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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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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:

Leander, Texas, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,021,684, 31 March 2002, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$75,600,072, 29 August 2002

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 (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the championship game, the final batter of the game hits a foul ball. When he hits it, he attempts to wave the ball fair in a matter identical to Carlton Fisk when he hit his famous homer in the 1975 world series.

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Goofs

When pitching in Triple-A, Jim Morris is a member of the Durham Bulls, of the International League. The team is playing in the stadium for the Round Rock Express, in Round Rock, TX. Round Rock is Triple-A in the Pacific Coast League. Teams from the two Triple-A leagues do not play each other.

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Quotes

Jimmy: What do they think, I'm some sort of publicity stunt? That I'm taking some guy's job away? What do you think, Brooks?
Brooks: ...I think you're too fast for me. That's what I think.

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Connections

Referenced in Sports Jeopardy!: Episode #1.11 (2014)

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Soundtracks

The Star-Spangled Banner
(uncredited)
Music by John Stafford Smith
Lyrics by Francis Scott Key

User Reviews

excellent

This was one of the best bio-pics I have seen in years. Dennis Quaid is perfect as Jim Morris, a man who finally gets a shot at his lifelong dream-pitching in the big leagues. He is a high school science teacher/baseball coach whose players make a bet with him:if they win district, he tries out for the majors. You can probably guess what happens next. I found this story made even more powerful by the fact that it was based on a true story.

*** out of ****