Reel Baseball (2-DVD)

This DVD collection features a cornucopia of early - and, in many cases, extremely rare - baseball films, offering privileged peeks into early twentieth century American lifestyles and values. It includes newly remastered and scored versions of two important early baseball features: The Busher (1919), a delightful comedy-drama featuring silent cinema legends Charles Ray, Colleen Moore, and John Gilbert; and Headin' Home (1920), spotlighting a young, shockingly svelte Babe Ruth in his first motion picture starring role. Other items include Casey at the Bator The Fate of a "Rotten" Umpire (1899), one of the first representations of baseball on celluloid; a 1922 experimental sound film featuring aging matinee idol DeWolf Hopper reciting "Casey at the Bat" Hearts and Diamonds (1914), a comedy with roly-poly screen star John Bunny; One Touch of Nature (1917), which features New York Giants Hall of Fame manager John McGraw; and Felix Saves the Day (1922), an animated short starring Felix the Cat. His Last Game (1909) and The Ball Player and the Bandit (1912) blend baseball with the American West.