Rookie of the Year - Nostalgia Critic

Have the Cubs gotten so bad they're hiring kids to pitch? Apparently they did in the 90s. Nostalgia Critic gives his thoughts on the nostalgic baseball comedy, Rookie of the Year.

Rookie of the Year is a 1993 American sports comedy film starring Thomas Ian Nicholas and Gary Busey as players for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. The cast also includes Albert Hall, Dan Hedaya, Eddie Bracken, Amy Morton, Bruce Altman, John Gegenhuber, Neil Flynn, Daniel Stern (who also directed in his feature film directorial debut), and John Candy in an uncredited role.

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[koneheadcolahead]

A Inspired Fact: Daniel Stern was inspired to direct this movie because it deals with kids who have to deal with fame and being controlled by adults as managers who make all of their decisions for them. He experienced that a lot on the set of Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York observing how his co-star Macaulay Culkin was dictated by his domineering father and wanted to direct a movie that paralleled his real life observances.

[trinaq]

If you're used to seeing Gary Busey as an evil, crazy villain, then seeing him as an affable father figure could be a shock. But then again, he DID start off his career by exclusively playing nice guys.

[hellboyrp]

I found myself going "Didn't he do this one?" But then went, "Oh, i'm thinking of Kid in King Arthur's Court

[dolphincrescent]

80s: Fighting and Boxing Movies
90s: Baseball Movies
2000s: "Inspirational" Sport Bios and Basketball Movies
2010s-2020s: Video Game Movies (God save us from the Minecraft movie)

[johnnysparkle]

John Candy as Cubs announcer Cliff Murdoch. He did the role as a favor to Stern (who was struggling to cast the role) and because he wanted to appear in the movie.

[koneheadcolahead]

Another Fun Fact: Following the film's release, Thomas Ian Nicholas threw out the first pitch at multiple Cubs games and was also invited to sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" multiple times during the customary 7th-inning stretch at Wrigley Field. During the 2015 National League Championship Series where the Cubs faced the Mets as they did in the movie, he attended Game 4 in a Rowengartner #1 jersey similar to what he wore during the film unfortunately the Cubs lost 8-3 knocking them out of the postseason.

[SoranotRoxas]

Totally surprised he didn't do Sandlot considering recent events. RIP James Earl Jones 😔

[YairYakobson]

Believe it or not, the late movie critic Roger Ebert gave this movie 3 out of 4 stars and describe it like so:
I was absolutely lousy in Little League. I was a sub for one season, screwing up every play I was involved in. I stopped out there in the middle of right field, squinting into the sun, hoping desperately that the ball would not come my way. If it did, I didn't use my glove to catch it. I used the glove for protection. I was, in fact, a lot like Henry Rowengartner, the 12-year-old hero of "Rookie of the Year." It seemed like the other kids had always known how to play baseball, and that I would never know. When I was a kid, I think I might have liked "Rookie of the Year" a lot. I am no longer a kid, and this movie is not likely to make my list of the year's best, but I can remember those miserable Little League games and so in a modest way I'm grateful for this film. It is pure wish-fulfillment, 40 years after I needed it.

[BraedenStern]

This is classic Nostalgia Critic. The jokes and humor. I love that he brought back "I am acting" when the guy said he is my client. Made me miss the old days of the critic.

[Jeremy_theGent]

Back when a 12-year-old kid with a major league fastball was considered more likely than the Cubs winning the World Series.

2016 was cursed.

[dancepiglover]

You forgot to show “pitcher’s got a big butt” when the kid was trying to psych out the other team. I remember that being in the commercials.

[andrewtickel]

When I broke my wrist in the 2nd grade, this was the movie my dad and I watched during what would have been my baseball game the following afternoon. This movie will always have a soft spot as one of my favorite memories with my dad!

[juliannagoodwin]

“We want a pitcher not an underwear snitcher!” That line will never not make me smile when I hear it.

[PHSDM]

I'm convinced Doug lived under a rock to not know of anyone who loved Rookie of the Year. Almost everyone I know can quote this movie!

[themann]

This, Sandlot, and Angels in the Outfield came out when I was 6-7 years old, and I loved all three of them. I hadn't seen this one since I was younger, so I enjoyed this look back at it!

[taylorwatts]

0:31 That’s why baseball has been called ‘America’s Favorite Pastime’

[batlrar]

Well you see Doug, angels aren't allowed to help in championship games. It's like their only rule other than not showing up if the team swears too much.

[jakejusten]

The Cubs being desperate enough to sign a 12 year old wasn't even the most unbelievable part of the movie.

Anyway, go Cubs

[OctacleEdits]

Fun fact: Henry's played by the same kid from A Kid in King Arthur’s Court.
Oh shoot, now I need to try to forget that movie exists again.

[joshuariddensdale]

John Candy in a small role as the stadium announcer. I haven't seen this movie since I was a kid. It used to air a lot on Disney.