinema.
Selecting Night Gameinsight
Chris Ryan makes a surprising draft pick by choosing the 1989 thriller Night Game starring Roy Scheider.
Ken Burns Baseball as Wild Carddebate
Sean Fennessey defends selecting the multi-disc Ken Burns documentary series Baseball as a wild card pick.
“Bull Durham is not only my favorite baseball movie, and my favorite sports movie, it's one of my three favorite movies, like, ever.”
“The reason why it felt like the 90s was this boom time, for me specifically, is because there's a period between 1992 and 1996 where they're making a ton of baseball movies for kids.”
“The Wyatt Russell character in this movie is one of the greatest creations in modern movie history.”
“Satan is in Damn Yankees.”
“I have on my camera roll, as I've said on rewatchables before, about 5,000 pictures of Kevin Costner smelling his glove in that movie.”
“Ed is about a baseball-playing monkey.”
“I think not a lot of people.”
Batter up! Sean and Amanda are joined by Chris Ryan and Mallory Rubin to draft some of their favorite movies focused on one of their biggest shared interests: baseball. They break down what makes baseball movies so special, explain the new (and somewhat controversial) categories, and, most importantly, draft. (0:00) Intro (1:19) Why baseball movies are the best sports movies (17:27) The categories and draft order (25:11) The Baseball Movie Draft (1:29:47) Honorable mentions and draft recap Hosts: Sean Fennessey and Amanda Dobbins Guests: Chris Ryan and Mallory Rubin Producer: Jack Sanders Production Support: Lucas Cavanagh Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the Personal Price Plan®. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there®. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
20,738 words · 8 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
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