Major League Baseball is right around the corner, and as snow gives way to chirping birds, the smell of the game will soon rise through the air in Anytown, USA. With pitchers and catchers scheduled to report within the next week or so, here are the best Netflix and chill baseball movies.
I realize some of you might not know the expression, “Netflix and chill,” as this is a somewhat new term being thrown around younger crowds. To explain, we’ll jump over to the Urban Dictionary and get their definition.
In searching Netflix there are several baseball movies that will tickle anyone’s fancy… no sexual innuendos implied… While not every baseball movies is a blockbuster (see Major League: Back to the Minors) there are a couple of honorable mentions that certainly are good flicks to catch when you aren’t trying to seal the deal.
The critically acclaimed 30 for 30 documentary series on ESPN is well represented on Netflix, and there are a bunch of docs that are well worth your time.
Fernando Nation – The story of how Fernando Valenzuela went from Mexican leagues to be a dominate pitcher for the LA Dodgers.
House of Steinbrenner – The uncanny personality of the New York Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner.
Brothers in Exile – How half-brothers Livian and Orlando Hernandez helped pave the way for future Cuban baseball players coming to the Major Leagues.
Little Big Men – Story of a Little League World Series team led by Cody Webster and how they defied the odds, and created a national story when beating the Taiwanese team.
Four Days in October – The story of the 2004 Boston Red Sox and their improbable comeback against the New York Yankees.
Jordan Rides the Bus – When NBA legend Michael Jordan retired from basketball he pursued his and his father’s other dream, becoming a professional baseball player.
Other motion pictures include;
Hardball – similar story to Mighty Ducks but with Keanu Reeves playing the shrewd adult that has to coach a little league team then learns valuable life lessons.
Knuckleball! – telling the story of baseball’s most prehistoric pitch, the knuckleball by following the dinosaurs that still throw it.
Now that the honorable mentions are out of the way, its now time to get yourself ready for baseball with your most special partner, here are the top Netflix and chill baseball movies.
The Perfect Game
The Perfect Game is a movie based on the true story of a Mexican little league baseball team set out to beat the odds. The movie stars Cheech Marin (yes from the Cheech and Chong flicks) and shows tells the story of the improbable odds of a team from an unprivileged town in Mexico coming to America and achieving their wildest dreams.
Your partner will love that you are sensitive to children and the plights of others from less fortunate backgrounds, and if you shed a tear or two out of the “genuine happiness” you feel for the young lads, you might get a Netflix and chill double feature.
30 for 30: The Day the Series Stopped
The Day the Series Stopped is a look into the Battle of the Bay World Series between the San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics in 1989, and the incredible earthquake that shook the bay forever. The incredible footage of the game, as well as the aftermath around the area is something to behold.
All while your partner is seeing just how small and insignificant we all are in this world, it will give you a chance to hold each other close. Only this time when thee earth is moving under her feet, its because you are doing the work.
30 for 30: You Don’t Know Bo
There was a wildly successful ad campaign by Nike in the 1990’s, “Bo Knows.” This documentary tells you the story of Bo Jackson, and you soon realize… You Don’t Know Bo. The story of the marketing of athletes, the expectations that are sometimes fairly and unfairly cast upon them, the childhood stories of almost superhero like lore. This is certainly one to watch.
Bo is bigger than life, which could get your partner to start thinking of how much bigger (feel like I crossed the line of the corny late night infomercials peddling certain supplements…) and get her curious. What a perfect time to begin a triathlon of your own.
Major League
Major League is a story of an ex-con, Ricky Vaugh, joining a team filled of misfits to defy all odds in the baseball world. Fittingly they play for the Cleveland Indians, a team that haven’t won since 1948. The misfits somehow come together to spoil their owners attempt to lose so she can move the team to Miami, for greener and warmer temperatures.
The raunchy film will be perfect to get your partner’s inner bad girl out.
A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own is the story of the woman that stepped up to play baseball during World War II. The first woman’s baseball league began to catch the attention of baseball fans as some of their favorite stars had joined the armed forces during the time of war. As manager Jimmy Dugan tries to make his way back into baseball circles, and sisters Dottie Hinson and Kat Keller’s rivalry spill into the clubhouse, as well as the secondary stories of the other gals on the team, make this a great Netflix and chill movie.
If we were voting on the best baseball movies on Netflix, this might take a backseat to Major League, but when you want to Netflix and chill this has a rightful seat at the top of the list.
