Even 35 years after its release in April 1989, “Major League” remains a hugely funny baseball film.
When wrapping sports, comedy, an underdog theme, and an all-star cast is assembled to tell a story, there should be no wonder that “Major League” is a “go-to” favorite decades after its release.
David S. Ward, the film’s writer and director, knew he had a winner waiting to step up to home plate. As a long-suffering fan of the then-Cleveland Indians who had won their last World Series championship in 1948, Mr. Ward had the film’s plot handed to him on a cinematic platter.
Assembling a rag-tag team of has-beens, never-was beens, all with checkered pasts, and one player, Ricky Vaughn, known as “Wild Thing” having been recruited by the Indians from his success pitching in the California Penal League, Major League promised its audience laughs coming from the playing field, in the clubhouse, and away from the stadium.
Lead actors Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Corbin Bernsen, Rene Russo, Margaret Whitton, and James Gammon brought out their characters’ personalities to a level that surpassed Mr. Ward’s expectations.
Along with the cast’s performances, perhaps one of the most dynamic reasons for the film’s success (budgeted at $11 million to make, it grossed $75 million in worldwide release) was its release date. One month after “Major League” first appeared in movie theaters, another widely successful baseball-theme picture—“Field of Dreams,” starring Kevin Costner, hit the scene.
“Field of Dreams,” with a storyline of Mr. Costner’s character Ray Kinsella building a ballpark smack in the middle of an Iowa cornfield that attracts baseball legends who have died, earned $84.4 million on a budget of $15 million.
Mr. Ward wanted a believable group of his Indians who could perform as big-league players. Former MLB catcher Steve Yeager was brought in to “train” the players for two weeks before cast members wore Cleveland uniforms with cameras rolling. Mr. Yeager appears in “Major League” as coach of Duke Temple.
Other characters, such as Jake Taylor, where Mr. Berenger is cast as an over-the-hill catcher getting his last licks of pro ball in Mexico, steer the film’s plot through multiple personal and baseball storms. Self-absorbed third baseman Roger Dorn, played by Mr. Bernsen, and Mr. Gammon’s portrayal of manager Lou Brown, who had to be enticed to leave his managerial position at an automobile tire store to pilot the Indians, also propel the story forward.
Carrying “Major League” between ball games and travel challenges of the Indians is the club’s play-by-play radio broadcaster Harry Doyle. Former MLB player, funny man, and Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Uecker puts in an all-star performance as the flippant voice of the Indians. Mr. Uecker’s delivery in his scenes is enough to hook most who would view the film’s trailer. Mr. Doyle’s sidekick/straight man, Monte, is played by Skip Griparis.
As “Major League” moves forward, and the club becomes more successful on and off the diamond, Mr. Griparis’ character morphs into Doyle, but without lines.
For Mr. Griparis, an accomplished musician who has appeared on tour with top performers such as Billy Joel and Olivia Newton-John, his landing the part of Monte the color commentator came as a surprise.
“I could not have predicted to save my life that after 35 years, ‘Major League’ would be as popular as it is today,” Mr. Griparis told The Epoch Times earlier this week.
“I was brought into Chicago to cast for one of the players on the opposing team to the Indians. I brought a bat, a ball, and my glove. Then, they had me read for one line as the color man. Two weeks later, I learned that I had the role of Monte.”
Mr. Griparis and the rest of the film crew were off to Milwaukee, where the movie was mostly shot. Although the club has Cleveland on their jerseys, the Indians’ home stadium at the time of shooting, Municipal Stadium, was difficult to work in. The MLB Indians were playing their regular season. Spring training scenes were filmed in Tucson, Arizona. Plus, given that Mr. Uecker was (and still is) working at the time of the film being principally shot as a broadcaster for the Milwaukee Brewers (he is in his 54th season calling Brewers games), there was a tight window as to when the radio scenes could be accomplished.
“We did our scenes in three days,” says Mr. Griparis, who was 40 years old at the time “Major League” was filmed. “For the weekend, everything else with the film was shut down.”
With his appearance in “Major League” and reprising his role alongside Mr. Uecker in the 1994 release of “Major League II”, Mr. Griparis tells of crisscrossing America to autograph shows where he reunites with some of his fellow cast members.
There is a show coming up in July in New Jersey that Mr. Griparis plans on attending. Mr. Bernsen, Chelcie Ross, and Randy Quaid (who appears in Major League II) are among those Mr. Griparis has seen on the signing circuit over the years.
With appearances in “Major League” and its follow-up being his only two screen credits, Mr. Griparis revels in being reminded of his quality time sitting alongside the quick-witted Mr. Uecker.
“He is such a nice guy. During our downtime, I stayed with him and listened to all of his baseball anecdotes. Bob did a lot of ad-libbing. It was all positive working with Bob.”
As among the highest-grossing sports films of all time, “Major League” continues to score with new generations of fans and those who bookmark it for everything from a date night to a guy’s night out with friends. Baseball is a game that, in theory, has no set time limit and could continue with infinity. The appeal of “Major League” seems to be trending in such a trajectory.
