By Don Themer Staff Writer
I have two favorite BASEBALL movies—For Love of the Game, and Angels in the Outfield. I have probably watched each a minimum of ten times. They both affect me deeply, but for two differing reasons.
The first really hit home with me as it shows an aging baseball pitcher, played by Kevin Costner, and his girlfriend, Kelly Preston. (The catcher was played by John C. Reilly.) Pitcher, Billy Chapel, is about to come to the “end of the line” with the game he loves and with the girlfriend, Jane, that he has “stupidly” left! No, I was not stupid enough to have contemplated leaving my wonderful wife, but I was nearing the end of something I really, really loved and enjoyed and for which I arose most mornings—TEACHING!
The second is a movie I watched more than once when I arrived at the home of my Mom and Dad to pick up my youngest son, Weston, who had a “standing” Wednesday afternoon/ evening date for games and supper and the watching of “wholesome” videos with his Grandparents (probably Grandma a little more than Grandpa).
When Angels in the Outfield was the tape in the set when I arrived at “going home time,” I could nearly always be persuaded to stay until the end! Baseball manager, George Knox (played by Danny Glover) is the manager of the lowly California Angels Baseball Team, and they are “bad.”
His main (aging) veteran pitcher is Mel Clark (played by Tony Danza), and the team is in last place. George is in grave danger of losing his job, and Mel is at the end of his career and about to be replaced as a “starter.” There are two boys involved in the plot, and they are in “foster care.” George “takes a shine” to both and is also a good friend of the lady who cares for the boys.
As the team is losing game after game, an “Angel” makes an appearance at the park and can be seen by one of the boys (older one, Roger), and this angel helps the team to become a contender as he “influences” a few plays during games and helps instill confidence in the players of the team.
There are several times that it appears “curtains” for the team, the pitcher, and the manager are just ahead—and it appears that the boys, who love each other and are inseparable, will be separated.
I will not tell you what happens at the end. If you have seen the movie, you probably know why I am nostalgic and sentimental as I view it again and again. If you have not seen it, you MUST do so. I think you will stand and cheer TWICE at the conclusion! And you will want to hug the team’s manager and pitcher and the two young boys—and especially your family members!
Last Friday night, I was writing a story and decided at 12:45 a. m. that I had better go to bed and get some sleep so that I could arise at 6:45 a. m. to shower and get ready for our Church Workday. I climbed into the recliner in front of the “big screen” to get sleepy enough to go the rest of the way to bed, and GUESS WHAT WAS ON! You are right—the final hour of Angels in the Outfield—and you now know why I shed a tear or three last night— this movie always does that to me, and it was even better because watching this “flick” again always brings back memories of the “old days,” picking up Weston at Mom’s and Dad’s home on Wednesday evenings!
If you have not done so, please watch both of these movies. If you have seen them both, please watch at least ANGELS again, preferably with your children and parents—and don’t forget to “flap your wings” at just the right time!
P. S. I do believe in the existence of Angels, and I can tell you of one time I know they touched me personally and probably saved me from great injury, if not death!
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