The Rookie (2002)

A Texas baseball coach makes the major league after agreeing to try out if his high school team made the playoffs.

Director:

John Lee Hancock

Writer:

Mike Rich

Stars:

Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, Jay Hernandez

5 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Quaid	...	Jimmy Morris
Rachel Griffiths	...	Lorri Morris
Jay Hernandez	...	Joaquin 'Wack' Campos
Beth Grant	...	Olline
Angus T. Jones	...	Hunter Morris
Brian Cox	...	Jim Morris Sr.
Rick Gonzalez	...	Rudy Bonilla
Chad Lindberg	...	Joe David West
Angelo Spizzirri	...	Joel De La Garza
Royce D. Applegate	...	Henry
Russell Richardson	...	Brooks
Raynor Scheine	...	Frank
David Blackwell	...	Cal
Blue Deckert	...	Baseball Scout Dave Patterson
Danny Kamin	...	Durham Manager Mac (as Daniel Kamin)

Storyline

Jim Morris is a Texas high school chemistry teacher and coach of the school's baseball team. He's always loved baseball and as a way of motivating his players, he agrees to go to a professional try-out if they win the championship. He once had aspirations to be a professional baseball player but an injury brought that to an end. Sure enough, the 39 year-old father of three finds himself at a camp for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and he somehow seems to have regained his pitching arm, easily throwing a 98 mph fastball. Signed to a contract, he toils in the minor leagues while his supportive wife stays home raising their children. He soon finds himself called up to the big club and pitching for Tampa which is in Texas playing the Rangers. Based on a true story.

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Plot Keywords:

baseball | pitching | texas | coach | high school | 

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Taglines:

It's never too late to believe in your dreams.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Sport

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Certificate:

G

Details

Official Sites:

Disney

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

El novato

Filming Locations:

Austin Studios - 1901 E. 51st Street, Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$214,718 (Japan) (24 January 2003)

Gross:

$1,173,179 (Japan) (31 January 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

98 MPH Productions, Gran Via, Walt Disney Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In real life, there were only 10 players on the team, which is shown in the movie. Four of the "talking" Owls came from LA, the other six came from Austin. They held a camp and 800 kids came out, and the producers got to pick from them.

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Goofs

When Jim Morris attends the try-outs, the collar and armpits of his t-shirt are sweat-soaked immediately after he pitches. Moments later, the t-shirt is dry.

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Quotes

Jimmy: Frank, isn't it a little late to be playing this song?
Frank: It's only 8:30.
Jimmy: It's March.

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Connections

Spoofs Bull Durham (1988)

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Soundtracks

"Embryonic Journey"
Written by Jorma Kaukonen
Performed by Jefferson Airplane
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label, a unit of BMG Entertainment
Under license from BMG Special Products

User Reviews

Follow that dream.

Wholesome determination makes for a film for the entire family to watch. A former minor league pitcher Jimmy Morris(Dennis Quaid)turns to teaching and coaching in Big Lake, Texas and bargains with his formerly hapless high school players that if they go to the state championships he will try out for the big leagues again. In 1999, Morris becomes the "Oldest Rookie" when he lands a job with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as a 98 mph throwing lefty from the bullpen. Morris' dream is short, but sweet. And his story seems to have spawned from a Hollywood script. Although this is based on fact the movie could have been much better if filmed with a more "mature" approach. My favorite scene is where Morris is at the tryouts camp and he wipes his nose holding a soiled diaper. Also in the cast are Rachel Griffiths, Rick Gonzales, Russell Richardson and Blue Deckert.