History

When It Was a Game

The HBO documentary When It Was a Game (slightly shortened on DVD from the two-part VHS release) is based on a highly original idea: tell the story of baseball from the Great Depression era through the late 1950s using footage from home-movie cameras shot by fans and players. The result is a marvelous retelling of baseball in America as seen from the ground--the culture of stadiums, the ritual of afternoon games, the spiritually sustaining rivalries. Somewhat enthralled by the images at its disposal, the film has a way of almost stepping back from itself, waxing poetic at a sighting of the St. Louis Cardinals' "Gashouse Gang," or a glimpse of Bogart and Bacall in the stands, or the legendary contests between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Among the truly unexpected sights is color footage of the 1938 World Series (Cubs versus Yanks), not only from inside the stadium walls but from the street as traffic cops, crowds, and vehicles amassed. Of course, there are the heroes, too, often caught in relaxed, unselfconscious moments through the lens of a teammate or a true believer in the bleachers. A great experience all around.

Arguably more defined and even more lyrical than its predecessor, the second installment of When It Was a Game moves from a general celebration of baseball culture in America to a specific focus on various facets of the game's history. Once again using footage compiled from the 8mm and 16mm collections that players and fans shot over decades, this sequel follows, among other things, the special relationship between game announcers and fans and takes a fascinating trip through the story of the farm-team system during the 1930s, '40s, and '50s (particularly the near-alternate world of the Coast League). The working-class commonality of players and fans is examined, too. Imagine taking the subway home from Ebbets Field and finding yourself looking back on the day's game with a Dodger outfielder. (It could, and often did, happen.) Brooklyn's assimilation of the Dodgers into their community identity, a story often told, is covered quite winningly here, as is the heartbreak of the team's desertion to sunny California. Closing in on its final minutes, the film takes us on a tour of some of the game's legends and presents a touching tribute to the extraordinary Babe Ruth. --Tom Keogh

These are the greats of baseball history, legends in their lifetime legends today. It's baseball as you've never seen it before the way you always imagined the way it was. When It Was a Game is composed entirely of 8 and 16 mm home movie footage taken by fans and the players themselves between 1934 and 1957. For the first time, star players and their stadiums step out of the black and white newsreel footage, and appear in living, breathing color. Players like Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb and Joe DiMaggio. Ballparks like Ebbets Field, Briggs Stadium, Crosley Field and Griffith Stadium. As time passed, baseball changed, some of the clubs, the parks, the players are no longer with us. But their memory is and the magic of those memories is brought vividly to life, in When It Was a Game.

When It Was a Game 3

Taking the viewer back to the old ball game, HBO celebrates America's pastime in the beautiful documentary When It Was a Game 3. Focusing on the 1960s, a time of change for all of America, the film shows how Major League Baseball slowly but surely evolved from pure sport to moneymaking entertainment. The sharp, incredibly clear color footage of players and fans is at times better looking than current sports photography, and the voiced-over reminiscences of stars such as Bob Costas and Billy Crystal evoke a different, more personal, sports experience from what we expect today. Covering the mighty Yankees, the western expansion of both leagues, the increasing inclusion of black players, and the rise of free agency and increased salaries, the film shows the growth of baseball from adolescence to adulthood. --Rob Lightner

Baseball - A Film by Ken Burns

After the national success of his 11-hour epic, The Civil War--the highest-rated miniseries in public-television history--many wondered if Ken Burns could capture the same energy and passion with smaller subjects. His reply, the 18-hour history of America's greatest sport, Baseball, not only quieted these worries, it also perhaps surpassed his prior achievement. Massive in scope (it covers more than 100 years), exhausting in detail, and filled with celebrities, journalists, politicians, historians, and the men who played the game, Burns's romantic love letter to the game achieves the impossible: even those who hate baseball can't help but become immersed in it. This is because Burns doesn't just detail the great players and the memorable plays and games; he also presents baseball as a cultural and social mirror, reflecting the beauty and hypocrisy of the nation that created it. Divided into nine innings, two hours each in length, the video examines complex social issues such as segregation, racial inequality (its section on Jackie Robinson, baseball's first African American player, should be required school viewing), labor battles between owners and players, politics, technology and gender conflicts, among others. Then, of course, there's fascinating footage and biographies on the players--troubled icons such as Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb, heroes such as Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, and tragic figures such as Pete Rose and Lou Gehrig--the men who, despite a rocky and often hypocritical history, constructed baseball's tradition and preserved its invincibility. --Dave McCoy

