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MAJOR LEAGUE I (1989)
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Rachel Phelps, a former Las Vegas showgirl, has inherited the Cleveland Indians baseball team from her deceased husband. She wants to move the team to the warmer climate of Miami. In order to do this, she must reduce the season's attendance at Municipal Stadium to under 800,000 tickets sold, which will trigger an escape clause in the team's lease with the city of Cleveland. After she moves the team, she would also be able to release all the current players and replace them with new ones. She instructs her new General Manager Charlie Donovan to hire the worst team possible from a list she has already prepared. The list includes veteran catcher Jake Taylor, who has problems with his knees, and was last playing in Mexico; incarcerated pitcher Ricky Vaughn; power-hitting outfielder Pedro Cerrano, who practices voodoo to try to help him hit curve balls; veteran pitcher Eddie Harris, who no longer has a strong throwing arm and is forced to doctor his pitches; and third baseman Roger Dorn, a one-time star who is under contract but has become a high-priced prima donna. As manager, Phelps hires Lou Brown, a tire salesman who "has managed the Toledo Mud Hens for the last 30 years".
At spring training in Tucson, Arizona, the brash but speedy center fielder Willie "Mays" Hayes crashes camp uninvited, but is invited to join the team after displaying his running speed. Spring training reveals several problems with the new players. Vaughn has an incredible fastball but lacks control. Hayes is able to run the bases quickly but hits only pop flies, and Cerrano, despite his tremendous power, cannot hit a curveball. The veterans have their own problems: Dorn refuses to aggressively field ground balls, afraid that potential injuries will damage his upcoming contract negotiations, and it becomes clear that Taylor's bad knees will be a season-long concern. On the final day, when Brown is to cut the team down to 25 players, Dorn plays a practical joke on Vaughn, making him believe he was cut, resulting in a locker-room brawl.
After the team returns to Cleveland for their opening game, Taylor takes Vaughn and Hayes out to dinner but comes across his ex-girlfriend Lynn, who is dining with her current beau. Taylor believes he can try to win her love again but is disappointed to hear that she is already engaged.
The Indians' season starts off poorly with Vaughn's initial pitching appearances ending in disaster, his wild pitches earning him the derogatory title "Wild Thing." On a rare occasion when Vaughn does throw one for a strike, it is hit well over 400 feet by the New York Yankees' best hitter, Clu Haywood. Brown discovers that Vaughn's eyesight is poor, and after Vaughn is given glasses he becomes very accurate. "Wild Thing" remains Vaughn's nickname, and he becomes the team's ace. The team begins winning and is able to bring their win-loss percentage to .400. Phelps realizes this is not bad enough to stall attendance and decides to demoralize the team further by removing luxuries, such as replacing their team jet airplane with a dilapidated prop-plane, later replacing that with a bus. However, these changes do not affect the Indians' performance and the team continues to improve. Donovan reveals Phelps' plan to Brown who then relays the same news to the players, telling them that if the team plays too well for Phelps to void the lease, she will bring in worse players who will. Taylor says that, since they have nothing to lose, the team should get back at Phelps by winning the pennant. Brown gives the team an incentive by removing one portion of a dress on a cardboard cut-out photo of Phelps taken during her showgirl days for every win the team achieves.
The team plays very well down the stretch of the season, and eventually clinch a tie for the division by beating the Chicago White Sox on the last day of the season. This forces a one-game playoff with the division's co-leaders, the Yankees. Prior to the playoff, Taylor continues to try to woo Lynn back and they share a night together. Vaughn learns that he will not be the starting pitcher for the game and goes to a bar to mope, where he encounters Suzanne Dorn. On the television broadcast of the Indians' victory party, Suzanne had seen her husband leave the team's hotel lobby with another woman; she retaliates by luring Vaughn to sleep with her. Vaughn is unaware of who she is until she tells him when she leaves Vaughn and Taylor's shared apartment.
