A chronicle of Babe Ruth's phenomenal story--from his hard knock beginnings at a Baltimore orphanage, to his meteoric rise to baseball superstardom and his poignant retirement from the game. His amazing career included seven American League pennants, four World Series championships, two tempestuous marriages and a wild lifestyle that earned him numerous suspensions.
Acting
Goodman captures Ruth's boyish charm and private sadness
Practical Effects
Charming old-school stadium recreation, no CGI needed
Director
Arthur Hiller
John Goodman
Babe Ruth
Kelly McGillis
Claire Ruth
Trini Alvarado
Helen Ruth
Randy Steinmeyer
Ty Cobb
James Cromwell
Brother Mathias
Michael McGrady
Lou Gehrig
Richard Tyson
Guy Bush
Joseph Ragno
Miller Huggins
Ralph Marrero
Frank 'Ping' Bodie
Bernard Kates
Colonel Jack Ruppert
Stevie Lee
Eddie the Bat Boy
Bruce Boxleitner
Jumpin' Joe Dugan
Peter Donat
Frazee
J.C. Quinn
Jack Dunn
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
John Goodman gained thirty pounds for the role and did his own batting, though the home runs were assisted with camera tricks.
Released the same year as A League of Their Own, this film helped spark a brief 1990s baseball nostalgia boom—but critics preferred the women playing fictional ball to this reverent male mythologizing.
US
