Little Big League (1994)

A young boy is bequeathed the ownership of a professional baseball team.

Director:

Andrew Scheinman

Writers:

Gregory K. Pincus (story), Gregory K. Pincus (screenplay)

Stars:

Luke Edwards, Timothy Busfield, John Ashton

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Luke Edwards	...	Billy Heywood
Timothy Busfield	...	Lou Collins
John Ashton	...	Mac Macnally
Ashley Crow	...	Jenny Heywood
Kevin Dunn	...	Arthur Goslin
Billy L. Sullivan	...	Chuck
Miles Feulner	...	Joey
Jonathan Silverman	...	Jim Bowers
Dennis Farina	...	George O'Farrell
Jason Robards	...	Thomas Heywood
Wolfgang Bodison	...	Spencer Hamilton
Duane Davis	...	Jerry Johnson
Leon Durham	...	Leon Alexander
Kevin Elster	...	Pat Corning
Joseph Latimore	...	Lonnie Ritter

Storyline

When the owner of the Minnesota Twins dies suddenly, his will bequeaths the team to his grandson Billy, a devotee of baseball who, although only 12, has devoured voluminous lore, knows the team intimately, and has shown an uncanny sixth sense of what they need to improve. They hate their manager, so Billy quickly fires the SOB, winning their instant approval. However, this turns to dismay when he announces their new manager: Billy Heywood. How will Billy convince a gang of proud, tough men to stick around and take orders from a kid? On the other hand, what's to lose-- the team has nowhere to go but up.

---

Plot Keywords:

comiskey park chicago | metrodome minneapolis | columbia tristar | columbia tristar home video | minnesota twins | 

---

Taglines:

The Minnesota Twins Have a New Owner.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Family | Sport

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild language and sensuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

In one scene Thomas Heywood talks to Billy about pitcher Walter Johnson. Johnson pitched for the original Washington Senators, who would relocate to Minnesota and become the Twins in 1961. In addition, an extra can be seen wearing an old Washington Senators baseball cap.

---

Goofs

"During the final game when the Twins are playing the Mariners for the Wild card spot, Bowers attempts to pick off Ken Griffey Jr. using the team's trick play. How ever this play would be illegal. You can NOT fake a pick off throw to first base." True while on the rubber. If the pitcher steps behind the rubber before the fake, it is legal. The camera angle on Bowers' fake does not show his feet on the play. Miami ran this play in the 1982 College World Series, nicknamed the Grand Illusion.

---

Quotes

Billy Heywood: If Joe can paint a house in three hours and Sam can paint the same house in five hours, how long will it take to paint it together?
Mac: Now wait a minute, you never said this was a word problem.

---

Crazy Credits

After the end credits, there's a quick scene with one of the players looking at the chalkboard saying he still likes D.

---

Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Blown Away/Little Big League/I Love Trouble/The Shadow/Baby's Day Out/Wyatt Earp (1994)

---

Soundtracks

I'M READY
Written by Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino), Sylvester Bradford, and Al Lewis
Performed by Taj Mahal
Courtesy of Private Music

User Reviews

charming

A charming fantasy/comedy,etc. about a junior high school kid who inherits the Minnesota Twins from his late grandfather and soon takes over as manager. He then convinces his players to have fun. After all, they are getting paid to play baseball.

I think it works well on all counts. Watch for cameos by real life Major Leaguers. Sit back and enjoy!!

*** out of ****

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 June 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Little Big League

Filming Locations:

Minnesota, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,105,618, 4 July 1994

Gross USA:

$12,267,790

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,267,790

Company Credits

Production Co:

Castle Rock Entertainment, Lobell/Bergman Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby DTS SDDS (8 channels) SDDS (1998 Re-Release) DTS (Digital DTS Sound) (1998 Re-Release) Dolby Digital (1998 Re-Release)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1