Taylor advises Vaughn to keep his distance from Dorn for most of the game by staying in the bullpen. The game remains scoreless until the seventh inning when Harris gives up two runs. Cerrano comes to the plate in the bottom of the seventh and misses badly on two curveballs. He angrily threatens his voodoo god Jo-bu and proclaims "If you not help me now. I say Fuck you Jo-Bu, I do it myself," then hits a two-run home run off a curveball on the next pitch to tie the game. (Ironically, Harris -- a devout Christian -- now keeps Cerrano's voodoo doll at his side while warming up.) In the top of the ninth, the Yankees are able to load the bases and Vaughn is called in to relieve Harris, with the crowd going crazy. Vaughn and Taylor are concerned when Dorn comes over to the pitcher's mound, but he only urges Vaughn to strike the next batter out. Vaughn strikes out his nemesis Haywood on three straight fastballs and ends the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Hayes manages to single to first and subsequently steals second. Taylor is next to bat, and after signaling back and forth with Brown, points to the bleachers, calling his shot. However, Taylor bunts instead, catching the Yankees infield off-guard. Despite his weak knees, Taylor gets to first base. Instead of stopping, Hayes rounds third and heads for home plate, catching the Yankees off-guard again. Hayes slides safely into home, giving the Indians the win on a walk-off single. As the team celebrates, Dorn punches Vaughn in the face but then helps him up to continue the celebration. Jake finds Lynn in the stands, who raises her left hand to show that she is no longer wearing an engagement ring.
Rachel Phelps, a former Las Vegas showgirl, has inherited the Cleveland Indians baseball team from her deceased husband. She wants to move the team to the warmer climate of Miami. In order to do this, she must reduce the season's attendance at Municipal Stadium to under 800,000 tickets sold, which will trigger an escape clause in the team's lease with the city of Cleveland. After she moves the team, she would also be able to release all the current players and replace them with new ones. She instructs her new General Manager Charlie Donovan to hire the worst team possible from a list she has already prepared. The list includes veteran catcher Jake Taylor, who has problems with his knees, and was last playing in Mexico; incarcerated pitcher Ricky Vaughn; power-hitting outfielder Pedro Cerrano, who practices voodoo to try to help him hit curve balls; veteran pitcher Eddie Harris, who no longer has a strong throwing arm and is forced to doctor his pitches; and third baseman Roger Dorn, a one-time star who is under contract but has become a high-priced prima donna. As manager, Phelps hires Lou Brown, a tire salesman who "has managed the Toledo Mud Hens for the last 30 years".
At spring training in Tucson, Arizona, the brash but speedy center fielder Willie "Mays" Hayes crashes camp uninvited, but is invited to join the team after displaying his running speed. Spring training reveals several problems with the new players. Vaughn has an incredible fastball but lacks control. Hayes is able to run the bases quickly but hits only pop flies, and Cerrano, despite his tremendous power, cannot hit a curveball. The veterans have their own problems: Dorn refuses to aggressively field ground balls, afraid that potential injuries will damage his upcoming contract negotiations, and it becomes clear that Taylor's bad knees will be a season-long concern. On the final day, when Brown is to cut the team down to 25 players, Dorn plays a practical joke on Vaughn, making him believe he was cut, resulting in a locker-room brawl.
After the team returns to Cleveland for their opening game, Taylor takes Vaughn and Hayes out to dinner but comes across his ex-girlfriend Lynn, who is dining with her current beau. Taylor believes he can try to win her love again but is disappointed to hear that she is already engaged.
