Big Leaguer
Encyclopedia
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
.
. Every year, he evaluates the 18-22-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.
Edward G. Robinson
Edward G. Robinson was a Romanian-born American actor. A popular star during Hollywood's Golden Age, he is best remembered for his roles as gangsters, such as Rico in his star-making film Little Caesar and as Rocco in Key Largo...
and was the first film directed by Robert Aldrich
Robert Aldrich
Robert Aldrich was an American film director, writer and producer, notable for such films as Kiss Me Deadly , The Big Knife , What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? , Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte , The Flight of the Phoenix , The Dirty Dozen , and The Longest Yard .-Biography:Robert...
.
Although this story is fiction, Robinson's character in it, Hans Lobert
Hans Lobert
John Bernard "Hans" Lobert was an American infielder, coach, manager and scout in Major League Baseball.Lobert was born in Wilmington, Delaware...
, was an actual baseball player who played for five Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams and managed the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
Plot
John "Hans" Lobert runs a training camp in Florida for baseball's New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Every year, he evaluates the 18-22-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.
Cast
- Edward G. RobinsonEdward G. RobinsonEdward G. Robinson was a Romanian-born American actor. A popular star during Hollywood's Golden Age, he is best remembered for his roles as gangsters, such as Rico in his star-making film Little Caesar and as Rocco in Key Largo...
... John B. 'Hans' Lobert - Vera-EllenVera-EllenVera-Ellen was an American actress and dancer, principally celebrated for her filmed dance partnerships with Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Danny Kaye and Donald O'Connor.-Early life:...
... Christy - Jeff RichardsJeff Richards (baseball player/actor)Jeff Richards , was an American minor league baseball player with the Portland Beavers who later became an actor. He was sometimes credited as Dick Taylor and Richard Taylor.-Early life and career:...
... Adam Polachuk - Richard JaeckelRichard JaeckelRichard Hanley Jaeckel was an American actor of film and television.-Life and career:Jaeckel was born in Long Beach, New York. A short, but tough guy, he played a variety of characters during his fifty years in movies & television and became one of Hollywood's best known character actors...
... Bobby Bronson - William CampbellWilliam Campbell (film actor)William Campbell was an American actor who appeared in supporting roles in major film productions and also starred in several low-budget B-movies, including two cult horror films.-Career:...
... Julie Davis - Carl HubbellCarl HubbellCarl Owen Hubbell was an American baseball player. He was a member of the New York Giants in the National League from 1928 to 1943, and remained on the Giants' payroll for the rest of his life, long after their move to San Francisco.Twice voted the National League's Most Valuable Player, Hubbell...
... Himself - Paul Langton ... Brian McLennan
- Lalo RiosLalo RiosLalo Rios was a Mexican actor who worked often in American movies.Lalo Ríos was born in February 07, 1927 in Sonora, México and died in March 07, 1973 in Los Angeles, California, United States. - Filmography :- TV :...
... Chuy Aguilar - Bill Crandall ... Tippy Mitchell
- Frank FergusonFrank FergusonFrank Ferguson was an American character actor with hundreds of appearances in both film and television. Perhaps his best known role was as the ranch handyman, Gus Broeberg, on the CBS television series, My Friend Flicka, based on a novel of the same name...
... Wally Mitchell - John McKee ... Dale Alexander
- Mario Siletti ... Mr. Polachuk
- Al CampanisAl CampanisAlexander Sebastian Campanis was an American executive in Major League Baseball. He had a brief Major League career as a second baseman, playing for both the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Montreal Royals, the Dodgers' minor-league team...
... Himself - Bob TrocolorBob Trocolor-Basketball head coach:Trocolor was chosen as the 12th head coach in Stetson University's men's basketball program history. Similar to his brief stint as a college football coach, he only stayed for one year—the 1949–50 season—before moving on. In his lone season as the Hatters' head coach he...
... Himself - Tony Ravis ... Himself
- Robert Calwell ... Pomfret
- Donald 'Chippie' Hastings ... Little Joe Polachuk
- Bing RussellBing RussellBing Russell was an American actor and baseball club owner, and was the father of Golden Globe-nominated actor Kurt Russell.-Personal life:...
- Harv Tomter ... Himself (uncredited)