The Rookie

Theater date: 2002-03-25

Blu-ray release date: 2002-08-27

6.793 (IMDB)

Genre: DramaFamily

Language: en

Status: Released

Languages:

English

Description:

Jim Morris never made it out of the minor leagues before a shoulder injury ended his pitching career twelve years ago. Now a married-with-children high-school chemistry teacher and baseball coach in Texas, Jim's team makes a deal with him: if they win the district championship, Jim will try out with a major-league organization. The bet proves incentive enough for the team, and they go from worst to first, making it to state for the first time in the history of the school. Jim, forced to live up to his end of the deal, is nearly laughed off the try-out field--until he gets onto the mound, where he confounds the scouts (and himself) by clocking successive 98 mph fastballs, good enough for a minor-league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Jim's still got a lot of pitches to throw before he makes it to The Show, but with his big-league dreams revived, there's no telling where he could go.

Top Cast >

Dennis Quaid

As Jimmy Morris

Rachel Griffiths

As Lorri Morris

Jay Hernandez

As Joaquin 'Wack' Campos

Beth Grant

As Olline

Angus T. Jones

As Hunter Morris

Brian Cox

As Jim Morris Sr.

Rick Gonzalez

As Rudy Bonilla

Chad Lindberg

As Joe David West

Angelo Spizzirri

As Joel De La Garza

Royce D. Applegate

As Henry

Russell Richardson

As Brooks

Raynor Scheine

As Frank

Chris Sheffield

As Catcher

Brandon Smith

As Orlando Manager

Trevor Morgan

As Young Jimmy

David Blackwell

As Cal

Blue Deckert

As Baseball Scout Dave Patterson

Danny Kamin

As Durham Manager Mac

Rebecca Spicher

As Jessica

Raymond Rivera

As Ray - Janitor

Marco Sanchez

As Sanchez

Cynthia Dorn

As Esther

Robert Lewis

As Steve Dearborn

Seth Spiker

As Tryout Catcher

Beau Holden

As Orlando Heckler

Cam Banfield

As Jimmy's Brother

Barbie Burke

As Female Student

Carlos A. Gonzalez

As David

Kyle Scott Jackson

As Baseball Scout

Bert Beatson

As Player with Headphones

Anthony Moore

As Kenny Justin

Brian Shoop

As Durham PR Director

Mark Ciardi

As Tim Stewart

Willie Dirden

As Locker Room Attendant

Chuck Morgan

As Texas Rangers PA Announcer

Eric Nadel

As Texas Rangers Radio Announcer

Richard Dillard

As Devil Rays Manager

James Fletcher

As Devil Rays Pitching Coach

John Wayne Shafer

As Reporter #1

Charles Sanders

As Reporter #2

Randall Wallace

As Texas Oilman

Tim Jackson

As High School Umpire

John Williams

As Orland Umpire #1

Jim Morris

As Orlando Umpire #2

J.D. Evermore

As Relief Pitcher #1

Mark Robert Ellis

As Relief Pitcher #2

Julio Cesar Cedillo

As Relief Pitcher #3

Lindsay Cady

As Baseball Fan

Deborah Abbott

As Baseball Fan

Patty Allieri

As Baseball Fan

Johnny Bartee

As Baseball Fan

Jason Bohn

As Baseball Fan

Fred Bothwell

As Little League Dad

Matthew Brown

As Baseball Fan

Royce Clayton

As Self

Peter Cornwell

As Baseball Fan

Rhett Ashley Crosby

As Tampa Bay Devil Ray

Lisa Del Dotto

As Baseball Fan

Gareth B. DePutron

As Baseball Fan

Mark Falvo

As Reporter

Archie Fields

As Baseball Fan

Charles Gibson

As Self

Ryan Hancock

As High School 3rd Baseman

Jade Hanley

As Baseball Fan

John C. Hogwood

As Baseball Fan

Michael S. Koenig

As Texas Ranger Baseball Player

Nora J. Moore

As Customer

Dan Murphy

As Baseball Fan

Ray L. Perez

As Townsperson

Jess Price

As Rangers 3rd Baseman Tim Holden

George Renteria

As Baseball Fan

Robert Rosado

As Anthony Morgan

Bobby Shue

As Baseball Fan

Brent Smiga

As Hippie Fan

Gary Teague

As Baseball Fan

Aaron Wells

As Student

Christine Wolf

As Restaurant Patron

Top Crew >

John Lee Hancock

Director

Mike Rich

Writer

Carter Burwell

Original Music Composer

Gordon Gray

Producer

Ronna Kress

Casting

John Bissell

Music Supervisor

Eric L. Beason

Editor

Barry Robison

Production Design

Bruce Finlayson

Costume Design

John Schwartzman

Director of Photography

Philip Steuer

Executive Producer

Mark Ciardi

Producer

Mark Johnson

Producer

Jason Sweers

Graphic Designer

Reviews:

r96sk (9/10)

A cracking sports drama about the career of Jim Morris.

Absolutely loved this, the 127 minute run time flew by real quick; thoroughly enjoyable. It portrays, with extra drama I'm sure, the events of Morris' real life baseball career in a fantastic way. There's great character development right from the get-go, by the conclusion I was utterly invested in Morris. He is played by Dennis Quaid, who is superb in the role. I felt every emotion of his character, best I've (currently) seen of Quaid so far.

The film does a great job at making you care for not only him, but even his high school team. Speaking of which, they did a terrific job with the casting of those guys - I felt like I was watching a bunch of real teammates; Chad Lindberg, of 'The Fast and the Furious', is one of them. Even away from Quaid and Lindberg & Co., you still have Morris' family to feel for as well. There's many characters to get attached to, but I was very interested in all of them.

Fantastic stuff, I'd highly recommend you watch 'The Rookie'.

2020-10-14