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A League of Their Own poster

A League of Their Own

128 minutes

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

A League of Their Own | The Rewatchables

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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.
  • Debra Winger left after Madonna was cast and later maintained that objection; the discussion considers Geena Davis the clearly superior Dottie.
  • It is reported that Tom Hanks sought the role because some recent movies had not done well.
  • Garry Marshall replaced the unaffordable Christopher Walken as Walter Harvey; the final casting is preferred.
In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:02:52Read transcript
  • Sandra Bullock is proposed as Kit to increase the character's likability.
  • The objection is that Bullock might be too inherently sympathetic and Lori Petty's performance is difficult to replace.
  • Courteney Cox is considered but doubted as a convincing player.
  • Marisa Tomei's reported audition is discussed, including the possibility of her as Mae, but Madonna is retained.

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

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

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.
  • Dottie is compared with Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk as a large, durable, star catcher.
  • Geena Davis refuses to say whether Dottie intentionally dropped the ball, while Lori Petty reportedly says she did not.
  • Both participants ultimately conclude the collision caused an unintentional drop, while acknowledging visual ambiguity and possible subconscious feeling.
  • One proposed fix has Dottie hold the ball while Kit beats the throw; the objection favors preserving the collision and error.
  • A contemporary media cycle is imagined attacking Dottie's preparation, absence, size advantage, and possible intent before a backlash defends her wellbeing.
  • The discussion invents newspaper investigations and headlines for Jimmy's conduct, Dottie's retirement and departure, the owner's threat, and the dropped ball.
  • The final question asks what Mae told the priest in confession; her recent escapades are the proposed answer.