The Indians' season starts off poorly with Vaughn's initial pitching appearances ending in disaster, his wild pitches earning him the derogatory title "Wild Thing." On a rare occasion when Vaughn does throw one for a strike, it is hit well over 400 feet by the New York Yankees' best hitter, Clu Haywood. Brown discovers that Vaughn's eyesight is poor, and after Vaughn is given glasses he becomes very accurate. "Wild Thing" remains Vaughn's nickname, and he becomes the team's ace. The team begins winning and is able to bring their win-loss percentage to .400. Phelps realizes this is not bad enough to stall attendance and decides to demoralize the team further by removing luxuries, such as replacing their team jet airplane with a dilapidated prop-plane, later replacing that with a bus. However, these changes do not affect the Indians' performance and the team continues to improve. Donovan reveals Phelps' plan to Brown who then relays the same news to the players, telling them that if the team plays too well for Phelps to void the lease, she will bring in worse players who will. Taylor says that, since they have nothing to lose, the team should get back at Phelps by winning the pennant. Brown gives the team an incentive by removing one portion of a dress on a cardboard cut-out photo of Phelps taken during her showgirl days for every win the team achieves.
The team plays very well down the stretch of the season, and eventually clinch a tie for the division by beating the Chicago White Sox on the last day of the season. This forces a one-game playoff with the division's co-leaders, the Yankees. Prior to the playoff, Taylor continues to try to woo Lynn back and they share a night together. Vaughn learns that he will not be the starting pitcher for the game and goes to a bar to mope, where he encounters Suzanne Dorn. On the television broadcast of the Indians' victory party, Suzanne had seen her husband leave the team's hotel lobby with another woman; she retaliates by luring Vaughn to sleep with her. Vaughn is unaware of who she is until she tells him when she leaves Vaughn and Taylor's shared apartment.
Taylor advises Vaughn to keep his distance from Dorn for most of the game by staying in the bullpen. The game remains scoreless until the seventh inning when Harris gives up two runs. Cerrano comes to the plate in the bottom of the seventh and misses badly on two curveballs. He angrily threatens his voodoo god Jo-bu and proclaims "If you not help me now. I say Fuck you Jo-Bu, I do it myself," then hits a two-run home run off a curveball on the next pitch to tie the game. (Ironically, Harris -- a devout Christian -- now keeps Cerrano's voodoo doll at his side while warming up.) In the top of the ninth, the Yankees are able to load the bases and Vaughn is called in to relieve Harris, with the crowd going crazy. Vaughn and Taylor are concerned when Dorn comes over to the pitcher's mound, but he only urges Vaughn to strike the next batter out. Vaughn strikes out his nemesis Haywood on three straight fastballs and ends the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Hayes manages to single to first and subsequently steals second. Taylor is next to bat, and after signaling back and forth with Brown, points to the bleachers, calling his shot. However, Taylor bunts instead, catching the Yankees infield off-guard. Despite his weak knees, Taylor gets to first base. Instead of stopping, Hayes rounds third and heads for home plate, catching the Yankees off-guard again. Hayes slides safely into home, giving the Indians the win on a walk-off single. As the team celebrates, Dorn punches Vaughn in the face but then helps him up to continue the celebration. Jake finds Lynn in the stands, who raises her left hand to show that she is no longer wearing an engagement ring.
