This was a tough movie to decide on the scene. There were a few choices, Roy Hobbs at his first batting practice, knocking the cover off the ball in his first at bat, smashing the clock at Wrigley or smashing the lights in his final at bat. I went with his slump busting, clock breaking homer in Wrigley Field. I have seen this movie a number of times and this has always been my favorite scene for a couple of reasons, the crack of the bat and no slow motion until after the ball hits the clock. It also has one of the best scores ever.
I would rank The Natural the third best sports movie after Hoosiers and the original Longest Yard (did not need to be remade). In sports movies the actors never look realistic when playing but Robert Redford looks like a baseball player from the ’30s and he may have the best swing of any actor in a baseball movie. Some may say Costner in Bull Durham but I will take the classic left handed swing of Redford’s all the time.
my two favorite scenes in The Natural involve Wilford Brimely..first, when Hobbs takes batting practise and Coach drinks the rusty water…. and second, when Hobbs comes in from the hospital, and Coach says “your the best dam hitter I’ve ever seen” while he’s shaving..it’s like Hobbs has reconnected with his father, and Coach has reconnected with his love of the game…I’m going to cry