Isn’t it odd that for 90% of any given game, baseball is quintessentially a boring sport. And yet, movies about baseball are incredibly exciting and entertaining 90% of the time. It’s a fascinating contrast to say the least.

Spring training is here and that means baseball is in “full swing” (had to). Admittedly not a fan of the professional adaptation of Stickball, the amateur version can be fun to play…or at least enjoyable to watch in a movie. It’s an important part of the American fabric of sports. That’s undeniable. However, baseball also has a serious drug and cultural stigma and has, thus far, refused to adequately deal with this contagious problem.

Resisting the temptation to list all the negatives about baseball (they are plentiful), instead the following will be a surprisingly laudable tribute to the one constant every fan and non-fan can agree upon: great films have been made about baseball.

An important note: I do have a few great memories of going to baseball games. This includes venturing down the road to a AAA baseball game on a slow summer day (with a Beach Boys performance!), a Cleveland Indians game in the mid-nineties with a best friend when the Tribe was stellar, watching the Atlanta Braves in “Hotlanta,” a day trip to Chicago with a first time visit to Wrigley Field to take in a Cubs game and seeing a Yankees-Royals game in the now torn down Yankees Stadium.

Am I a fan of the actual game? No, not so much. But every once in a while, it is a great American tradition to take part in. At this point, the “once in a while” qualifies as one game, each having a special significance, approximately every few years. So far, so good. This means my next game is right around the corner…literally. The Columbus Clippers have won two championships within the past three years. Will I be heading to Huntington Park this summer?

As a celebration of the magic of movies involving baseball, at least one scene from a different film will be posted each day for the next nine days, starting this morning.

Here is the first clip as part of a collection of the best movies that have stood the test of time in terms of popular culture and childhood memories.

Let’s start off with a classic.

Play ball!