Directed by
David S. Ward
(as David Ward)
Writing credits
David S. Ward
(written by) (as David Ward)
Cast
Tom Berenger...Jake Taylor
Charlie Sheen...Ricky Vaughn
Corbin Bernsen...Roger Dorn
Margaret Whitton...Rachel Phelps
James Gammon...Lou Brown
Rene Russo...Lynn Wells
Wesley Snipes...Willie Mays Hayes
Charles Cyphers...Charlie Donovan
Chelcie Ross...Eddie Harris
Dennis Haysbert...Pedro Cerrano
Andy Romano...Pepper Leach
Bob Uecker...Harry Doyle
Steve Yeager...Duke Temple
Peter Vuckovich...Haywood
Stacy Carroll...Suzanne Dorn
Richard Pickren...Tom
Kevin Crowley...Vic Bolito
Mary Seibel...Thelma
Bill Leff..Bobby James
Mike Bacarella...Johnny Wynn
Skip Griparis..Colorman
Gary Houston...Ross Farmer
Ward Ohrman...Arthur Holloway
Marge Kotlisky...Chaire Holloway
Tony Mockus Jr....Brent Bowden
Deborah Wakeham...Janice Bowden
Neil Flynn...Longshoreman
Keith Uchima...Groundskeeper #1
Kurt Uchima...Groundskeeper #2
William M. Sinacore...Coleman
Richard Baird...Hal Charles
Julia Milaris...Arlene
Roger Unice...Rexman
Michael Thoma...Gentry
Patrick Dollymore...French Waiter
Joe Liss...Guy in Bar (as Joseph Liss)
Gregory Alan Williams...Bull Pen Guard
Peter Ruskin...Gateman
Michael Hart...Burton - Yankees Player
James Deuter...Phil Butler
Jack McLaughlin-Gray...Jerry Simmons
Tim Bell...Body Building Assistant
Joe Soto...Security
Ted Noose...Lyle Matthews
Lenny Rubin...Clubhouse Man
Thomas P. Purdoff..Umpire #1
Jeffrey J. Edwards...Umpire #2
Alexandra Villa...Hostess
Michelle Minyon...Working Class Bar Patron
Alex Flores...Spring Training 1
Michael Kuster...Cleveland Indians Player (#20 Larson)
Michael F. Twarog...Spring Training 2 (as Mike Twarog)
Ted White...Spring Training 3
James Barwick...Yankees Player (uncredited)
Byron Browne...Baseball Player (uncredited)
A.J. DiSpirito...Yankees' Player (uncredited)
Shea Farrell...Tolbert (uncredited)
Con Geary...New York Yankees Player (uncredited)
F. Gary Gray...Extra (uncredited)
The Lowpriest...Indian's Fan (uncredited)
John Meier...Pearson (Indians Player) (uncredited)
Brad Weber...Chicago White Sox Catcher (uncredited)
Produced by
Julie Bergman Sender....co-producer (as Julie Bergman)
Chris Chesser....producer
Mark Rosenberg....executive producer
Joe Roth....co-producer
Irby Smith....producer
Original Music by
James Newton Howard
Cinematography by
Reynaldo Villalobos
(director of photography)
Film Editing by
Dennis M. Hill
Casting by
Joanne Zaluski
Production Design by
Jeffrey Howard
Art Direction by
John Krenz Reinhart Jr.
Set Decoration by
Celeste Lee
Costume Design by
Erica Edell Phillips
Makeup Department
Judith Denny....assistant hair stylist (as Judith-Ann Denny)
Judith Denny....assistant makeup artist (as Judith-Ann Denny)
Frances Mathias....hair stylist
Peggy Teague....assistant hair stylist (as Peggy Teague-Tamme)
Peggy Teague....assistant makeup artist (as Peggy Teague-Tamme)
Joann Wabisca....makeup artist
Production Management
Robin Forman....post-production supervisor
Edward D. Markley....unit production manager (as Edward Markley)
Irby Smith....unit production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Louis D'Esposito....first assistant director
Jerry Grandey....first assistant director
Christine Larson....second assistant director
Richard Patrick....second assistant director
Irby Smith....second unit director
Michael-McCloud Thompson....dga trainee
Art Department
Eain Bankins....property assistant
Peter Bankins....property master
Rick Benning....swing
Joanne Brown....sign painter: Tuscon
Lloyd Brown....assistant property master (as Loyd Brown)
Patrick Cassidy....assistant set decorator (as Patrick Thomas Cassidy)
Steve Chesser....landscape designer: Tuscon
Carla Curry....set dresser: Tuscon
Robert Detweiller....construction: Tuscon (as Robert Detweiler)
Amanda J. Flick....scenic artist (as Amanda Flick)
Gary Gagliardo....construction foreman
Paul Arthur Hartman....lead man
