Getting into World Series state of mind with “Eight Men Out.”
The movie, written and directed by John Sayles, tells the story of the 1919 Chicago White Sox, forever after known as the “Black Sox” for throwing the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. (The “world” in those days comprised everything in the U.S. east of St. Louis and north of Washington DC.)
“Eight Men Out” was released in 1988. Christopher Lloyd played a gambling fixer and legendary Chicago journalist Studs Terkel portrayed a sportswriter. A few months later, another motion picture about the Black Sox came out. “Field of Dreams,” starring Kevin Costner and Amy Madigan, is considered a family classic. Despite depicting Joe Jackson batting right-handed, the movie grossed $65 million. Even with young heartthrobs Charlie Sheen and John Cusack in featured roles, “Eight Men Out” barely covered its $6 million production cost.
Why did “Field of Dreams” do so much better? It could be the simple and heartwarming plot line. “Eight Men Out” tells a more complicated, albeit true story, with more characters to keep track of: all the ballplayers, the loathsome Charles Comiskey, cold-blooded Arnold Rothstein and other gamblers, the skeptical reporters, heartless Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, et al. In contrast to the feel-good ending of “Field,” “Eight” had no happy ending.
(Also from John Sayles: “Lone Star.” With a great soundtrack.)
The San Francisco Giants have won the World Series each of the past three even-numbered years. In 2014, they barely made it to the playoffs as the second National League wild-card team. They beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in a one-game, sudden-death playoff. From there, they went on to win it all.
In 2016, the Giants had the best record in all the major leagues up to the All-Star Game break. They were seven games ahead of the despised L.A. Dodgers. After the break, the Giants posted MLB’s second-worst record. They swept L.A. in the last three games of the season to finish four games behind the Dodgers. On the last day, S.F. qualified for the second wild-card spot. They play the New York Mets tonight, the winner going on to meet the Chicago Cubs.
