Welcome back SportsBuzz Nation. I have to admit it’s been a little tough coming up with a blogging topic the last few days. I’ve scoured the internet, baseball’s really light on any news, unless you want to talk about which no name pitcher you’ve never heard of is going to make the Indians opening day roster because he doesn’t have anymore “options” left. I looked to the NBA and well, since it seems to pretty much be LeBron and the Cavs versus Kobe and the Lakers, there really isn’t much interest there yet. The NFL is hitting a decent point with the draft just around the corner and the opening of Free Agency last Friday, but I just couldn’t come up with anything that really hit home with local teams. Finally I was surfing the net and came to this story about college football helmets and a debate about who had the best. That’s about the time I realized that wow, spring practice really needs to start soon.

So in the interest of needing a blogging topic for the loyal Buzz Nation members out there, I’ve decided to fill the space with the first ever Fan’s Interference Guide to Baseball Movies. The following are the top 10 baseball movies in the mind of this blogger. So let’s get right to it, and let’s get some debate going in the comments section below. The Repeat score at the end of each movie represents the probability that I’d sit down and watch this movie again.

5= I’d sit through this one at 3 in the morning on A&E on a work night.

1= I’d rather watch Steel Magnolias in a room full of emotionally distraught females.

Now on to the list ---

Honorable Mention: Before we get into the meat of the list let’s kick out a few movies in the Honorable Mention area, mostly movies made before this bloggers time, good movies just not one’s that keep my attention. Some have great subject matter, some have great actors and some where just fun.

Angels in the Outfield - This Disney staple was a classic Disney feel good movie, entertaining but not too high on the reality scale. REPEAT - 2

Bang the Drum Slowly - Frankly this makes the list on pure greatness alone. I’ve only most of it but it’s good quality entertainment and when you have Robert DeNiro it’s has to be on the list. REPEAT - 1.5

Damn Yankees - Again another movie/musical that I have only seen from a high school drama club presentation. Considering most see this one as a classic baseball movie I figured I’d give it some props. REPEAT - 1 (Musicals don’t fall under this blogger’s favorite genre)

The Fan- A film most don’t even know about, it starred this writer’s personal favorite Wesley Snipes which helped it make this list. The movie does lose points when the main character jumps ship from Atlanta (my favorite team) to run to the money in San Francisco. Reality issues plague this one deeply. REPEAT - 2.5

Fever Pitch - This baseball comedy with Jimmy Falon and Drew Barrymore is surprisingly addictive. Riding one guys obsession with the Red Sox and burning love for his new found girlfriend, this flick takes the fan’s perspective and reproduces it surprisingly well. REPEAT - 2.5

Mr. Baseball - Come on Tom Sellek in Japan. I mean damn it’s Tom Selleck. REPEAT - 2

The Natural - Another classic baseball movie that just missed the top ten. Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Kim Bassinger and Barbara Hershey and Glen Close provide a star studded cast in this one. REPEAT 2

Pride of the Yankees - Classic but just tough to watch those old movies REPEAT 1.5

Rookie of the Year - Another baseball comedy about a little kid who ends up pitching for the Cubs. Fun, mindless and mildly entertaining. And John Candy. REPEAT - 2.5

Sandlot - A personal favorite about a bunch of kids who lose their ball but discovery a true gem in the neighbor. REPEAT - 3.5 (I almost always get sucked into this one)

The Scout - Another film most don’t know about. Starring Brendan Fraser as a crazy star pitcher who can’t miss. Reality is out the window but the entertainment value is good. REPEAT - 1.5

Alright now enough with the mindless reading onto the big stuff.

10. - EVERYONE’S HERO - A Christopher Reeves tale about a little boy who’s dad is an equipment manager for the Yankees when Babe Ruth’s lucky “talking” bat “Darling” is stolen by the rival Chicago Cubs pitcher. When youngster Yankee Irving decides to find the bat to save his dad’s job he embarks on a crazy crazy journey. Heart warming and family oriented, this animated tale is a must see for all baseball fans -- Young and Not as Young.