John M. Holliday....lead carpenter
Jack Johnson....storyboard artist
David L. McGuire....assistant property master
Roger Meryett....art department coordinator (as Roger D. Meryett)
Deb Navins....property assistant
Randall Ott....property assistant (as C. Randall Ott)
Bill Rea....set designer
Jon Reeves...carpenter
James Risch....carpenter
Adam Silverman....on-set decorator
Tom Southwell....conceptual artist
Sound Department
George H. Anderson....conforming sound editor (as George Anderson)
Kevin Bartnof....foley artist (as Kevin Bartnoff)
James Beshears....adr supervisor
Lucy Coldsnow-Smith....foley editor (as Lucy Coldsnow)
Laura Derrick....boom operator
Don Digirolamo....sound re-recording mixer
Patrick English....sound effects apprentice
Robert Glass....sound re-recording mixer (as Bob Glass)
John Haeny....sound effects editor
Robin Harlan....foley artist
J. Paul Huntsman....supervising sound editor
Robert Knudson....sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
Bruce Lacey....foley editor
Lauren Palmer....adr editor (as Lauren J. Palmer)
John Peate....cable man: Tuscon
Carolann Sanchez-Shapiro....sound effects assistant (as Carolann S. Sanchez)
Matt Sawelson....dialogue editor (as Matthew G. Sawelson)
Brad Sherman....sound effects editor
Fontaine Stevens....cable person
Bill Thiederman....sound re-recording mixer (as Thiederman)
Susumu Tokunow....sound mixer
David S. Ward
(as David Ward)
Writing credits
David S. Ward
(written by) (as David Ward)
Cast
Tom Berenger...Jake Taylor
Charlie Sheen...Ricky Vaughn
Corbin Bernsen...Roger Dorn
Margaret Whitton...Rachel Phelps
James Gammon...Lou Brown
Rene Russo...Lynn Wells
Wesley Snipes...Willie Mays Hayes
Charles Cyphers...Charlie Donovan
Chelcie Ross...Eddie Harris
Dennis Haysbert...Pedro Cerrano
Andy Romano...Pepper Leach
Bob Uecker...Harry Doyle
Steve Yeager...Duke Temple
Peter Vuckovich...Haywood
Stacy Carroll...Suzanne Dorn
Richard Pickren...Tom
Kevin Crowley...Vic Bolito
Mary Seibel...Thelma
Bill Leff..Bobby James
Mike Bacarella...Johnny Wynn
Skip Griparis..Colorman
Gary Houston...Ross Farmer
Ward Ohrman...Arthur Holloway
Marge Kotlisky...Chaire Holloway
Tony Mockus Jr....Brent Bowden
Deborah Wakeham...Janice Bowden
Neil Flynn...Longshoreman
Keith Uchima...Groundskeeper #1
Kurt Uchima...Groundskeeper #2
William M. Sinacore...Coleman
Richard Baird...Hal Charles
Julia Milaris...Arlene
Roger Unice...Rexman
Michael Thoma...Gentry
Patrick Dollymore...French Waiter
Joe Liss...Guy in Bar (as Joseph Liss)
Gregory Alan Williams...Bull Pen Guard
Peter Ruskin...Gateman
Michael Hart...Burton - Yankees Player
James Deuter...Phil Butler
Jack McLaughlin-Gray...Jerry Simmons
Tim Bell...Body Building Assistant
Joe Soto...Security
Ted Noose...Lyle Matthews
Lenny Rubin...Clubhouse Man
Thomas P. Purdoff..Umpire #1
Jeffrey J. Edwards...Umpire #2
Alexandra Villa...Hostess
Michelle Minyon...Working Class Bar Patron
Alex Flores...Spring Training 1
Michael Kuster...Cleveland Indians Player (#20 Larson)
Michael F. Twarog...Spring Training 2 (as Mike Twarog)
Ted White...Spring Training 3
James Barwick...Yankees Player (uncredited)
Byron Browne...Baseball Player (uncredited)
A.J. DiSpirito...Yankees' Player (uncredited)
Shea Farrell...Tolbert (uncredited)
Con Geary...New York Yankees Player (uncredited)
F. Gary Gray...Extra (uncredited)
The Lowpriest...Indian's Fan (uncredited)
John Meier...Pearson (Indians Player) (uncredited)
Brad Weber...Chicago White Sox Catcher (uncredited)
Produced by
Julie Bergman Sender....co-producer (as Julie Bergman)
Chris Chesser....producer
Mark Rosenberg....executive producer
Joe Roth....co-producer
Irby Smith....producer
Original Music by
James Newton Howard
Cinematography by
Reynaldo Villalobos
(director of photography)
Film Editing by
Dennis M. Hill
Casting by
Joanne Zaluski
Production Design by
Jeffrey Howard
Art Direction by
John Krenz Reinhart Jr.