Ken Burns tops himself with this epic of American history, told in "nine innings," with a skilled narration by John Chancellor and the voices of Paul Newman, Jason Robards, Billy Crystal, and other stars. The series spans 150 years, starting with the myth-debunking tale of baseball's true beginnings -- when it was a game "one degree above mayhem." Then follow the growth of America's National Pastime through the decades of glory and record-setting achievements, as well as the scandals, the bigotry, and the big money. The series portrays the game as a mirror of America itself -- the passions, prejudices, and ambitions that have shape the country.

When We Were Kings

Decades ago, documentary filmmaker Leon Gast attempted to complete a feature about the 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" championship bout between boxers Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire. Sundry complications, though, held up the project until its release in 1996. It was well worth the delay. From Gast's perspective of modern history, the six weeks Ali and Foreman were forced to spend waiting in Africa for their fight to take place now looks like an important moment in America's cultural understanding of African American roots. In a nutshell, Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight champion title because his opposition to the Vietnam War-era draft had landed him in prison. Reigning champ Foreman agreed to a Don King-promoted match in Kinshasa, but after all parties got there the fight was put off. Gast captures the charismatic Ali, in the ensuing days and weeks, going out among the people and getting to know them while the more reclusive Foreman keeps to his own company. Meanwhile, King brings over black American artists such as James Brown and the Spinners to mix it up with African musicians. The sense of excitement and connection is thrilling, as is the boxing footage of Foreman and Ali finally taking swings at one another in a titanic duel. Writers George Plimpton and Norman Mailer, each of whom was covering the fight as journalists, are on hand to recollect the details. Whether you're a fight fan or not, this is a unique experience and a fascinating insight into America's sense of identity. --Tom Keogh

Major League Baseball - All Century Team

In 1999, 2 million people around the world voted to name the best baseball players of the 20th century. Preceding the All-Star Game in Fenway Park in July 1999, the All-Century Team took center stage in a rousing ceremony. Among the legends stood Bob Gibson, Mike Schmidt, Willie Mays, Brooks Robinson, and Mark McGwire. Never before or after has so much talent gathered in one place, turning Fenway into a "veritable field of dreams." Narrated by Bob Costas, The All-Century Team video is a touching tribute to the many talented individuals who made baseball the sport it is today. Costas takes us through each position, giving us the background and achievements of the selected elite. Historical accounts paint a picture of the competitors of yesteryear, including Honus Wagner, who batted over .300 for 16 straight seasons--when the league average was .248. Or Sandy Koufax, who started in eight World Series games, finishing with an ERA below one. Other honorable mentions go to Walter Johnson, whose slingshot sidearm motion redefined power pitching, causing one peer to state, "You can't hit what you can't see." Interviews with former players and colleagues flesh out the stories behind these heroic icons, as does vintage game footage that reminds us how talented these men were. By exploring the lives of the greatest players, this video teaches us that baseball is not about one man, but about many legendary players whose remarkable achievements tell the story of the game. It will be interesting to see who makes the All-Century Team for the 21st century. --Jeremy Storey

Statistics don't lie. And when it comes to the MLB All-Century Team DVD, you're getting a scorecard full.

Leading off with 100 years of baseball's best interviews, footage and statistical information on baseball's top 100 players of the 20th Century. Unforgettable players like Ruth, DiMaggio, Aaron and Mays -- just to name a few. Also covered are the thrilling All Century Celebrations at the All-Star Game and The World Series.

When it comes down to evaluating the All-Century DVD as a prospect, you'll have no choice but to go by the numbers. It's definitely a #1 pick.

