1935, 1936 & 1937

AMERICAN LEAGUE BASEBALL FILMS

THREE vintage films, all on one DVD!

Following the successful release of Baseball's first sound motion picture "Play Ball!" in 1934, the Fisher Body Division of General Motors Corp. sponsored three more half-hour baseball films, all narrated by Ted Husing. In these films, American League players demonstrate their playing techniques, talk baseball, and are shown enjoying their off-season hobbies and driving their new General Motors vehicles (with Fisher Bodies of course)! A new film was released each year (1935, 1936 & 1937), also including highlights of that year's World Series, the American League team winning each year. Rare Sportsfilms Inc. has restored all three of these rare films, now available on one 89-minute DVD! Here are the titles and what and who you'll see on each film:

1935 "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" - Introduced by commissioner Judge "Kenesaw Mountain" Landis, this film begins showing submarine pitcher Eldon Auker of the Tigers at old League Park, Cleveland. Wes Farrell of the Red Sox talks pitching at Fenway Park. Detroit's curve baller Tommy Bridges gives advice on pitching at Navin Field. Ted Lyons shown at old Comiskey Park. Yank's Lefty Gomez warms up at Yankee Stadium. At Sportsman's Park St. Louis, Rogers Hornsby talks about his batting stance and hits pitches back thru the middle of the diamond. Detroit slugger Hank Greenberg demonstrates hitting balls from his batting stance at Navin Field. Power hitter Jimmie Foxx of the Athletics talks hitting at Shibe Park. Joe Vosmik's swing is shown from behind home plate at League Park. At Yankee Stadium, Lou Gehrig says "players can easily strike out if they swing too hard", then demonstrates his powerful, level swing and smooth follow-through in slow-motion. Washington's 1935 A.L. batting champ Buddy Myer (.349) shows good batting form. Clown prince of baseball Al Schacht does a "goofball routine" at Fenway Park. Connie Mack gives his advice to all young ballplayers. Then Tiger players are shown at leisure and during the fall: Hank Greenberg loads his bats into the back of his car at the end of the season. Manager Mickey Cochrane leaves his house with clubs to play golf. Charlie Gehringer runs his own service station. Also Billy Rogell, Eldon Auker, Goose Goslin. 1935 World Series at Navin Field (Tigers vs Cubs). Managers Mickey Cochrane and Charlie Grimm get together at home plate before the opener and Grimm says he thinks the Cubs should win in 6 games. Ten minutes of highlights cover four of the six games. In final game at Detroit, Goslin's 9^th inning hit drives in Cochrane with the winning run and Tigers are World Champs!

1936 "Heads Up Baseball" - Moe Berg of the Red Sox comes upon a sandlot game and stops to offer advice to the youngsters. World Champion Tigers manager Mickey Cochrane speaks during spring training at Henley Field, Lakeland, Florida. White Sox SS and A.L. batting champ Luke Appling (.388 in '36) shows his batting style at Comiskey Park and manager Jimmy Dykes talks to pitcher Vern Kennedy before he shows how to "set up" a hitter for a KO. Rookie strikeout pitcher Bob Feller (age 17 in '36) set ML record with 17 strikeouts in a game! Young Bob gets advice from veteran coach George Uhle. Another great A.L. rookie makes the scene in '36 - Joe DiMaggio, shown here with teammates Frank Crosetti and Tony Lazzari. Joe talks about how to hit a baseball and his swing is shown in slow-motion. At Fenway Park, third base "coach" Al Schacht puts on another comedy routine. Shown are Jackie Hayes at Comiskey, Don Heffner, Earle Combs and Tony Lazzari at Sportsman's Park, then Billy Rogell, Heinie Manush and Mel Almada at Fenway Park. Players shown off the field with their cars: "Twinkle Toes" Selkirk, Frank Crosetti, Johnny Murphy and his son, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig and Yankee pilot Joe McCarthy. 1936 World Series opener at the Polo Grounds (Yanks vs Giants) and managers Bill Terry and McCarthy speak before the first game. Seven minutes of highlights cover all three games at the Polo Grounds. In final game, Yanks lead 6-5 after 8 innings, but score 7 more in the 9^th for a 13-5 win to clinch the series 4 games to 2.

1937 "Batter Up" - American League President William Harridge introduces this film. Yank pilot Joe McCarthy in the dugout with coaches Don Schulte and Earle Combs. Joe talks about his sophomore star Joe DiMaggio. White Sox manager Jimmy Dykes talks to youngsters about baseball. Senators' Joe Kuhl shows first base play. At Comiskey Park, keystone combo Luke Appling and Jackie Hayes show their stuff! 1937 All-Star Game at Griffith Stadium. Shown before game are Ford Frick and Harridge, McCarthy & coaches Del Baker and Art Fletcher. First pitch, then DiMaggio's single followed by Gehrig's HR off Dizzy Dean. Connie Mack gives three attributes of a good young ball player. Pitcher Lefty Gomez warming up at Navin Field. Young fireballer Bob Feller talks about pitching and demonstrates at League Park. Red Ruffing pitching at Navin Field. Outfield play with Boston's Roy Johnson, Washington's Jake Powell, Jo Jo White of the Tigers and Mel Almada of the Red Sox, mostly at Fenway Park. Ben Chapman of the Yankees discusses playing line drives and ground balls in the outfield and is shown demonstrating at League Park. Sam West of the Browns also comments about outfield play and George Selkirk demonstrates at Yankee Stadium. More on first base play by Joe Kuhl, then second base play is demonstrated by Boston's Oscar Melillo. Red Sox player-manager Joe Cronin gives tips on playing shortstop and Mel Almeda also shown, both at Fenway. The smooth, balanced swing of A.L. batting champ Charlie Gehringer (.371 in '37) is shown in slow-motion. Cronin talks about the biggest change in the game of baseball lately, the increase in home runs. He then introduces his own slugger Jimmie Foxx, acquired last year from the Athletics. Shown are the top six A.L. home run hitters of 1937: DiMaggio (46), Greenberg (40), Gehrig (37), Foxx (36), young Rudy York (35) and Hal Trosky (32). Umpire Harry Geisel talks about one of the toughest calls to make in baseball. Players then shown in activities off the field: Monte Pearson, Red Rolfe, Bump Hadley, Joe DiMaggio (unloading fresh crabs at his S.F. restaurant, "The Grotto"), Bill Dickey hunting with his prize setters and manager Joe McCarthy. Last five minutes of the '37 film shows highlights of four of the five games of the 1937 World Series, Yanks vs Giants.

You can get your own copy of these rare films now available on DVD for the first time ever! Send $29.95 plus $5.00 shipping and handling (Illinois residents must add $2.30 state sales tax) to: