The Natural

The film "The Natural" was made in 1984. The movie came from the 1952 baseball novel written by Bernard Malamud. This is my all time favorite baseball movie.

Directed by Barry Levinson, the film starred Robert Redford as Roy Hobbs. An aging baseball player who has great natural baseball talent.

The Natural was nominated for four Academy Awards. Glenn close for Best Supporting Actress, Caleb Deschanel for Best Cinematography, Mel Bourne for Best Art Direction and Randy Newman for Best Music. Kim Basinger was also nominated for Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actress.

A young Roy Hobbs lives on a farm where his father teaches him to play baseball. The Elder Hobbs dies suddenly under a tree in the family's back yard. After lightening splits the tree open, Roy carves his own bat from the tree wood. He burns a lightening boly on it and the name "Wonder Boy".

When Roy is 19 years old, he is traveling by train with scout Sam Simpson to have a tryout with the Chicago Cubs. While on the train they meet a Babe Ruth-like character named the Whammer, played by Joe Don Baker, who is Major League Baseball's greatest hitter. They also meet reporter Max Mercy.

The train stops at a carnival where Roy Hobbs is challenged to strike out the Whammer. He does just that.

Roy also meets Harriet Bird. A quiet, sullen woman played by Barbara Hershey. She takes to Roy after the strike out and lures him to her hotel room where she shoots him, then commits suicide by jumping out the window.

Time jumps ahead sixteen years and the 35 year old Hobbs is signed by the New York Knights. The Knights manager Pop Fisher, played by Wilford Brimley, is upset that they sent him a 35 year old rookie and refuses to play Hobbs.

But during the next game, Roy pinch hits and lierally knocks the cover off the baseball. Later when right fielder Bump Bailey dies, crashing through the outfield fence, Hobbs becomes the starting right fielder.

As Roy continues to smash home runs, the Knights begi to win and start moving up in the standings. This prompts Max Mercy, played by Robert Duvall, to look into Roy's past.

Little does Roy know that Pop Fisher has an agreement with principle owner, "The Judge". If the Knights don't win the pennant, Pop's share of the team goes to the Judge.

The Judge tries to bribe Hobbs to throw the games, but Roy fefuses, so the Judge comes up with another plan.

Gambler Gus Sands, played by Darren McGaven, and the Judge send Pop's niece Memo Paris, played by Kim Basinger, to seduce Hobbs. She accomplished her mission. Roy starts a relationship with Memo and stays out late. His play begins to suffer.

After discovering the plan, Roy begins to hit agin, but suffers from the old gunshot wound. Doctors warn him thay he might die if he plays baseball. But he plays anyway.

The Knights must beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in a one game playoff. During the game, Iris, played by Glenn Close, who is Roy's girlfriend from home, sends a letter down to Roy to let him know that she and Roy's son are in the crowd.

The Knights are behind in the ninth inning withe runners on base when Hobbs comes to bat

The Pirates bring in a young, flame throwing lefty to get Hobbs out. With two strikes, Roy's old injury begins to bleed. The catcher sees this and calls for a fast ball. Roy hits it deep to right but foul. As he comes back to home plate he realizes that "Wonder Boy" is split in half. So Bobby the bat boy brings him another bat. It's "Savoy Special". The bat Roy helped Bobby make.

As Roy gets back into the batter's box, Iris stands up in the crowd. Roy can sense it but can't see her. He swings at the next pitch and sends it high and deep.

The ball smashes through the lights and send sparks cascading all over the field. The Knights have won the pennant.

The final scene shows the ball still traveling through the night sky. Then shows Roy, Iris and their son playing catch.

Most of the baseball scenes were filmed at New York's former minor league War Memorial Stadium.

The Natural Collectible Baseball