When it Was a Game 2

Arguably more defined and even more lyrical than its predecessor (When It Was a Game), this HBO documentary moves from a general celebration of baseball culture in America to a specific focus on various facets of the game's history. Once again using footage compiled from the 8mm and 16mm collections that players and fans shot over decades, this sequel follows, among other things, the special relationship between game announcers and fans and takes a fascinating trip through the story of the farm-team system during the 1930s, '40s, and '50s (particularly the near-alternate world of the Coast League). There's also an enlightening sidebar about the old disparity of capital and profits among major-league teams (as opposed to the contemporary disparity), and about how each season's funding shortages took a toll on such lowly outfits as the Boston Braves and the St. Louis Browns. The working-class commonality of players and fans is examined, too: imagine taking the subway home from Ebbets Field and finding yourself looking back on the day's game with a Dodger outfielder. (It could, and often did, happen.) Brooklyn's assimilation of the Dodgers into their community identity, a story often told, is covered quite winningly here, as is the heartbreak of the team's desertion to sunny California. Closing in on its final minutes, the film takes us on a tour of some of the game's legends and presents a touching tribute to the extraordinary Babe Ruth. --Tom Keogh

Muhammad Ali - The Greatest Collection

Before Muhammad Ali, plenty of African American heavyweights boxed, but few did for the game (or for blacks) what Ali did. Ali was bold, outrageous, and controversial. His antics outside of the ring showed an often-hilarious flair for self-promotion, and his conversion to Islam and decision to avoid the Vietnam War only fueled the storm of controversy that surrounded him. The thing about Ali, though, was that he was good enough to get by with it; after all, it's hard to argue with success. In the ring, he showed a sheer prowess and technique that few before or since could approach (the bonus CD-ROM discusses the similarities and contrasts between Ali and the great Joe Louis). Outside the ring, Ali had a sharp mind, good looks, and the strength of his own convictions going for him. This DVD contains footage of Ali's 1964 fight in which he slaughtered Sonny Liston, the 1974 bout where his technique got the better of George Foreman and his fearsome punching power, and the brutal 1975 fight against Joe Frazier (all fights are shown in their entirety). There have been few heavyweight boxers who can compare favorably to Muhammad Ali, and this DVD should be in the collection of all those who consider themselves fans of the sport. --Jerry Renshaw

NFL 2000 - A Century of Pro Football

The four programs on NFL 2000: A Century of Pro Football provide a lively look at football past and present. A program entitled "In Their Own Words" features some of today's stars speaking directly to the camera, commenting mostly on their emotional involvement in the game. Their statements are juxtaposed with game footage, which, in typical NFL Films style, shows them at their heroic best. "Passing the Torch," a program in which NFL Hall of Famers meet with today's outstanding players, includes some hilarious and entertaining moments. For instance, legendary defensive end Deacon Jones demonstrating to Michael Strahan of the Giants how he'd hide a metal plate in his hand and use it to "ring the bell" of opposing linemen is priceless.

The mental aspect of the game is chronicled in "Coaching 2000," an intensive look at the fanatical dedication required to be a head coach in the NFL. Coaches are seen (and boy, are they heard) whipping players into shape in training camp, spending lonely hours watching game film during the season, and even bickering with referees. The NFL as family tradition is the theme of "Generations," a program about fathers and sons including Bob and Brian Griese, Archie and Peyton Manning, executives Dan and Art Rooney of the Steelers, and a family of fans whose devotion to the Green Bay Packers has endured for more than 80 years. These programs provide a mostly reverent, but occasionally quirky and comical, look at how pro football has endured and evolved. --Robert J. McNamara

Greatest Moments in Super Bowl History

For this new edition of great Super Bowl highlights, NFL Films jumps around a bit, staying away from viewing 34 Super Bowls in chronological order. The video is split up into 12 chapters focusing on different aspects, starting with "Masters of the Game," which focuses on the three players who won multiple MVP awards (quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Bart Starr). Other segments look at special-team play, defenses, receivers, and the like. "The Quarterbacks" includes a segment on the MVP of Super Bowl 34, St. Louis Ram Kurt Warner. The material really comes alive in the DVD version of the title, but any fan of the game will be charged up by NFL Films' gusto mix of music, action, and insightful interviews (from players, coaches, and such experts as Frank Deford, many of them new). --Doug Thomas