Rookie of the Year (1993)
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An unskilled Little Leaguer discovers he can throw a ball with incredible force after a medical mishap and is recruited by the Chicago Cubs.
The story
Henry Rowengartner is an unskilled Little Leaguer who dreams of playing in the Major Leagues. After a broken arm heals in a way that allows him to throw with incredible force, he catches the attention of the Chicago Cubs. The team's general manager, desperate to improve attendance, recruits him. Henry must then navigate the culture shock of professional baseball, dealing with a demanding coach, a veteran teammate, and the pressures of sudden fame while trying to maintain his personal relationships and his identity as a fan of the game.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a medical anomaly gives him superhuman throwing strength, Henry Rowengartner is recruited by the Chicago Cubs. He faces the challenges of the major leagues, including a rookie season where he earns several saves and gains fame. His personal life becomes complicated as his mother, Mary, begins a relationship with his teammate, Chet "The Rocket" Steadman. Amidst the tension of a potential trade to the New York Yankees and a looming contract, Henry balances his life with friends and his career. In the final game of the season against the New York Mets, Henry must overcome a loss of his pitching speed to help the Cubs win the division. After a series of strategic plays and a final 'Floater' pitch, the Cubs win. The film ends with Henry returning to Little League the following year, now a champion.
- First release year
- 1993
- Runtime (minutes)
- 103
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Daniel Stern
- Writers
- Sam Harper · writer
- Cast and characters
- Thomas Ian Nicholas · Henry Rowengartner; Gary Busey · not specified; Dan Hedaya · not specified; Daniel Stern · Phil Brickma
- Genres
- sports comedy
- Themes
- overcoming adversity; the cost of fame
- Tone and mood
- comedy
- Premise and plot tags
- underdog; sports; supernatural ability
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics and grossed $56.5 million.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 41% · scale: percentage · review count: 22
- Production trivia
- The road game against the Dodgers was filmed at Comiskey Park.; A remake was announced in 2018 but has no current status.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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