The Battered Bastards of Baseball (2014)
Hollywood veteran Bing Russell creates the only independent baseball team in the country—alarming the baseball establishment and sparking the meteoric rise of the 1970s Portland Mavericks.
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Powerful
Perfect cast and a good story
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.
This show was very entertaining because for me it brought back great memories of my minor league career. I happened to play for the best minor league team in baseball from 1976-1977. The Corpus Christi Seagulls in South Texas were members of The Gulf States League in 1976 and Lone Star League in 1977. Our two year combined record was 103- 54! Our manager for those two summers was not so famous then than he was later was Leo Mazzone. Pitching coach for Atlanta Braves. I believe the Portland Mavericks in 1977 were 44-22. The Corpus Christi Seagulls were 53-27and averaged close to 5,000 a game. In 1976 we were 50 and 27 with close to the same attendance in a city much smaller than Portland. Where would you rather be Curt Russell? I think you should have said City by the Sparkling Sea Corpus Christi! Come on Netflix we have some great stories about that league too!
Sorry to say that I'm no baseball fan but _The Battered Bastards of Baseball_ is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.Picture a workman television actor who loves baseball. He forms an independent baseball team in Portland, Oregon, when the current team takes a hike looking for greener pastures in another city. He holds open tryouts and potential players who never made it come for their shot from as far away as South Africa.The story is likened to Professor Harold Hill of _The Music Man_ fame who isn't pitching a boys band to River City citizens but a baseball team to a city who sorely needs it share of quirky local heroes. A classic underdog story paired with a club owner who's a showman.., _The Battered Bastards of Baseball_ has feature film written all over it and is a film I want to see.
Documentary about Hollywood veteran Bing Russell creating the only independent baseball team in America at the time, operating without a Major League affiliation. From public tryouts to the in-your-face attitude, the 1973–1977 Portland Mavericks are a thrill to watch. Featuring interviews with Kurt Russell, Todd Field, Frank "The Flake" Peters, Joe Garza, Jim Bouton and Joe Garagiola. What's even more exciting than hearing about these underdogs win is hearing about Bing Russell going face-to-face with the powerful establishment of Major League Baseball and basically telling them that the only rules he'll play by are the rules of baseball. Nowadays, however, it feels a bit ironic that a guy like Bing Russell, the man who did it all for the love of the game which included practically giving the middle finger to the bureaucracy of sporting establishments, would be a New York Yankees fan.***½ (out of four)
Who would have thought? The results germinating from a person's kindness and a real love of baseball, would end up the forcing the stars into alignment. An excellent exposé on that perfect culmination of people, time, and place; each of which in perfect sync with one another guaranteed the inevitable 'magic moment' to occur. I am not a daily rider on 'The Karma Train Express', but Mr. Russell's charitable actions saved baseball for Portland, and gave a glimmer of hope to many who had none. This man earned praises and reverence - and my respect. Guilty as charged - often, I assume that most movie actors are usually empty shells, acting for quick cash and nothing more. To augment their moral paydays, they do a little of this or a little of that adding some phony sheen to their humanity. After all their self-aggrandizement is published, they go home and admire reflections in their mirrors. Boy am I wrong and I do apologize. Like I said, guilty as charged. This documentary made me eat my words and those words did not taste very good. Chapman and Marclain Way did an absolutely excellent job directing this masterpiece. You did not overdue this you showed respect and love well done.Good job. Bravo Zulu and keep up the good work.