The Winning Team (1952)

Director:

Lewis Seiler

Writers:

Ted Sherdeman (screenplay) and
Seeleg Lester (screenplay) ...

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

The true story of Grover Cleveland Alexander!

Plot:

Poor health and alcoholism force Grover Cleveland Alexander out of baseball, but through his wife's faithful efforts, he gets a chance for a comeback and redemption.

Plot Keywords:

Baseball | Comeback | Telephone Lineman | Baseball Coach | Farming

Cast

Doris Day	...	Aimee Alexander
Ronald Reagan	...	Grover Cleveland Alexander
Frank Lovejoy	...	Rogers Hornsby
Eve Miller	...	Margaret Killefer
James Millican	...	Bill Killefer
Russ Tamblyn	...	Willie Alexander (as Rusty Tamblyn)
Gordon Jones	...	George Glasheen
Hugh Sanders	...	Joe McCarthy
Frank Ferguson	...	Sam Arrants
Walter Baldwin	...	Pa Alexander
Dorothy Adams	...	Ma Alexander
Bob Lemon	...	Jesse 'Pop' Haines
Jerry Priddy	...	Ballplayer
Peanuts Lowery	...	Ballplayer (as Peanuts Lowrey)
George Metkovich	...	Ballplayer

Also Known As:

The Big League (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Canada:G (video rating) | Finland:S | USA:Approved (certificate #15757) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Wrigley Field - 42nd Place & Avalon Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Goofs:

Factual errors: The movie depicts Alexander striking out Tony Lazzeri to win the 1926 World Series. The series actually ended two innings later when Babe Ruth was thrown out attempting to steal second.

Quotes:

Grover Cleveland Alexander: You must be so tired, Dear!
Aimee Alexander: Why should I be tired?
Grover Cleveland Alexander: I've been stealing strength from you all season - every game, every pitch. Without you there, I couldn't have done any of it. God must think a lot of me. He's given me you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Diamonds on the Silver Screen (1992) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

There's No Period In Baseball Like Those Early 1900s

Grover Cleveland Alexander was a remarkable pitcher and lived a very interesting life in an era in which baseball sported the most colorful people in its history: the early 1900s. Some of stories about them, like this one, are very inspiring, too, although they end this bio on Alexander's high note not his tragic demise - but what's wrong with that? People want to leave the theater feeling good, not depressed.

Ronald Reagan does a decent job portraying "Alex," except for the baseball scenes where he doesn't throw or hit like a real big-leaguer. That was common in classic sports films. You don't see that now. Robert Redford ("The Natural"), Kevin Costner (several baseball films) and the like, know how to play the game.

This is corny in spots and it's sugar-coated like some of the other classic sports stories. However, Alexander is shown with his drinking problem and his wife, played by Doris Day, also does the wrong thing walking away from her husband in his time of need.....so you do see some bad with the good. Yet, all ends well and overall, it's an interesting movie.

What's more, the climactic scene actually happened in real life where Alexander turned into a World Series hero despite the odds against him.

If you really want interesting stories, read the real-life accounts of men like Alexander, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Christy Matthewson, John MacGraw, Honus Wagner, Tris Speaker, etc. They are fascinating.