What do Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, a Honus Wagner baseball card and the Boston Renegades have in common? All of these subjects will be part of the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame Film Festival in Cooperstown during the last weekend of September. Read that again…the BASEBALL HALL OF FAME FILM FESTIVAL!
The Renegades: A beep Ball Story produced by best ever dog films has been selected to participate in the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame Film Festival in Cooperstown, NY on Saturday, September 28th at 10:00am. 2013 will mark the 8th year the Hall of Fame has had a film festival and will feature 11 films with a theme all about baseball. Tickets can be reserved from the baseball hall of fame with a pass to the museum for the day. Space is limited as the Bullpen theater seats less than 60 people.
” My childhood dream was to be a professional baseball player and to be in the baseball hall of fame. That dream died when my high school baseball coach cut me during first cuts during my junior year. I had an amazing try-out. I hit a triple in a scrimmage game, I played outfield and 2nd base, I did everything right..and I still did not make it past the first cut. When I asked why? The coach replied, “I don’t want any Juniors on the team”. I then started a short career in baseball in 1993 with Major League Baseball in the Arizona Fall League, but that dream died with the strike in 1994. For my Beepball team and my hard work to be selected to show at the Hall of Fame is a dream come true for me. I know I’m not “in” the Hall of fame, but some of the people there know who we are. On Saturday, the Renegades and the Clancy’s will feel like a hall of famer…even if its just for a few hours. I am so excited for the team and the producers of the film for this great honor and opportunity. It will be a day those who attend will never ever forget. My coach may have cut me, the strike forced me out of baseball, but after 12 years of coaching and with the help of others we all made our mark in baseball history” – Rob Weissman
Here is the schedule of movies that will show at the event.
Friday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m., Grandstand Theater
42 (128 min.)
In 1946, Branch Rickey (Harrison Ford) put himself at the forefront of history when he signed Jackie Robinson (Chadwick Boseman) to the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking Major League Baseball’s infamous color line. But the deal also put both Robinson and Rickey in the firing line of public, press and even other players. Facing unabashed racism from every side, Robinson was forced to demonstrate tremendous courage and restraint by not reacting in kind, knowing that any incident could destroy his and Rickey’s hopes. Instead, Number 42 let his talent on the field do the talking – ultimately winning over fans and his teammates, silencing his critics, and paving the way for others to follow.
Session 1
Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m., Bullpen Theater
Cards Against the Wall (9 min.)
“Cards Against a Wall” celebrates the lives of three of the greatest names in baseball. Shoeless Joe Jackson, Van Lingle Mungo and Bobo Newsom may not be in the Hall of Fame but the three have memorable names. And all three were South Carolinians. Storyteller Alex Sanders takes us back to the golden age of baseball when big league ballplayers made big impressions. And these S.C. ballplayers were special on and off the ball field. Directed by Tim Fennell, produced by Dave Brown, Tim Fennell, Brooks Quinn. Based on a short story by Alex Sanders.
The Renegades: A Beep Ball Story (72 min.)
“The Renegades: A Beep Ball Story” is about the awe-inspiring sport of beep ball that has blind athletes hitting baseballs and diving headlong into the bases. Beyond the games, it’s about the people and their stories. The film looks at hope, heartache and what it means to play as a team. We see what it’s like at home and at work for some players and find why the team’s only female player can’t get enough of this sport. Mix in a fierce New York/Boston rivalry, an international World Series, the drama of a particular player’s hopes of making the team and a coach whose style can only be described as “tough love” and you have non-fiction entertainment at its best.
Session 2
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2 p.m., Bullpen Theater
Holy Grail (14 min.)
The T206 Honus Wagner is the most famous baseball card in the world, but does its value really lie in the eye of the beholder? This film deals with the mystery and intrigue surrounding the most lucrative collectible in all of sport. The film features interviews with card experts and enthusiasts including Keith Olbermann. Directed by Nick and Colin Barnicle.