REPEAT - 3.5

9. SUMMER CATCH - Probably a surprise addition to any list. This Freddie Prinze Jr., Jessica Biel, Matthew Lilliard tale about a Cape Cod league team of misfits is actually a fairly good rendition of what it might be like to play in a summer pro league while trying to get a shot at the Majors. Characters range from flame throwing million dollar bonus babies to hard luck bad tempered pitchers looking for that final break. A movie with good characters and some fun moments. Surprising realistic and believable.

REPEAT - 4

8. FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME - the first of Mr. Costner’s movies on this list, this one really surprised me the first time I scene it. The whole movie is seen through the main characters eyes as he is on the mound pitching the game of his life all the while the audience sees flashbacks of his career and personal life. Another refreshingly accurate portrayal of the game. Costner plays the aging at the end of his career pitcher very believably.

REPEAT - 3.5

7. BAD NEWS BEARS - one of the classic baseball comedies. If you haven’t seen this one you need to get up right now and remedy that. Not for the light hearted though it is a PG movie. Oh make sure you see the original 1976 version. No Billy Bob Thornton that way.

REPEAT - 3.5 (on tv) 4 (if uncensored or on DVD)

6. THE ROOKIE - Another Disney special. This one a true life story about a high school teacher/coach who loses a bet to his team and tries out for a Major League baseball team, after realizing he can still toss it about 90+. Starring Dennis Quaid as the title character this one again follows reality pretty close to the vest. Very enjoyable movie and it’s got good humor as well.

REPEAT - 4 (It helps the repeat factor that this is also one of my wife’s favorite movies)

5. EIGHT MEN OUT - A movie telling the tale about quite possibly the biggest scandal in Baseball history. The Black Sox scandal of the 1919 Chicago White Sox who supposedly threw the World Series that year. Made in 1980 this one still stands up against some of the newer movies being made. More of a history lesson than an entertainment piece this one is another quality watch for any baseball fan.

REPEAT - 3

4. FIELD OF DREAMS - One word - Classic. Most people would have this at the top of the list, understandably. One of the greatest SPORTS movies of all time, not just baseball, this one also stands the test of time. A great tale of a man being spoken too by voices who tell him to build a baseball field in his cornfield so that ghosts can come and play. A wonderful movie.

REPEAT - 4

3. A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN - A female baseball league? Rosie O’Donnell? Madonna? Geena Davis? A surprising refreshing film depicting the rise of two female baseball players who leave the farm to join the fledging female baseball league while all the guys are off fighting the war. Great characters make this movie a very enjoyable watch. Tom Hank’s turn as the famous former big leaguer turned manager is classic and worth the price of admission alone.

REPEAT - 5

2. MAJOR LEAGUE - Ah the absolute BEST Baseball comedy to ever include Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger and Wesley Snipes. With characters like Cerrano, Jake Taylor, Willie Mays Hayes, Roger Dorn and Rachel Phelps you have the perfect odd ball grouping. Throw in Bob Uecker and it’s just simply hilarious.

REPEAT - 5 (Although on TV when censored it’s not nearly as fun)

And finally -- drum roll please!

1. BULL DURHAM -- Number one like a 100 mph fastball. I’ve never been a Minor League ball player but I can’t imagine it would be too different than what is seen in this movie. From the veteran catcher punching the million dollar pitcher in the face to the same catcher promising to get his teammates a rain out this movie delivers on everything a baseball movie should be: funny, realistic, good baseball scenes, quality romance and of course your happy ending. The classic image of Crash Davis telling his pitcher, who has finally found his control, to hit the mascot just to put some fear into the batter, is classic. Probably not all that unrealistic either. For my tastes it doesn’t get any better that Bull Durham.

REPEAT - 5 (Naturally)

So there you have it. I hope everyone enjoys the trips down memory lane. I know many of you have different ideas of what is a great baseball movie and I’d love to hear you all sound off below with your ideas, comments and lists.

Stay tuned for another Fan’s Interference, when the conversation could change to well, anything.