Editor’s note: In the spirit of holiday movie-watching, we asked NESN.com readers to vote for their favorite sports film of all time. The debate was fierce, but the votes spoke for themselves. Finishing eighth in NESN.com readers’ No. 10 sports movie of all time: “Bull Durham.”
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Why it’s a top-10 sports movie: Kevin Costner and Tim Robbins steal the show in this 1988 film about two minor league baseball players at complete opposite points in their careers. The result is a rollicking yet touching ride with the Durham Bulls, chock-full of insights into the superstitious world of baseball and relationships.
Biggest star: Costner is no stranger to baseball movies, but his portrayal of bitter ex-major leaguer Crash Davis ranks among his best work ever. Costner’s Davis captivates the audience as a man wise beyond his years hidden beneath a gruff exterior.
Marquee moment: Bulls “groupie” Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon) immediately sets the stage with her timeless opening monologue about believing in the “Church of Baseball.”
Did you know? The movie was filmed on location in Durham, N.C., in late fall, so green paint had to be used to fill in several brown spots in the grass. You can see the players’ breath in many of the night scenes as a result of the cold.