Set Decoration by
Celeste Lee
Costume Design by
Erica Edell Phillips
Makeup Department
Judith Denny....assistant hair stylist (as Judith-Ann Denny)
Judith Denny....assistant makeup artist (as Judith-Ann Denny)
Frances Mathias....hair stylist
Peggy Teague....assistant hair stylist (as Peggy Teague-Tamme)
Peggy Teague....assistant makeup artist (as Peggy Teague-Tamme)
Joann Wabisca....makeup artist
Production Management
Robin Forman....post-production supervisor
Edward D. Markley....unit production manager (as Edward Markley)
Irby Smith....unit production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Louis D'Esposito....first assistant director
Jerry Grandey....first assistant director
Christine Larson....second assistant director
Richard Patrick....second assistant director
Irby Smith....second unit director
Michael-McCloud Thompson....dga trainee
Art Department
Eain Bankins....property assistant
Peter Bankins....property master
Rick Benning....swing
Joanne Brown....sign painter: Tuscon
Lloyd Brown....assistant property master (as Loyd Brown)
Patrick Cassidy....assistant set decorator (as Patrick Thomas Cassidy)
Steve Chesser....landscape designer: Tuscon
Carla Curry....set dresser: Tuscon
Robert Detweiller....construction: Tuscon (as Robert Detweiler)
Amanda J. Flick....scenic artist (as Amanda Flick)
Gary Gagliardo....construction foreman
Paul Arthur Hartman....lead man
John M. Holliday....lead carpenter
Jack Johnson....storyboard artist
David L. McGuire....assistant property master
Roger Meryett....art department coordinator (as Roger D. Meryett)
Deb Navins....property assistant
Randall Ott....property assistant (as C. Randall Ott)
Bill Rea....set designer
Jon Reeves...carpenter
James Risch....carpenter
Adam Silverman....on-set decorator
Tom Southwell....conceptual artist
Sound Department
George H. Anderson....conforming sound editor (as George Anderson)
Kevin Bartnof....foley artist (as Kevin Bartnoff)
James Beshears....adr supervisor
Lucy Coldsnow-Smith....foley editor (as Lucy Coldsnow)
Laura Derrick....boom operator
Don Digirolamo....sound re-recording mixer
Patrick English....sound effects apprentice
Robert Glass....sound re-recording mixer (as Bob Glass)
John Haeny....sound effects editor
Robin Harlan....foley artist
J. Paul Huntsman....supervising sound editor
Robert Knudson....sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
Bruce Lacey....foley editor
Lauren Palmer....adr editor (as Lauren J. Palmer)
John Peate....cable man: Tuscon
Carolann Sanchez-Shapiro....sound effects assistant (as Carolann S. Sanchez)
Matt Sawelson....dialogue editor (as Matthew G. Sawelson)
Brad Sherman....sound effects editor
Fontaine Stevens....cable person
Bill Thiederman....sound re-recording mixer (as Thiederman)
Susumu Tokunow....sound mixer