Synopsis
12-year-old Henry Rowengartner, whose late father was a minor league baseball player, grew up dreaming of playing baseball, despite his physical shortcomings. After Henry's arm is broken while trying to catch a baseball at school, the tendon in that arm heals too tightly, allowing Henry to throw pitches that are as fast as 103 mph. Henry is spotted at nearby Wrigley Field by Larry "Fish" Fisher, the general manager of the struggling Chicago Cubs, after Henry throws an opponent's home-run ball all the way from the outfield bleachers back to the catcher, and it seems that Henry may be the pitcher that team owner Bob Carson has been praying for.
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Cast
- Thomas Ian NicholasHenry Rowengartner
- Gary BuseyChet Steadman
- Amy MortonMary Rowengartner
- Patrick LaBrecqueGeorge
- Robert Hy GormanClark (as Robert Gorman)
- Bruce AltmanJack Bradfield
- Dan HedayaLarry 'Fish' Fisher
- Albert HallSal Martinella
- Eddie BrackenBob Carson
- Daniel SternPhil Brickma
Recommendations
- 75
Chicago Sun-Times
Look, this isn't a great movie. If you're not a kid, don't go unless there's a kid you want to take. But if you are a kid, and you have ever for a moment wondered what it would be like to play major-league ball at your age, then take it from the old Little Leaguer and see this movie. - 75
TV Guide Magazine
Aimed squarely at little leaguers and their doting parents, Rookie of the Year is a modest fantasy that makes its comic fable appealing despite sporadic slapstick missteps. - 67
Austin Chronicle
The movie has a charming mix of sensible, earthbound characters and silly, over-the-top caricatures. - 63
Washington Post
A good time for kids - 60
Empire
A relatively enjoyable kids' movie that will entertain the kids, but unsurprisingly may leave the adults cold. From the director of The Wonder Years, it doesn't break any new boundaries, but rather sticks with what he knows best, that is sentimental childhood comedies. - 60
Variety
A warm, comic "what if" yarn, it's rife with humor and sentimentality but is just one run away from the game-winning score. - 50
Washington Post
Rookie of the Year is a wholly benevolent but banal baseball fantasy aimed at Little Leaguers with dreams of reaching big-time fields. - 50
The New York Times
Rookie of the Year, which was directed by Daniel Stern from a script by Sam Harper, has an appealing central performance by Mr. Nicholas, who manages to be cocky without seeming obnoxious. As a summer diversion, the film has about as much substance as cotton candy.
