Anniversary

Iconic Movie Celebrates 25 Years

By: Tyler Sekula

"The Indians win it! The Indians win it! Oh my god, the Indians win it!"

An ecstatic Harry Doyle jumps out of his chair as speedy Willy Mays Hayes crosses the plate. The Cleveland Indians are the American League Champions.

Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?

That's because it is.

The iconic cover of Major League
Credit: (IMDb)

Major League, which celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier this month, is widely considered to be one of the greatest baseball movies of all time. Released on April 7, 1989, the film grossed nearly $9 million during its opening weekend on the silver screen.

"It's hard to believe that it [the movie] has been been out for 25 years," Sam Frank, a baseball enthusiast, said. "It is definitely in my top five must-watch sports movies of all-time."

Starring Tom Berenger (Jake Taylor) and Charlie Sheen (Ricky Vaughn), the film tells the improbable story of a Cleveland Indians team that was built to lose.

"When I saw the script it wasn't like catnip, it was like crack," Charlie Sheen said in an interview with SI.com.

After a former showgirl, Rachel Phelps (Margaret Whitton), inherits the team from her late husband, plans to move the team from the chilly Cleveland to the warmer climates of South Beach begin to swirl. However, in order to make the move official, Phelps must first lower the attendance at the games, effectively ending the terms of the team's contract in Cleveland.

Convinced finishing last in the standings will drive the fans away, Phelps orders new manager Charlie Donavan (Charles Cyphers) to create the worst possible team, designed specifically to lose. In order to satisfy his new boss, Donavan proceeds to recruit several misfit players to fill out the roster.

These new players include Jake Taylor, a former professional player who is now washed-up and has extensive knee problems; the mostly-blind ex-convict Ricky Vaughn (known as Wild Thing for his incredibly wild pitches prior to getting glasses); the power-hitting cuban Pedro Cerrano (Dennis Haysbert) who can't hit a curve ball to save his life;  Roger Dorn (Corbin Bernsen), a former star third-baseman with an ego the side of Jupiter; and Willy Mayes Hayes (Wesley Snipes), the man with lightening feet who can't hit the broadside of a barn.

"I like Jake. He's a journeymen, a grinder-type guy," Colorado Rockies Outfielder Michael Cuddyer told the Denver Post. "I'm not much of a Wild Thing guy, and I'm definitely not as fast as Willie Mays Hayes."

Taylor (left) calms down Vaughn (right) on the mound
Credit: (Nextimpulsesports.com)

After a slow start to the season, the team surprisingly starts to win.

Outraged, Phelps decides to remove all of their luxuries in hopes of demoralizing the team into losing. However, despite the less than desirable conditions, the team remains relentless and continues to improve.

Hoping to pump up his players even more, Dovavan decides to tell the team about Phelps' plan to move to Miami and release all of the players on the team following the season. The team decides to get back at Phelps by winning the pennant and not allowing her to move the team.

After playing well down the stretch, the Indians are able to finish the season in a two-way tie for the division title with their rival New York Yankees, forcing a tie-breaker for the pennant.

Hayes (left) talks to Yankees slugger Clu Haywood(right) at first
Credit: (Craveonline.com)

Following a Hayes single and stolen base with two outs in the ninth, Taylor comes to the plate with a chance to win the game for the Indians against the Yankees best pitcher. After pointing to the stands to single a home run was coming, Taylor decides to bunt down the third baseline, right as Hayes takes off for third. The play catches the Yankees off guard, allowing Taylor to reach first, scoring Hayes, in one of the most dramatic sports finishes of all time.

"The ending had me on the edge of my seat," Matt Cunningham, a fan of the movie, said. "I kind of knew that they were going to win, but I wanted to see how. Once Taylor bunted the ball, I knew it was going to be a close play."

Since its release in 1989, Major League has seen two successful sequels in Major League II and Major League:Back to the Minors. Given the series' incredible popularity, there have been rumors of the possibility of another movie in the near future.
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Link List:

Topps Commemorating Baseball Cards for Major League Characters

Watch the Movie Online on Amazon.com

15 Things You Didn't Know About the Movie