I don’t know about you, but with heat indices reaching well into the triple digits recently, I’ve been feeling more inclined to stay in the comfortable confines of my apartment and enjoy the wonderful invention known as air conditioning.

Since I’ve been cooped up inside, I’ve had lots of time to fill. So what have I been doing? Well, naturally, watching lots of movies and baseball, which got me thinking about all the great baseball movies out there. In fact, there are so many, I decided to count down my 10 favorite baseball movies of all time.

Before I get started, though, I want to remind you this is my subjective list. I’m not going by the movies that are the most well-acted or have the most compelling plot lines. These are just the ones I have enjoyed watching the most over the years. Now, on to the countdown:

_Honorable Mentions_

*Benchwarmers (2006)* — A comedy about three older dudes who aren’t popular, but decide to stick up for “the little guy” by taking down the elitist little league teams in the area. It had a good message about not being a bully as well as some pretty good comedy, including plenty of quotable lines (something I enjoy sharing way too much).

*Angels in the Outfield (1994)* — Before Joseph Gordon-Levitt became the star he is today, he was the little kid who could see angels in this feel-good family comedy. It features some pretty funny moments and leave you with that warm, fuzzy feeling afterward.

_Top 10_

*10. Hardball (2001)* — Keanu Reeves may not seem like a natural fit for this list, but “Hardball” is an amazing story of a little league team in inner-city Chicago. You can’t help but fall in love with the kids on the team, especially G-Baby, the team’s youngest member. This movie’s ending is still one of the saddest, no matter how many times I see it.

*9. For Love of the Game (1999)* — The first of multiple appearances by Kevin Costner on this list, “For Love of the Game” does a great job capturing the emotion pitcher Billy Chapel feels while on the mound for what will likely be the last start of his career. The film also succeeds in balancing baseball and off-the-field storylines while also getting the viewer involved in Chapel’s life.

*8. Fever Pitch (2005)* — Yes, I know many people dislike Jimmy Fallon. And yes, I really couldn’t care less about “Red Sox Nation” anymore. However, “Fever Pitch” is a pretty funny movie that does a perfect job capturing what it’s like to be a baseball fan, especially one of a team that rarely wins it all. This movie is a great way to introduce those less familiar with baseball to what it’s actually like to be a diehard fan in a way they can also enjoy.

*7. Bad News Bears (1976)* — The remake featuring Billy Bob Thornton is not bad, but the original “Bad News Bears” is truly a classic. Walter Matthau does a great job as the irritable coach, and the movie is full of classic comedy. It’s an older movie that will never be forgotten.

*6. Eight Men Out (1988) *— From the perspective of a White Sox fan and someone who was partially named after Shoeless Joe Jackson, “Eight Men Out” can be a little depressing, and it may not always hold the interest of non-baseball fans. But for those who know the history of the Black Sox scandal, it’s a fascinating movie. To see how the players really felt about owner Charlie Comiskey as well as the dynamics within the team during the World Series is really entertaining, and the movie is very underrated.

*5. The Sandlot (1993)* — I’m not trying to offend anyone, but I firmly believe anyone who didn’t watch “The Sandlot” growing up was deprived of an essential childhood experience. The story of a group of neighborhood kids trying to get an autographed Babe Ruth baseball back from “The Beast” is one of those films everyone should see at least once.

*4. Major League and Major League II (1989 and 1994)* — I know it’s probably cheating to put two movies in one spot, but it’s my list, and I’ll do what I want. The original “Major League” is a riot, from ex-con fireballer Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn to voodoo magic power hitter Pedro Cerrano to speedy outfielder Willie Mays Hays. And while the sequel may not have been as good, I couldn’t leave Isuro “Kamikaze” Tanaka and his marbles out of the conversation.

*3. Bull Durham (1988)* — Kevin Costner makes his second appearance on this list as minor league catcher Crash Davis, who is brought to the minor league Durham Bulls to mentor young hotshot pitcher “Nuke” LaLoosh. The film offers plenty of comedy about life in the minor leagues, such as a classic teaching about what to say during interviews, as well as off-the-field drama surrounding team groupie/philosopher Annie Savoy.

*2. A League of Their Own (1992)* — The story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that operated during World War II, “A League of Their Own” captures the hardships the league faced while presenting it in a usually-funny way. Tom Hanks does a marvelous job as manager and drunk Jimmy Dugan. This movie is one of my all-time favorites, and though I could probably quote you every line from the entire movie, it will still never get old.

*1. Field of Dreams (1989)* — Once again, Kevin Costner struck gold with a baseball film. A play on the story of Shoeless Joe Jackson, “Field of Dreams” just has a magical feel about it when you watch it. It really taps into the mystique of baseball’s history and uses it to make one heck of a movie. The speech given by Terrence Mann (played by the great James Earl Jones) near the end is also one for the ages.

_Joe is a senior in Media._*