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Big Leaguer

  • 19531953
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 11m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
421
YOUR RATING
Big Leaguer (1953)
John Lobert runs a training camp in Florida for the New York Giants. Every year, he evaluates the hopefuls to pick the best for a minor league contract. They all have dreams and talent, but the elimination whittles them down to a lucky few who'll get the $150 a month contract. This year John's niece comes down from the home office in New York and is attracted to tall quiet Adam.
Play trailer2:37
1 Video
5 Photos
DramaFamilySport
John Lobert runs a training camp in Florida for the New York Giants. Every year, he evaluates the hopefuls to pick the best for a minor league contract. They all have dreams and talent, but ... Read allJohn Lobert runs a training camp in Florida for the New York Giants. Every year, he evaluates the hopefuls to pick the best for a minor league contract. They all have dreams and talent, but the elimination whittles them down to a lucky few who'll get the $150 a month contract. Th... Read allJohn Lobert runs a training camp in Florida for the New York Giants. Every year, he evaluates the hopefuls to pick the best for a minor league contract. They all have dreams and talent, but the elimination whittles them down to a lucky few who'll get the $150 a month contract. This year John's niece comes down from the home office in New York and is attracted to tall ... Read all
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
421
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Aldrich
  • Writers
    • Herbert Baker(screen play by)
    • John McNulty(based on a story by)
    • Lou Morheim(based on a story by)
  • Stars
    • Edward G. Robinson
    • Vera-Ellen
    • Jeff Richards
  • Director
    • Robert Aldrich
  • Writers
    • Herbert Baker(screen play by)
    • John McNulty(based on a story by)
    • Lou Morheim(based on a story by)
  • Stars
    • Edward G. Robinson
    • Vera-Ellen
    • Jeff Richards
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:37
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos

    Big Leaguer (1953)
    Big Leaguer (1953)
    Big Leaguer (1953)
    Edward G. Robinson and Vera-Ellen in Big Leaguer (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward G. Robinson
    Edward G. Robinson
    • John B. 'Hans' Lobert
    Vera-Ellen
    Vera-Ellen
    • Christy
    Jeff Richards
    Jeff Richards
    • Adam Polachuk
    Richard Jaeckel
    Richard Jaeckel
    • Bobby Bronson
    William Campbell
    William Campbell
    • Julie Davis
    Carl Hubbell
    • Carl Hubbell
    Paul Langton
    Paul Langton
    • Brian McLennan
    Lalo Rios
    • Chuy Aguilar
    Bill Crandall
    • Tippy Mitchell
    Frank Ferguson
    Frank Ferguson
    • Wally Mitchell
    John McKee
    • Dale Alexander
    Mario Siletti
    Mario Siletti
    • Mr. Polachuk
    Al Campanis
    • Al Campanis
    Bob Trocolor
    • Bob Trocolor
    Tony Ravish
    • Tony Ravish
    Robert Calwell
    • Pomfret
    • (uncredited)
    Donald 'Chippie' Hastings
    • Little Joe Polachuk
    • (uncredited)
    Bing Russell
    Bing Russell
    • Undetermined Role
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • Herbert Baker(screen play by)
      • John McNulty(based on a story by)
      • Lou Morheim(based on a story by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      First film directed by Robert Aldrich.
    • Quotes

      Brian McLennan: [addressing the camera] I'm Brian McLennan a newspaper man. I do a sports column for one of the New York papers. And a few months ago in Florida, I came up with this story I'm writing. It's a baseball story. And while it won't make anybody yell "Stop the Presses!" or "Tear out the front page!", it's got a little different slant. And that's what makes it important.

      Brian McLennan: [talking over archive footage] This is baseball. This is the way it is, when you reach the top. Fame and the headlines and the newsreel camera looking at you from every angle. This is the way it is in the big time, with your name on the lips and in the cheers from everyone in the box seats to the bleachers. This is baseball. The National Pastime. The game that has given us all the great names and all the great moments that fill memory and the record book with the achievement of things past. The game of Babe Ruth and of Lou Gehrig, of Ty Cobb and McGraw, and Christy Mathewson. And everyday the sports pages grab a new name and a new moment to go with all the rest. Somebody pitches a no hitter; somebody comes through in the clutch, somebody makes a great catch or a daring play or knocks in a wining run, and a new hero is born. Like at the Polo Grounds a couple of years ago, when a young man named Bobby Thomson, hit a ninth inning home run that won the pennant, and every fan in America, for the New York Giants. Yes, this is the way it is, at the top. The names and the faces at the end of the long way up. My story is about the way it is at the beginning. The names and the faces you've never heard of. The ones who give baseball its tomorrow. This is the story behind every Bobby Thomson, every ninth inning home run, every team like the Giants and every Polo Ground.

    • Connections
      Featured in Sports on the Silver Screen (1997)

    User reviews14

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    5/10
    MGM's long standing relationship with Edward G Robinson does not make this a film worth watching
    I have never been a big fan of the pint sized Edward G Robinson and so MGM's veiled attempt to warm up their film goers to Edward G. Robinson by supplanting him in America's favorite past time a baseball film, as the Manager named John Lobert who runs a training camp in Florida for the New York Giants it was difficult for me to visualize this ever happening. I would have believed Edward G Robinson more as a Ballet instructor flirting around the stage in a tutu rather than in a baseball cap and a baseball film.

    I know the film was released in 1953 and the lovely actress Vera Ellen would be the only reason I would have watched this in the first place. Awww but who doesn't love a good sports film on a baseball training camp in the springtime injected with a romantic undertow?

    I give the film a mere passing grade of 5 out of 10 IMDB rating and this is based on Ms. Vera Ellen's fine performance.
    helpful•3
    2
    • Ed-Shullivan
    • May 5, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 19, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Cel mai mare din ligă
    • Filming locations
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 11 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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