WATCH: Soul of the Game

You guys ever get that 2:00 feeling where you are just sitting there at work and you have work you need to do, but don’t want to do? Or you don’t have any work to do and you’re contemplating napping or starting a new Netflix series? Yeah, me too. While I can’t get away with much napping at work, and since I didn’t bring headphones to start a new show, I will leave you with this full movie called Soul of the Game.

I have shown this movie on the site before, but I will do so again because it is one of my absolute all-time favorite baseball-related movies. It covers Jackie Robinson’s break into the Major Leagues and break through the color barrier, but it also covers some of the lives and careers of Josh Gibson, Roy Campanella, and Satchel Paige while they were in the Negro Leagues.

Every baseball fan should watch it, young or old. Enjoy!

While We Wait: The Soul of the Game

You ever have that one movie that no matter how many times you see it that it doesn’t get old? You ever have that one movie that no matter what else is on if you see it on TBS or something you have to watch it. Even if it’s not the same edited or shortened down by cable TV? Soul of the Game is that movie for me (among others….. I mean Sandlot is a no-brainer…. come on) so I decided while we wait on the Yankees game to begin I would watch a movie. My “go-to” movie tonight is Soul of the Game so I figured I would share that with you as well while you wait.

If you haven’t seen it the movie covers the time period where Jackie Robinson was breaking the color barrier in Major League Baseball. The movie has Jackie in it and Branch Rickey but this movie focuses more on the Negro League struggle, Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson. In the movie you see Jackie trying to earn the respect of Satchel, players being loaned and traded for series just to fill the house with fans, Gibson’s battle with a brain tumor and so much more.

It’s an “oldie but a goodie” so check it out. Enjoy the movie while we wait.

Weekly Check In: Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was a great ball player but he was an even better person, which is why he made the Major Leagues before the likes of Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige. If you watch the movie “Soul of the Game” or probably any movie covering that time period and the whole breaking the color barrier time period you hear Robinson ask Branch Rickey if he wants him to fight and you hear Rickey reply “I want someone who is strong enough not to.” Now I’m not sure how historically accurate that is or if it’s simply dramatized for the movie but either way that’s the way Jackie lived his life and played his career. Do as I do, not as I say.

For this reason we have Jackie Robinson Day around Major League Baseball every single season and for this reason I am able to bring you a “weekly” check in for the deceased MLB legend. This stat line is only a sliver of what makes Robinson great and an ambassador for the game we all love today. Enjoy and Happy Jackie Robinson Day. 

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
10 Yrs				1382	5804	947	1518	273	54	137	734	197	740	291	.311	.409	.474	.883	132
162 Game Avg.				162	680	111	178	32	6	16	86	23	87	34	.311	.409	.474	.883	132

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

That 2:00 Feeling – Soul of the Game – Full Movie

You remember those commercials for the Five Hour Energy drinks that described you as having the “2:00 feeling?” Well today I am feeling like I need a five hour energy drink, 15 straight days of sleep or something much more potent, I definitely have that 2:00 feeling. When I have that feeling I like to either lay in the bed or sit down on the couch with the AC on full blast and watch a good movie while I fall asleep. I think I’ll do that today, don’t tell me boss.

You can watch the entire movie “Soul of the Game” right here on the blog for free just by clicking the Youtube video above. The basic premise of the movie is that Josh Gibson, Jackie Robinson and Satchel Paige are fighting through the Negro Leagues trying to reach the Major Leagues when Branch Rickey finally comes calling.

It’s a good one, one of my own personal favorites. Enjoy. 

Off Day Baseball Movie Recommendation

It's time for that 2:00 feeling again and it's time to watch a full baseball movie classic without leaving the site. Today we watch the 1996 television classic Soul of the Game. This movie covers baseball in the Negro Leagues and has Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, and Roy Campanella as the main characters. It really is a great and underrated baseball movie so enjoy it and enjoy the rest of your off day Yankees family.

Off Day Movie Recommendation

The Yankees are off today for the first time in 16 days before starting a weekend series with the Oakland Athletics at home. I wanted to take this opportunity, after recently seeing the movie "42" finally, to recommend another movie centered around the Negro Leagues, Jackie Robinson, Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, Roy Campanella, etc. The name of the movie is Soul of the Game and came out in 1996 telling the story of Branch Rickey and the players aforementioned coming up through the big leagues and playing in the Negro Leagues. It's really a great movie that never really got enough attention but maybe with the recent success of 42 that will change. You can watch the movie in its entirety above so feel free to check it out because it really is a great movie that tells a great story.