Rookie of the Year (Exclusive Series) (Disney Plus)
- Matt Palmer
- Mar 22, 2022
- 2 min read
Initial release date: July 9, 1993
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Tagline: A kid with an impossible dream. All he needed was a lucky break!
Plot: A freak accident causes twelve year old Little League player Henry to become such a powerful and accurate pitcher that the Chicago Cubs sign the junior high school student to a contract. Unprepared for such a high-pressure environment, Henry falters until aging fastballer Chet Steadman takes him under his wing and teaches him how to play in the big leagues. Meanwhile, his mother’s venal boyfriend tries to sell Henry’s contract to a hated opposing team.
Cast
Thomas Ian Nicholas - Henry Rowengartner
Gary Busey - Chet Steadman
Albert Hall - Martinella
Amy Morton - Mary Rowengartner
Dan Hedaya - Larry ‘Fish’ Fisher
Bruce Altman - Jack Bradfield
Eddie Bracken - Bob Carson
Robert Hy Gorman - Clark
Daniel Stern - Brickma
Colombe Jacobsen-Destine - Becky
John Candy - Cliff Murdoch (Announcer) (uncredited role - see tidbits)
Writer: Sam Harper (Rio; Cheaper by the Dozen 1 and 2; Just Married)
Director: Daniel Stern
Rated PG for some mild language (103 minutes)
This under-rated 1993 comedy ‘Rookie of the Year’ is definitely a great little movie for the whole family to check out on movie night! Yea, the premise can be silly … a kid breaks his arm and after it heals, he can pitch really well. But, the silly story helps this family movie be really entertaining.
The light-hearted family baseball movie features quite a few little laughs and one of the few 90s favorites that people might still remember! There are also some parts in the movie (especially during a few of the baseball scenes) that can get really silly. But, the silliness helps the movie out. And, honestly, the silliness is all part of the fun!!
Make sure to check out this 90s favorite on Disney Plus!
Here are a couple tidbits for ‘Rookie of the Year’:
John Candy, as the radio broadcaster, is uncredited. His role isn’t mentioned in the movie credits because he wasn’t originally cast in the movie. After the movie was nearly completed, the studio liked what they saw and added Candy in at the very last minute.
This is the only movie directed by Daniel Stern.
The movie grossed $9.2 million on 1,460 screens on its opening weekend. It grossed $53.6 million in the US and Canada.
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