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The Rewatchables · April 26, 2022

A League of Their Own

host Bill Simmons host Mallory Rubin producer Craig Horlbeck

What aged best: Performances, baseball, friendship, and period craft
Casting what-if: Geena Davis succeeds Debra Winger
What aged worst: Failed series, fading context, deleted kiss, Marla's exit, and Kit

All 15 categories

Who won the movie Geena Davis
Dion Waiters Award Jon Lovitz
Overacting Award Madonna

Most Rewatchable Scene · 20:57

Game Seven

Bill Simmons: The Oregon opening is selected for establishing Dottie and Kit's rivalry and Ernie's recruiting pitch.

Bill Simmons: The tryouts and roster reading are selected for introducing the players, showing their athletic credibility, and revealing that Shirley cannot read.

What Piece of Memorabilia Would You Want From This Movie? · 1:35:55

The dropped ball

Bill Simmons: The dropped ball is the consensus choice, possibly paired with Dottie's mitt and a Jimmy Dugan inscription.

The film

A League of Their Own (1992)

Directed by Penny Marshall · Sports

128 minutes

IMDb Find on JustWatch Find on Rotten Tomatoes

Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Tom Hanks Jimmy Dugan

Geena Davis Dorothy ‘Dottie’ Hinson

Lynn Cartwright Older Dottie

Madonna ‘All the Way’ Mae Mordabito

Eunice Anderson Older Mae

Lori Petty Kit Keller

Kathleen Butler Older Kit

Rosie O'Donnell Doris Murphy

Vera Johnson Older Doris

Anne Ramsay Helen Haley

Barbara Pilavin Older Helen

Megan Cavanagh Marla Hooch

Patricia Wilson Older Marla

Freddie Simpson Ellen Sue Gotlander

Eugenia McLin Older Ellen Sue

Tracy Reiner Betty ‘Spaghetti’ Horn

Betty Miller Older Betty

Bitty Schram Evelyn Gardner

Renée Coleman Alice ‘Skeeter’ Gaspers

Shirley Burkovich Older Alice

Ann Cusack Shirley Baker

Barbara Erwin Older Shirley

Robin Knight Linda ‘Beans’ Babbitt

Patti Pelton Marbleann Wilkinson

Kelli Simpkins Beverly Dixon

Connie Pounds-Taylor Connie Calhoun

Jon Lovitz Ernie Capadino

David Strathairn Ira Lowenstein

Marvin Einhorn Older Ira

Garry Marshall Walter Harvey

Julie Croteau Helen Haley on the field (baseball double)

Bill Pullman Bob Hinson

Téa Leoni Racine first base

David L. Lander Game Announcer

Janet Jones Racine pitcher

Don S. Davis Charlie Collins

Eddie Jones Dave Hooch

Justin Scheller Stillwell Gardner

Mark Holton Older Stillwell

Pauline Brailsford Miss Cuthburt

Alan Wilder Nelson

Rae Allen Ma Keller

DeLisa Chinn-Tyler Black woman who throws the ball back to Dottie

Everything from the episode

In the order the hosts got to it. Open a row for the discussion.

57:35

Casting What-Ifs

Geena Davis succeeds Debra Winger

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 00:57:35Read transcript

Demi Moore was reportedly considered before pregnancy made her unavailable. — Bill Simmons
Debra Winger left after Madonna was cast and later maintained that objection; the discussion considers Geena Davis the clearly superior Dottie. — Bill Simmons
It is reported that Tom Hanks sought the role because some recent movies had not done well. — Bill Simmons
Garry Marshall replaced the unaffordable Christopher Walken as Walter Harvey; the final casting is preferred. — Bill Simmons

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1:02:52

Recasting Couch

Sandra Bullock as Kit

In the discussion (4)

