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, J.D. Evermore, Rachel Griffiths

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

baseball | texas | high school | based on true story | character appears on television | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Drama | Family | Sport

---

Certificate:

G

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where Jimmy walks out to the mound for the first time at The Ballpark in Arlington was filmed during the seventh inning stretch of a real Texas Rangers game. All of the pitching shots were done after the game.

---

Goofs

The Tampa catcher is wearing grey shin guards and a grey chest protector in every shot up to and including Jimmy Morris taking the mound in Texas. However, when he begins pitching, the catcher is wearing a black chest protector and shin guards.

---

Quotes

Jimmy: Look, guys, most of you, you're gonna finish up school here, you're gonna work the rigs, you're gonna work at Bo's Tire Barn, you're gonna raise a family, you're gonna retire, and you're gonna do all that right here in Big Lake. And there's nothing wrong with that. A lot of real good people have done that. I'm doing it. But, if you're looking for something more after you're done here, you better give some serious thought as to how you're gonna play out the rest of this season!

---

Crazy Credits

The 2 nuns are walking on Jimmy's (Dennis Quaid) field as the film ends

---

Connections

Referenced in Will & Grace: Homojo (2003)

---

Soundtracks

Blue Moon Nights
Written and Performed by John Fogerty
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

A VERY NICE LITTLE MOVIE

It was nice to go see a movie with no sex, no cuss words and just a good story. A movie of this calibre is rare nowadays, with most having a poor story but lots of sex and violence. It is nice to be able to take the WHOLE FAMILY to see an entertaining movie with very good acting by the whole cast. GO SEE IT.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 March 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Rookie

Filming Locations:

Leander, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,021,684, 31 March 2002

Gross USA:

$75,600,072

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$80,693,537

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

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1