THE ROOKIE
2002,
Buena Vista Pictures,
127 min,
USA,
Dir: John Lee Hancock
This heart-warming sports drama is based on the true story of Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid), a high school coach who’d had his shot playing baseball, blew out his shoulder, and retired without ever realizing his dream to play in the big leagues. In 1999 he made a bet with his perpetually losing team: If they won the district championship, Morris – who threw a 98 mph fastball – would try out for the majors. The team went from worst to first, and Jim was soon on the road to becoming the oldest rookie in the major leagues.