Play ball page 1

 play ball page 1 by ric gustafson

Why do we love baseball movies?. We are going to start with a baseball film that started it all. Before 1942, a serious attempt at a baseball film had never been done. In 1939, Hollywood producer Samuel Goldwyn bought the movie rights to the story of Lou Gehrig. Goldwyn knew nothing about baseball. The name of this film was to be called ' The Pride of the Yankees'.

' The Pride of the Yankees' was not going to be a typical baseball film. Based on the life of Lou Gehrig, integrity and decency. Gehrig, a talented young ballplayer, starts playing so he can take care of his immigrant parents. Gehrig eventually dominates the game and falls in love. A disease strikes him later in life. He does a wrenching ovation at Yankee Stadium. The actor playing Lou Gehrig was Gary Cooper.

The time was right for ' The Pride of the Yankees' to be a hit film. Preproduction had started in 1941. The US had not entered the war yet. Actress Elsa Jansson played Lou Gehrig's mother. His mother was Gehrig's biggest supporter. Actress Teresa Wright played Gehrig's wife.

research help: ' Baseball the Movie' by Noah Gittell

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric