Big Leaguer

Big Leaguer
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Robert Aldrich
Produced by Matthew Rapf
Written by Herbert Baker
John McNulty (story)
Starring Edward G. Robinson
Vera-Ellen
Jeff Richards
Richard Jaeckel
William Campbell
Music by Alberto Colombo
Cinematography William C. Mellor
Edited by Ben Lewis
Production
company
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • August 19, 1953 (1953-08-19)
Running time
 71 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $498,000[1][2]
Box office $559,000[1]

Big Leaguer is a 1953 film. It starred Edward G. Robinson and was the first film directed by Robert Aldrich.

Although this story is fiction, Robinson's character in it, Hans Lobert, was an actual baseball player who played for five Major League Baseball teams and managed the Philadelphia Phillies. Third-billed in the cast, Jeff Richards was a professional ballplayer before he became an actor, and Hall of Fame pitcher Carl Hubbell appears as himself.

Plot

John "Hans" Lobert runs a training camp in Florida for baseball's New York Giants. Every year, he evaluates the 18 to- 22-year-old hopefuls to pick the best for a minor league contract. All have dreams and talent, but the elimination whittles them down to a lucky few who will get the $150-a-month contract.

Lobert's niece comes down from the home office in New York and finds herself attracted to one of the players, the tall, quiet Adam Polachuk. Polachuk, the best prospect at third base, is trying to earn a spot on the team without his father knowing about it. His father, who knows nothing about baseball, thinks Adam is attending school. His father finds out about Adam's attempt to make the Giants just before the best of the recruits square off against the Brooklyn Dodgers' rookie squad. The elder Polachuk is persuaded by manager Lobert to let his son play in the game before taking him home. Polachuk is the star of the game for the Giants both offensively and defensively as the Giants rally to win the game.

Cast

Reception

According to MGM records the film earned $467,000 in the US and Canada and $92,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $163,000.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study .
  2. ↑ The figure has also been given as $800,000 - see Alain Silver and James Ursini, Whatever Happened to Robert Aldrich?, Limelight, 1995 p 230
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