Despite having no interest in baseball as a kid, Rookie of the Year was a movie that I rented a couple of times in the early 90s. Released in 1993, Rookie of the Year is directed by one half of The Wet Bandits (from Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York) – Daniel Stern. This is as cheesy and predictable as you can get, but it is still a fun movie, and if you are looking for something to watch with the family, you can do a heck of a lot worse than this.
Where to Watch Rookie of the Year
Rookie of the Year was released on July 7, 1993. You can stream the film from a digital platform.
The Movie Review
Plot and Characters
Our star of the movie is a young Thomas Ian Nicholas. If you think that he looks familiar, you probably recognize him as Kevin from the American Pie movies. He plays the role of a kid called Henry. Henry loves baseball, and he dreams of one day playing in the MLB. Henry is a very likable kid, and you cannot help but root for this kid!
A Magical Twist: From Injury to MLB Pitcher
Well, while playing baseball, Henry breaks his arm, but due to the way his arm was “fixed,” he can now throw a baseball at an insane speed! Henry and some buddies go to watch the Chicago Cubs play, and when there is a ball hit into the stands and they catch it, and Henry throws it back.
It is here that his new special talent comes to attention! The Cubs freak out over this, and the manager does a test on Henry and discovers that he can throw the ball at 100 miles per hour. This leads to the Cubs signing Henry to their roster, which is a dream for Henry as his hero, Chet The Rocket Steadman (played by Gary Busey), is still playing.
Cheesy But Charming
Yes, Rookie of the Year is a completely ridiculous sports movie, but it is also a lot of fun. You know where it is all going a mile away, and of course, Henry gets his chance to win the big game and learn a few things about himself, life, and so on, along the way. The added romance of his childhood hero and his mum… yeah, that one felt a little weird if I am being honest, and the movie did not really need it.
Balancing Dreams and Childhood: Heartwarming Themes
I liked the way that the movie showed Henry living his dream, but at the same time, had him still wanting to be a kid and play with his friends. It gave the movie that extra little bit of heart and humility. Do not get me wrong, it is still completely over the top and ridiculous, but it will probably have you smiling through most of the movie.
A Movie for All Ages: Sharing the Magic
Quite a few years back, I got my son, who I think was around 9 at the time, to watch this, and he loved it. I do think that even kids of today would have a fun time with this, and they do not even need to be into baseball to do so. It is cheesy as hell and, as I said, super predictable, but the final shot of Henry with his championship ring was a very cool way to bring the movie to a close, and it was something that I did not actually appreciate when I watched this as a kid.