Hitting the Cycle (103 min.)
A few years ago, Major League baseball player Jimmy “Rip” Ripley was at the top of his game. But now he finds himself back in the minors after a debilitating knee injury has left him struggling to make it back to the “show.” Caught off-guard by the news that his club is cutting him, he also receives word that his estranged father is gravely ill. With nowhere else to turn, Rip reluctantly revisits his long-forgotten hometown to finally come face-to-face with the father he hasn’t seen or spoken to since he was eighteen years old.
Session 3
Saturday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m., Bullpen Theater
La Hazana Del 41 (52 min.)
On Oct. 22, 1941, a group of young Venezuelan baseball players achieved the unthinkable: Taking the world title away from the eternal champion, Cuba. These young men put Venezuela’s name on the international baseball map, and became national heroes. This documentary pays tribute to these Venezuelan sports icon by telling their story, their achievements, and revealing their enormous influence on the ascension of baseball as the king of all sports in Venezuela.
The Only Real Game (82 min.)
“The Only Real Game” explores the power of baseball for people in a troubled, distant place. The small, once princely state of Manipur joined the Indian Union under pressure in 1949 triggering a corrosive separatist conflict
that continues to this day. With paltry infrastructure, widespread corruption and unemployment – it’s an astonishing place to find reservoirs of inner strength that are tapped in pursuit of our National Pastime. Even more surprising in a deeply patriarchal society is that women are a driving cultural force. Though Manipur has been closed to the outside world for 60 years, baseball delivers release from daily struggles, and a dream for healing a wounded society. Dreams chase reality when First Pitch, a small group of baseball-loving New Yorkers, and two Major League Baseball Envoy coaches team up with Manipuri men, women and children to “Play Ball.”
Session 4
Sunday, Sept. 29, 10 a.m., Bullpen Theater
I’ll Knock a Homer for You: The Timeless Story of Johnny Sylvester and Babe Ruth (46 min.)
During the World Series of 1926, one of the most enduring baseball legends occurred that has been shrouded in mystique for almost a century. Babe Ruth, at the height of his popularity, promised to hit a home run during Game 4 for an ailing boy named Johnny Sylvester. Ruth delivered on his promise, and one of the most famous human-interest stories was given life. To this day, the story of Babe and Johnny has reached mythic proportions in America’s popular culture. Johnny Sylvester was my great-uncle, and my documentary is the first one ever made on this special story. Through rare interviews with Johnny himself and people familiar with the events, this film will shed light on this amazing story of triumph.
Not Exactly Cooperstown (68 min.)
Quick: Name the baseball hall of fame that allows fans to vote. It’s a hall that has room for players like Curt Flood, Jim Bouton, Jimmy Piersall, Josh Gibson, Maury Wills, Bill Buckner, Bill “Spaceman” Lee, Jim Abbott, “Shoeless Joe Jackson and Dock Ellis. And there’s room for more than players. There’s a labor leader (Marvin Miller), umpires (Emmett Ashford and Pam Postema), a maverick owner (Bill Veeck), a surgeon (Dr. Frank Jobe), and even a chicken (The San Diego Chicken). Give up? It’s the Baseball Reliquary, and it’s not exactly Cooperstown.
Session 5
Sunday, Sept. 29, 2 p.m., Bullpen Theater
Eddie the Fan (5 min.)
“Eddie the Fan” is a piece about a young fan named Eddie who attends the Reds/Dodgers game in which the division title is on the line. Told in Seuss-like style, we see the experience of attending a Major League Baseball game through the eyes of a delightful four year old baseball fanatic.
The Booth (88 min.)
“The Booth” is a feature length documentary about Major League Baseball Broadcasters. The film is interview driven and features 30 of the top broadcasters in the game including several Ford C. Frick Award Winners. “The Booth” looks at what it takes to become a broadcaster and how to STAY a broadcaster. The viewer will get a peek into the relationships and experiences in way not seen before.