MovieChat Forums > Mr. 3000 (2004) Discussion > good accuracy, unlike most baseball film...

good accuracy, unlike most baseball films

posted 19 years ago by che-G
25 replies | jump to latest

The thing I liked about this movie was the details.
The 1995 home brewers jersey was correct
the brewers WERE in the national league at that time
they mention in passing the transition from the A.L. to N.L. of the brewers in the film
the jumbotron that show Mac shows his average at .032, the correct number as stated in the movie
the hidden ball trick was used legally, with the pitcher not on the mound,

the film was not inanely unbelievable, as the team wasn't good and ended up aiming for third place in a six team division, and Bernie Mac totally blew upon coming back. Also, there was a surprising, pleasant ending, that went against the sappy conventions of bad sports movies
when it was Mac up in the bottom of the ninth, I started to groan, but was pleasantly surprised by the twist. also T-Rex's homer total was not unbelievable, hovering around 53 or so. And Mac's stats are surprisingly realistic, with his total of 91 RBI's one year, a .314 career average, and (3000) hits, all good but not roll-your-eyes unbelievable

as a baseball fan, it is painful to watch slime like rookie of the year with its illegal plays and an impossible NL-NL world series, and I was grateful for the accuracy of this movie

[–] blkgoose 19 years ago

One thing seemed to not be accurate. Wouldn't he have to wait 5 more years to get on a Hall Of Fame ballot after his 2nd retirement? How could he be on the very next ballot?

[–] che-G 19 years ago

that's an excellent point. didn't catch that. he would have to be 52 before eligibility

[–] johnnymarbles 19 years ago

The detail was pretty crappy in my opinion....Miller park wasnt even open in 95...that irked me in the movie

[–] mithrandir91-1 19 years ago

it is possible they were talking about the next ballot he was elligible for. The fact that they showed Miller Park in 95 kinda got me too.

[–] Gusdog 19 years ago

Well, that irks me too, but in fairness, County Stadium doesn't exist any longer. Still, they could've made sets to make another stadium look like County.

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[–] ccguy 19 years ago

I only saw it for the first time last night, but I don't recall the '95 scenes blatantly looking like Miller Park. Did they show the roof or other marks that were unmistakably that of an indoor stadium? I understand they shot it at Miller Park, but I recall the scenes being limited to long shots of the field and stuff like that to minimize the anachronistic effect. Seemed like they were making the best of the situation at hand.

However, three homestands against the Astros in one month? No way! They couldn't even be makeup games, since both teams play in indoor stadiums.

[–] Blackjack254 9 years ago

they showed the roof, the slide, Yes, Miller Park is unmistakable

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[–] dodgers_devotee 17 years ago

The only reason why miller park was used in the 1995 scenes is because county stadium was already torn down (back in 2001). plus their isn't a stadium that looks like county stadium now these days with all these new "downtown" ballparks (at least 95% of MLB teams have new stadiums now)

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[–] funkcongress 19 years ago

Are you saying the Brewers were in the NL in 1995? If that's what you meant, you're wrong. The Brewers switched over to the NL in 1998, part of a re-alignment that included the new expansion teams in Arizona and Tampa Bay. http://www.baseball -reference.com/leagu es/AL_1995.shtml

Just to clarify. No ill will intended. Sorry if I misunderstood you.

Kaz

[–] Spyder130 19 years ago

As for the Hall of Fame thing, exceptions have been made for the eligibility rule. It's usually when a player dies, but there have been instances where the waiting period has been waived. Roberto Clemente and Darryl Kile are both examples; they both appeared on the first ballot after they died. I don't think it's totally ridiculous to show them waiving the waiting period for Stan Ross since he only came back for one 60 at bat stunt.

But one little thing that bothered me was the 93 RBI quote somebody mentioned. The year in question was 1981, which was a strike-shortened season. The Brewers played only 109 games that year, so if Ross drove in 93 runs, that would have averaged out to 138 RBI over a full season. RBI totals in the early '80s were generally low, too, and it seems highly unlikely a contact hitter with some pop (I got the impression from the movie Ross' skills were Gwynn-like even if his attitude wasn't) would put up a total like that. In fact, Eddie Murray led the AL that year with only 78 RBI, so Ross would have been far and away the best in the league.

