Home/Episodes/A League of Their Own

‘A League of Their Own’ With Bill Simmons and Mallory Rubin

April 26, 2022 · A League of Their Own (1992) · Comedy · Drama · Sport · 1:46:01 · ▶ Listen on Spotify

Categories

Hall of Fame Plaque

Bill SimmonsThe movie's timeless quality, being ahead of its time on women's sports, capturing great performances at peak moments (Tom Hanks pre-legendary run, Madonna at fun career point), and its preservation as an eternal document that will be passed down for generations▶ 5:20
Mallory RubinThe film as a perfectly preserved lasting and eternal document that will never tire of rewatching and looks forward to sharing with future generations, with timeless quality due to its historical setting and high-quality baseball scenes▶ 6:08

Casting What-Ifs

Bill SimmonsGeena DavisDiscusses how lucky they got with Geena Davis casting because she's completely authentic and perfect for the role, wondering why her career wasn't bigger despite her charisma and talent▶ 7:40
Mallory RubinGeena DavisAgrees about Geena Davis being incredible and stunning, commenting on her beauty and performance quality▶ 9:49

Half-Assed Internet Research

Bill SimmonsReferenced Personal Best (1982) with Meriel Hemingway as Olympic high jumper, written/directed by Robert Towne, discussed box office performance and sports movie evolution from 1974-1996▶ 18:47
Mallory RubinDiscussed deleted scene of Dottie and Jimmy kissing, Tom Hanks' age concerns for the role, movie based on real All American Girls Professional Baseball League, documentary about the league inspired Penny Marshall to make the film▶ 13:06

Most Rewatchable Scene

Bill SimmonsThe first two Dottie Kit scenes establishing the sisters and their relationship, and the tryouts scene where they meet Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell▶ 22:17
Mallory RubinThe Oregon recruitment sequence with Ernie's caustic approach and the Dottie-Kit dynamic, and the tryout montage▶ 23:07

Apex Mountain

Bill SimmonsDavid StrathairnApex Mountain for a guy named Ira, referencing David Strathairn's character▶ 29:22
Mallory RubinDiscusses other Iras but doesn't definitively agree or disagree with the pick▶ 29:30

What's Aged the Worst

Bill SimmonsUsing different actresses for the older versions instead of aging makeup on the original actresses, and Kit's character being annoying and winning despite bad behavior▶ 51:06
Mallory RubinHooch quitting the team after marrying Nelson - calls it 'an all-time What's Aged the Worst' and 'a big L for the female gender'▶ 51:35

Joey Pants Award

Bill SimmonsMark HoltonMentions two candidates: the guy who played Squiggy (baseball announcer) and Grown up Stillwell (played by Chubby from Teen Wolf), but says Stillwell is better▶ 1:02:40
Mallory RubinJoey SlotnickJoey Slotnick, credited as Doris fan number two▶ 1:03:31

Who Won the Movie

Mallory RubinGeena DavisGeena Davis as Dottie, though mentions Madonna and Rosie as a duo could make a case▶ 1:39:27

Movies Referenced (32)

Title (year)LinksMentionsMentioned byFirst
Fargo (1996)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons▶ 1:15:44
Frozen (2013)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2Mallory Rubin▶ 45:47
I See You (2019)IMDb ↗Lb ↗2▶ 1:43:00
Apollo 13 (1995)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 10:41
As Good as It Gets (1997)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 4:51
Bad Boys (1995)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 1:06:59
Before We Go (2014)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 1:40:46
Black Widow (2021)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:29
Bright (2017)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 22:37
Carrie (1976)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 47:44
Elvis (2022)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 59:56
Enchanted (2007)IMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 13:45

Directors Referenced (6)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Penny MarshallIMDb ↗Lb ↗19Bill Simmons, Mallory RubinBig, A League of Their Own▶ 2:31
Stephen BerkmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Mallory Rubin, Bill SimmonsCold Mountain, Killers of the Flower Moon▶ 46:29
Chloe CherryIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Mallory Rubin▶ 1:25:06
Chris CornerIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Mallory RubinThe Saint, Open Your Eyes▶ 1:21:03
Francis Ford CoppolaIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsApocalypse Now, The Godfather Part II▶ 1:08:36
Ken BurnsIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Mallory Rubin▶ 16:19

Actors Referenced (41)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Tom HanksIMDb ↗Lb ↗17Bill Simmons, Mallory RubinCast Away, Big, Forrest Gump▶ 2:10
Rosie O'DonnellIMDb ↗Lb ↗11Bill Simmons, Mallory RubinA League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, Tarzan▶ 26:01
Geena DavisIMDb ↗Lb ↗10Bill Simmons, Mallory RubinThe Fly▶ 7:40
Lori PettyIMDb ↗Lb ↗8Bill Simmons, Mallory RubinA League of Their Own▶ 8:36
Christopher WalkenIMDb ↗Lb ↗6Bill Simmons, Mallory RubinCatch Me If You Can, The Deer Hunter▶ 1:01:28
Sandra BullockIMDb ↗Lb ↗5Bill SimmonsThe Proposal, Miss Congeniality, Speed▶ 1:04:59
John C. ReillyIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill SimmonsGuardians of the Galaxy▶ 8:08
Philip WrigleyIMDb ↗Lb ↗4Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin▶ 1:07:42
Bill PullmanIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Mallory RubinIndependence Day, Spaceballs▶ 34:17
Johnny BenchIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin▶ 1:27:01
Jon LovitzIMDb ↗Lb ↗3Bill SimmonsA League of Their Own, Rat Race▶ 47:39
3 Little WomenIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin▶ 1:20:17

Writers Referenced (1)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Taylor WorstIMDb ↗Lb ↗2Bill Simmons, Mallory Rubin▶ 51:22

Cinematographers Referenced (2)

NameLinksMentionsMentioned byKnown ForFirst
Christophe LegalIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill Simmons▶ 1:00:33
Michael GrantlandIMDb ↗Lb ↗1Bill SimmonsThe Other Guys▶ 1:41:27