6: The Sandlot

Note: Spring training has started. Opening day is 5 weeks away. I am convinced that there isn't any better place to spend a warm sunny April afternoon or June evening than at the ballpark, drinking a beer, eating a dog, and taking in a baseball game. Some people say the game moves too slow, but that is part of the experince. Talk to your friends. People watch. Slow down. Life goes by so fast, sometimes it's nice to stop and relax.

For me, it's Kauffman Stadium and the Royals. You can insert your favorite team and the experience is the same (except that your team may win a couple games).

So in honor of the start of baseball, I am going to recap the 6 best baseball movies. Ever. And no, no matter how much some of you argue, Fever Pitch won't make this list.

So today, its The Sandlot. It's hard to really slot this movie as it is more about life than baseball. It ranks right up there with Stand By Me and The Goonies in it's portrayal of friendship, responsibility, and just boys being boys.

Oh, those days of summer as a kid where I spent most of my time at the pool, playing baseball, football, dodgeball, riding bikes, etc, with friends. I was the perfect age. Old enough to know better but too young to care.

Such is life on The Sandlot

Who can forget The Beast, the fearsome dog that lurks behind the left field fence, "night baseball" on the only day of the year it is possibly (the 4th of July), getting banned from the pool in "Squints" pursuit of Wendy Peffercorn, campouts, losing a ball signed by "some lady named Baby Ruth", and just doing stuff kids do.

Is it a baseball movie? More or less.

But it's enough of a baseball movie to make the list.

You gotta love the exchanges like this...

[the Sandlot Kids and their arch-rivals come face-to-face]
Phillips: It's easy when you play with rejects and a fat kid, Rodriguez.
Benny: Shut your mouth, Phillips!
Ham Porter: What'd you say, crap face?
Phillips: You shouldn't be allowed to touch a baseball. Except for Rodriguez, you're all an insult to the game.
Ham Porter: Come on! We'll take you on, right here! Right now! Come on!
Sandlot Kids: Yeah!
Phillips: We play on a real diamond, Porter. You ain't good enough to lick the dirt off our cleats.
Ham Porter: Watch it, jerk!
Phillips: Shut up, idiot!
Ham Porter: Moron!
Phillips: Scab eater!
Ham Porter:Butt sniffer!
Phillips: Pus licker!
Ham Porter: Fart smeller!
Bertram: [sniffs] Ahh.
Philips: You eat dog crap for breakfast, geek!
Ham Porter: You mix your Wheaties with your mama's toe jam!
Sandlot Kids: Yeah!
Phillips: You bob for apples in the toilet! And you like it!
Ham Porter: You play ball like a giiirrrrrrrrl!
[entire group stands in shocked silence]
Phillips: What did you say?
Ham Porter: You heard me.
Phillips: Tomorrow. Noon, at our field. Be there, buffalo-butt breath.
Ham Porter: Count on it, pee-drinking crap-face!

Up next: You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curve ball.