Approx. transcript time · 01:02:52Read transcript

Sandra Bullock is proposed as Kit to increase the character's likability. — Bill Simmons
The objection is that Bullock might be too inherently sympathetic and Lori Petty's performance is difficult to replace. — Bill Simmons
Courteney Cox is considered but doubted as a convincing player. — Mallory Rubin
Marisa Tomei's reported audition is discussed, including the possibility of her as Mae, but Madonna is retained. — Bill Simmons

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1:05:09

Half-Assed Internet Research

Injuries, locations, history, effects, and production accounts

In the discussion (10)

Approx. transcript time · 01:05:09Read transcript

Anne Ramsay reportedly broke her nose, while other cast members sustained bruises, damaged skin, broken fingers, and a broken foot during baseball work. — Bill Simmons
Wrigley Field, League Stadium in Huntingburg, and Evansville supplied the tryout, home, and championship locations. — Bill Simmons
Madonna's song was excluded from the soundtrack for contractual reasons, and Lori Petty described the period uniform as difficult to play in. — Bill Simmons
Several cast members reportedly shared a house, socialized together, and received wine from Francis Ford Coppola. — Bill Simmons
Petty reportedly hit the home run herself, ran the bases repeatedly, and became sick after the final take. — Bill Simmons
The real league began under Philip Wrigley as softball; the film's switch to baseball is endorsed. — Bill Simmons
Jimmy Dugan is described as drawing principally from Jimmie Foxx, with Hack Wilson also mentioned. — Mallory Rubin
A stunt double performed the split catch, Penny Marshall created the urination effect, and Tom Hanks gained weight for the role. — Bill Simmons
Madonna was moved from third base to the outfield because she struggled with ground balls. — Bill Simmons
Brenda Feigen accused Penny Marshall of taking the project from her. — Bill Simmons

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1:14:06

Picking Nits

Smoking, league rules, baseball strategy, chronology, and framing

In the discussion (9)

Approx. transcript time · 01:14:06Read transcript

Jimmy not smoking and the general absence of cigarettes in 1945 are questioned. — Bill Simmons
Trading Kit after the regular season, the absence of playoff detail, her workload, and the Peaches reaching Game Seven without key players are questioned. — Bill Simmons
Racine not intentionally walking Dottie with first base open is called the largest strategy error. — Mallory Rubin
Dottie batting fifth is rejected for a league-leading player. — Mallory Rubin
Jimmy's plaque saying he lived until 1987 is doubted given his alcoholism and health. — Mallory Rubin
A dirty catcher's mitt placed on clean clothes and the grandchildren's double dribbling are criticized. — Mallory Rubin
The first four minutes are considered unnecessary. — Bill Simmons
Mae and Doris being amazed by Dottie's barehanded catch at professional tryouts is questioned. — Mallory Rubin
The home-plate collision uses visibly inconsistent angles. — Mallory Rubin

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1:23:45

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Dottie and Bob; the dropped ball; modern coverage; Mae's confession

In the discussion (8)

Approx. transcript time · 01:23:45Read transcript

The discussion gives opposing predictions for Dottie and Bob's first night: energetic reunion versus brief, tender sex without strong chemistry. — Bill Simmons
Dottie is compared with Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk as a large, durable, star catcher. — Bill Simmons
Geena Davis refuses to say whether Dottie intentionally dropped the ball, while Lori Petty reportedly says she did not. — Bill Simmons
Both participants ultimately conclude the collision caused an unintentional drop, while acknowledging visual ambiguity and possible subconscious feeling. — Mallory Rubin
One proposed fix has Dottie hold the ball while Kit beats the throw; the objection favors preserving the collision and error. — Bill Simmons
A contemporary media cycle is imagined attacking Dottie's preparation, absence, size advantage, and possible intent before a backlash defends her wellbeing. — Mallory Rubin
The discussion invents newspaper investigations and headlines for Jimmy's conduct, Dottie's retirement and departure, the owner's threat, and the dropped ball. — Mallory Rubin
The final question asks what Mae told the priest in confession; her recent escapades are the proposed answer. — Bill Simmons

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