Today’s movie is a sports drama with a scene that happens on
September 26. Watch it tonight and
enjoy.
61*
Marc McGwire hits his 60th
home run of the season. Mrs. Maris travels to see him hit #61, but has to go to
the hospital and watches him hit it from her bed. We flashback to the Yankees
opening day in 1961 when some reporters say Mickey Mantle is washed up and
other try to create a rivalry between him and Roger Maris. The new manager
wants Mantle to lead the team and Maris is presented with the 1960 MVP
award. The reporters think Maris is
dull. The Yankees start in a slump, but the manager changes the lineup and they
improve. Maris has to rescue Mantle after a drunk driving wreck and moves him
into his apartment to keep an eye on Mantle. The home run race begins and
Mantle and Maris incorporate to take advantage of memorabilia sales and
endorsements. The commissioner says there will be distinct record if anyone
hits more than 60 home runs due to more games in season. The fans turn on
Maris. His son is born and he is upset that reporters are at his house. There
is a kidnap threat. The negative press upsets Maris and Mantle plays even
though injured. Mantle and Maris have a fight, but make up. A chair is thrown
at Maris in the outfield. Maris starts losing his hair due to stress and Mantle
plays with a hip ulcer. Maris asks to be taken out of the lineup, but the
manager talks him out of it. Some people hope Maris won’t break the record. The
Orioles trade pitchers to stop Maris from tieing the record in same number of
games it took Ruth. On September 26, 1961 Maris hits number 60 and ties the
record. [1:47:53 to 1:49:46] On last day of season he hits number 61 and gets
ovation in Yankee stadium. Back in the
present McGwire hits number 62 and praises Maris.
A great sports movie. It also is
a dual biography of Mantle and Maris. Both men’s characters are well developed.
Shows the seamy side of baseball with all those who secretly hope Maris can’t
do it and change the rules to deprive him of the record.
McNeil, William F. Ruth,
Maris, McGwire and Sosa. London; McFarland & Co., Publishers, 1999.
This book at page 100 gives the date.
Director- Billy Crystel
Runtime – 2 hours 9 minutes
Released – April 28, 2001
Awards – The film won the Outstanding Casting and
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Emmys. It was
also nominated for the Outstanding Art Direction, Outstanding Cinematography,
Outstanding Hairstyling, Outstanding Lead Actor (Pepper), Outstanding Made for
Television Movie, Outstanding Makeup, Outstanding Single Camera Editing,
Outstanding Single Camera Sound Mixing and Outstanding Writing Emmys in the
Miniseries, Movie or Special Category.
Starring –
Barry Pepper as Roger Maris
Thomas Jane as Mickey Mantle
Anthony Michael Hall as Whitey Ford
Richard Masur as Milt Kahn
Jennifer Crystal Foley as Pat Maris (1961)
Bruce McGill as Ralph Houk
Chris Bauer as Bob Cerv
Copyright by Ivan
Walters in 2014.
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