Five Baseball Documentaries That Are Worth a Watch

By Alex Larsen
Updated: April 26, 2022

Baseball is often referred to as America’s Favorite Pastime, and for good reason. Major League Baseball is one of the biggest sports organizations in the country, being worth an upward of a billion dollars. The game is one of the most popular when it comes to streaming and attendance, and baseball players are some of the most renowned athletes in the country. In many ways, baseball is the sport most commonly associated with the United States, more so even than American Football. So, it isn’t surprising that, when it comes to a sport this entrenched into American popular culture, that numerous documentaries have been produced in regards to the game. Let us take a look at a few baseball documentaries that all baseball fans should take a look at.

The Battered Bastards of Baseball

A truly fascinating documentary, taking a look at the defunct minor league baseball team, the Portland Mavericks. The Portland Mavericks were owned by actor Bing Russel, and worked as an independent team, without affiliation to a Major League parent team. While not as popular as the Major League, minor league baseball is hugely popular in the USA, especially in the world of betting. Online betting sites like Novibet see quite a bit of traffic when it comes to placing bets on minor league matches.

Fastball

For those who don’t believe that a documentary can be made about anything, check out Fastball. The film is solely focused on the fastball, the most popular pitch in baseball. Narrated by Kevin Costner, who is himself a long-time baseball fan, the documentary manages to make the concept of throwing balls fast really engrossing.

The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg

Hank Greenberg was the first Jewish player to ever compete in the Major League. Nicknamed the Hebrew Hammer, Hammerin’ Hank and Hankus Pankus, Hank Greenberg is commemorated into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and in his time was given the MVP Award on two occasions. This documentary follows his life, looking at his accomplishments and his struggles with anti-Semitism. A must-watch for any fan of baseball history.

Koshien: Japan’s Field of Dreams

Baseball is surprisingly popular in Japan. In fact, it is the most popular sport, along with Sumo and Football. In this documentary, Ema Ryan Yamazaki follows the coach of a high school baseball team on their journey to win the National High School Baseball Championship. Koshien is a great watch for those interested to see how cultures other than the USA experience America’s Favorite Pastime.

No No: A Documentary

Dock Ellis is one of the most famous and controversial figures in the world of baseball. While he was one of the best players in his time, he also was met with constant criticism over his substance abuse problems. The documentary follows Dock’s life, delving deep into his substance abuse problems, as well as his baseball career, placing special emphasis on the no-hitter he threw while high on LSD in 1970.