Name: Long Gone Summer
Director: AJ Schnack
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2020-06-14
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 5.9
Cast: Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Bob Costas, Ray Lankford, George Will

The summer America fell in love with baseball again—and the lie that almost killed it.

Watch(JP)

The summer America fell in love with baseball again—and the lie that almost killed it.

Watch(JP)

Nostalgia overdoseSlow-motion train wreckCathartic sports grief

Overview

Documentary

An examination of the 1998 MLB season and the home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. The two sluggers' race to hit the most home runs, later overshadowed by the steroid scandal, left a permanent mark on baseball history.

Content warning

chicago, illinois sports documentary baseball major league baseball (mlb)home run st. louis chicago cubs

The corruption of innocenceAmerican myth-making and collapsePerformance and authenticityCollective denial

Standout Aspects

Editing

Brutal juxtaposition of 1998 euphoria and 2005 congressional testimony.

Acting

McGwire's haunted present-day interviews vs. his cocky archival footage.

Best for:Solo·Friends·Rewatch

Heads up:Emotional

Director

AJ Schnack

ReleasedJun 14, 2020

Runtime2h

StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady

Intensitymedium

Tonemixed

Feelheavy

Top Cast

Sammy Sosa

Himself

Bob Costas

Himself

George Will

Himself

Ask about Long Gone Summer

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Director AJ Schnack originally planned a broader 1998 sports doc but narrowed to the home run chase after realizing the steroid story was the only one that mattered.

Cultural

The 1998 home race literally saved MLB after the 1994 strike killed fan goodwill—making the PED revelations a uniquely American betrayal of second chances.