So CMT has been showing "The Natural" on television, and I have to admit I've rediscovered an old favorite. But I have a question to pose...

Why do the majority of baseball movies culminate at the pennant game? Is there something undesirable about the World Series that I'm missing? I mean, it's got to be the oldest national championship still in existence, but somehow the best and even cheesiest baseball movies stop short of the big game.

Just off the top of my head, these are movies that end one game short of a full season:

• The Natural
• Major League
• Angels in the Outfield
• Rookie of the Year

Maybe I missed a day in school where this was explained (just like I did for Roman numerals) but I'd love learn now.

hmm. you're right. What gives?

There's always Eight Men Out.

That ends well after the World Series.

It seems like the pennant was the big deal way back in the day. A lot if the big events in baseball happened around winning a pennant.

For instance:
"The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!"

the World Series is moot

The Yankees always won the world series, so there was only failure, thus the movie had to stop.


Yes, I hate the Yankees.

that was supposed to be a thumbs down.

So even divine intervention wasn't enough to warrant beating the Yankees back in the 90's?

I'll take this as a working theory, but it kills me that west coast movie makers would wuss out and let east coast sports rule the theater. Damn liberals.

Two words: designated hitter.

the only thing i hate more than the yankees (in baseball): George Steinbrenner

fever pitch is another that basically ends before the world series