Probably nitpicky, but they kind of screwed up by picking 1981 for that line. But I really liked how they got the '95 Brewers uniforms right, too. It's a pet peeve of mine when movies screw up historical uniforms.

[–] esouki22 19 years ago

i believe the year in the movie was 1991

[–] yankee9642 19 years ago

If the year was supposed to be in the 90's, then why are all the cars newer models? I believe his little reporter girlfriend was in a 04 Mustang. This was the worst movie I'd even seen in my life.

[–] Spyder130 19 years ago

The very beginning's set in the '90s. He makes a comeback 10 years later, so most of the movie is set in the present.

That's the whole point of the movie.

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[–] sigmoid23 18 years ago

in regard to the accuracy of the baseball, what's up with Stan SLIDING into first base when he gets his first hit?? I'm no expert but I always thought sliding into first was against the rules. Am I wrong?

[–] obteene 18 years ago

no, sliding is legal. it is actually a common practicew by speedy lead off hitters and pinch hitters who have really good speed. it is also usually done on bunts, so the movie did get that situation correct in the movie. sliding into first is sometime shamed upon by the coaches because there is a greater chance of injury unlike sliding into other bases because there is not muh room to slide. it is purely legal though.

[–] steve-brink 17 years ago

First base, unlike any other base, you are allowed to run through so you don't have to break your stride; conversely, the defense does not have to tag runners to retire, only touching the bag. Many players nowadays seem to think that sliding into first shows hustle, because many players are doing it.

In Little League (under 12, only) baseball it is illegal to slide head first into any base, but it is not so in every other level of baseball rules.

On a note, I was umpire at a HS game that was on cable TV from Arcadia High (CA), a kid from Glendale High (CA), slide head first into first base and the anouncers started to question the call. After the slo-motion replay was shown, you can see clearly the runner was out by almost two feet, since he was still coming down to the bag. In real time it looks like I missed the call, but the replay shows that runner slowing down when he broke stride.

Running through the bag is what ought to be done 98% of the time. Sliding at first would be appropriate when the throw takes the first baseman off the bag and he must tag the runner. The play where Bernie Mac slides, does show the first baseman doing one of those sweeping motions as it he was attempting to tag him, so his slide seem to be the right play. However, "old school" players rarely slid at first base, especially head first.

[–] SProc72287 18 years ago

sliding into 1st is totally legal, but it really is frowned upon bc it only slows you down, doesnt help at all at first base

i like that they got the old uni's right, only the early scenes at Miller jump out at me as inaccurate

[–] sivman13 18 years ago

wasn't that a very poor defensive play by the astros on the last play of the game? i mean, why even worry about the batter in that situation? the only one they needed to worry about was the lead runner, so why wouldn't they have checked the runner before even thinking about throwing to first? very stupid play, IMO. it should have been runners on 1st and 3rd, and stan ross still would be at 2999 bc it woulda been fielder's choice

[–] baran_erik 9 years ago

lol Here's yer sign. The question about the year in which he had 93 RBI, not the year in which the movie was set.

[–] baran_erik 9 years ago

No, Miller Park didn't exist in '95, yet in flashback scenes the Brewers were playing there then.

[–] mrrodericnelson 10 years ago

Read the "Goofs, Trivia and Anachronisms". Film had quite a few "accuracy" errors.

[–] SEINFELDbeatFRIENDS 10 years ago

WHo said this was set in 1991??? They even say to Stan "Call me when you get a hit in this Millenium".

[–] baran_erik 9 years ago

The one glaring mistake was when he said he was elected to the HOF "on the very next ballot". Players have to be retired from the game for five years before becoming eligible for enshrinement.

[–] chas437 8 years ago

Yeah, I know. OP is full of it, this is the worst baseball movie ever made. Its not accurate at all. Bernie Mack is not believable playing an athlete.

[–] baran_erik 8 years ago

Oh, I wouldn't go that far. It Happens Every Spring is terrible, the Babe Ruth bio with the guy who played the title role in the TV show Life of Riley was awful, Fear Strikes Out, The Lou Gehrig Story, Safe At Home...all were worse than this one. The OP was correct in what he said they got right, it was Mac and his rusty gate swing that ruined it.

There aren't many baseball movies that have guys, or girls, who come close to being believable on the field.