Hit a HR With These Five Kid-Friendly Baseball Films

By Joanna Barber
Updated: May 19, 2010

: Cover of The Sandlot

Teaching kids about baseball can help mold lifelong fans of the game and it’s a wonderful experience to share with them. The allure of the game is fresh in their eyes and kids cheer with uninhibited enthusiasm, something I adore to see come from my six-year-old niece after I mention how well her favorite MLB player is doing.

While there is nothing like taking a kid to a major league stadium for the first time, getting kids to sit and watch nine innings of the game, especially on TV, is a challenge and not for the weak at heart. However, put in a good, kid-friendly baseball movie and you have a pretty decent shot at piquing their interest in the game. Try one the next time there is a rainy afternoon, or a rainout of your favorite team’s game. Unless you want to watch Finding Nemo for the 47th time.

The Sandlot (1993) – Rated PG
Every child should be so lucky to watch this movie, which teaches friendship, loyalty and a healthy dose of heckling. The setting of the game provides some excellent baseball history for kids and the characters will have them giggling for the entire movie.

In the below clip, our boys take on their arch rivals, The Tigers.

A League of Their Own (1992) – Rated PG
Throughout history there has been a lack of female figures in the game but this shouldn’t deter girls from baseball. A League of Their Own is fantastic to watch with girls who are around middle school age and it teaches baseball girl power – a major theme on my blog.

Of course, boys will love the movie too. And everyone will love Stillwell Angel, who is introduced in the clip below:

In the 90s, a slew of kids-in-baseball movies came out and I recall seeing each of the following in the theater with my family. On most levels these movies may entertain kids more than adults but there is definitely still an enjoyment factor in watching Danny Glover coach the Angels.

Angels In The Outfield (1994) – Rated PG
Three young friends, random B-list actors (Matthew McConaughey? Forgot he was in this!) and the promised angels in the outfield make from a cute movie with plenty of heart.

The 1954 movie of the same name centers around the Pirates and has two female lead characters. Guess Disney thought female characters couldn’t sell a kids’ baseball picture in 1994?

Check out the trailer below (I think I saw this DVD at Best Buy for less than the cost of a pack of gum so it could be worth buying for your own little angels):

Stock Photo

Little Big League (1994) – Rated PG
A tweenage boy inherits the Minnesota Twins from his grandfather and names himself the manager. Sounds like a recipe for hi-jinks! Actually, it is a pretty adorable movie that reminds us that “baseball was made for kids.”

Trailer can be viewed on IMDb

[image LittleBigLeague.jpg – photo credit Warner Bros]

Rookie of the Year (1993) – Rated PG
“Throw it back! Throw it back! Throw it back!”

Even though I was a fan of the other Chicago team as a kid, this Cubs-centric movie is a favorite. Daniel Stern plays a wacky pitching coach that kids will love and he also directed the movie that shows a 12 year old boy who can throw a 103 mph fastball.

Trailer: