A short clip from the Ron LeFlore story. Starring Levar Burton, featuring Billy Martin, Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Jim Northrup and Bill Freehan. Filmed at Tiger Stadium in Detroit.
LeFlore's athleticism was on par with Cesar Cedeno or Mays. He had a good OBP and hit righty pitching better than one might expect. LeFlore was an under-rated player. His base-stealing ability was his main strength, of course. I often draft him for my Strat-O-Matic teams in the 70s league (The Sporting News)
Yeah, Billy had that effect on people and teams. Stanley was still on the Tigers. Billy had many flaws as a man and manager, but this would not be the first or last time he spotted a talent that nobody saw or would even consider looking at. In Texas, He brought Hargrove & Sundberg up from AA ball to the majors cause he said they were ready, & they were. He had a fine eye for talent & he didn't care how things looked as long as someone could help the team win. That aspect of Billy was great.
@scott michaels agree, also Al Kaline said Billy was great and he got along with him well. Those guys wanted to WIN. Kaline’s word is gold coming this old Tiger fan
Since they used the real Kaline, Cash, Martin, couldn't they at least have a guy who SOMEWHAT acted like and looked like Stanley? This character seems like the personality of one of Finley's Oakland A's of '72-'74.
The real Mickey Stanley didn't enjoy playing for Billy. If Mickey had actually been in that glove scene it would have probably become real old after a few takes. I think Mickey was still playing for the Tigers when the movie was filmed. Although Northrup was in the movie, and he hated Billy the most of anyone on the team.
It is interesting to hear the voices of Norm Cash and Billy Martin again. I think that Jimmy Butsicaris was also actually at the Tiger Stadium tryout as well.
Briggs/Tiger Stadium always had dark green seats. When the reconstruction began in the 70's, the Mayor Coleslaw Young, who had previously visited a newly re-furbished stadium in the Bronx decided to switch to Blue. Check it out.
As did all the Tigers in that scene. The joke Norm Cash said that he couldn't be too fast or they wouldn't have caught him was unscripted. The director liked it and the players reaction and left it in.
I am 55 now and remember this so well !! AWESOME ! ....I could run myself down the line from the right side at 14 at UC Davis Baseball Camp , I ran 3.9 down that 90 feet to 1st base ! ....true fact ! ..I quit baseball the next year as I was running Varsity track at Pitt /Ca. in 10th with a 9.8 /100 yd at 15 and a half ! ....I would never become " world class " as I ran at lifetime best 10.41 /100 meters in 1983, ( also at 20 in JC a Football 40 / 4.31 ).*. I should have stuck with my #1 sport of baseball as I know I too could have made it to " The Show ! " I had 4 of the 5 tools and SPEED always kills ! ( I would have hit 300 triples and been in CF like Ron was too ! ....Great , true story here !
This had to have been filmed in the 1977-78 offseason when they were painting the Tiger Stadium seats. Notice that the lower deck was blue but the upper deck was still green. I recognize a number of late 1970s Tigers (ie. Fernando Arroyo, Chuck Scrivener) but the actor playing Mickey Stanley was definitely not Mickey Stanley. Al Kaline (at 6:10) had the best line of the entire segment.
@@mikebradshaw6484 They played 4 years together. Horton did not get traded until late 1977 to Texas. Laflore started playing with the Tigers in 1974. So that is 74,75,76,& most of 77
Holy Shit! You beat me at my own game. I'm great at picking out insignificant actors/actresses from obscure roles, but never saw this one. Is that really Lamar Latrelle? Revenge of the Nerds plus a "background" Cobra Kai from Karate Kid
No disrespect but I can't believe Billy allowed that poser to play a pro ball player. That swing was as bad as I have ever seen in a baseball movie. It's almost Tony Perkins "Fear Strikes Out" bad. And I know it was made for tv but Billy sure was kindhearted and benevolent in that clip.
Ron Leflore and Mark Fidrich....fantastic year for both of them...1976
Ron leflore was one hell of a ballplayer watched him many times growing up in the Midwest
LeFlore's athleticism was on par with Cesar Cedeno or Mays. He had a good OBP and hit righty pitching better than one might expect. LeFlore was an under-rated player. His base-stealing ability was his main strength, of course. I often draft him for my Strat-O-Matic teams in the 70s league (The Sporting News)
Ron LeFlore batted righty and was clocked going from the batters' box to first in 2.9 seconds. THAT is getting it!
Yeah, Billy had that effect on people and teams. Stanley was still on the Tigers. Billy had many flaws as a man and manager, but this would not be the first or last time he spotted a talent that nobody saw or would even consider looking at. In Texas, He brought Hargrove & Sundberg up from AA ball to the majors cause he said they were ready, & they were. He had a fine eye for talent & he didn't care how things looked as long as someone could help the team win. That aspect of Billy was great.
Geeze, they almost made Billy Martin look like a quality human being in that movie.
@scott michaels agree, also Al Kaline said Billy was great and he got along with him well. Those guys wanted to WIN. Kaline’s word is gold coming this old Tiger fan
Billy was a quality human being - when sober.
"Who is that in the outfield?" Martin; "That's my long lost son."
This is awesome. Back when sports movies had substance
This is awesome. Grew up in MI, remember seeing him play. Also met him at the old Plymouth Hilton at a baseball card show. Nice guy.
I was not a Tigers fan growing up but there is so many baseball greats in this movie
Since they used the real Kaline, Cash, Martin, couldn't they at least have a guy who SOMEWHAT acted like and looked like Stanley? This character seems like the personality of one of Finley's Oakland A's of '72-'74.
At 5:37, the joke Norm Cash tells wasn't in the script. He ad-libbed it and they kept it in.
The real Mickey Stanley didn't enjoy playing for Billy. If Mickey had actually been in that glove scene it would have probably become real old after a few takes. I think Mickey was still playing for the Tigers when the movie was filmed. Although Northrup was in the movie, and he hated Billy the most of anyone on the team.
Mickey Stanley at 4:25 showing LeFlore how to set up to make a throw and then misplays a fungo into a basket catch and launches a rainbow LOL.
A rainbow that lands on top of a snow cone in the third base concession stand...😁
How embarrassing for the real Mickey Stanley, besides this comical light in the britches fielding display, when did he have a perm? LMAO
IGOT THIS MOVIE ON DVD ..I RECORDED IT ON TBS IN THE EARLY 9O'S.LOOKS GREAT.
The actor playing Leflore's brother would go on to portray The Gay Guy in Revenge of the Nerds.
Lamar
He's bad cuz LeFlore was a bigger guy...Burton looked NOTHING like Leflore except that they both were Black.
Burton didn't have Ron LeFlore's physique.
Please upload the whole movie.
It is interesting to hear the voices of Norm Cash and Billy Martin again. I think that Jimmy Butsicaris was also actually at the Tiger Stadium tryout as well.
The stadium looked better green
Lavar Burton looks more like LOU WHITTAKER
I've heard that before.
They all look alike.
Briggs/Tiger Stadium always had dark green seats. When the reconstruction began in the 70's, the Mayor Coleslaw Young, who had previously visited a newly re-furbished stadium in the Bronx decided to switch to Blue. Check it out.
Martin played himself...hilarious.
As did all the Tigers in that scene. The joke Norm Cash said that he couldn't be too fast or they wouldn't have caught him was unscripted. The director liked it and the players reaction and left it in.
I am 55 now and remember this so well !! AWESOME ! ....I could run myself down the line from the right side at 14 at UC Davis Baseball Camp , I ran 3.9 down that 90 feet to 1st base ! ....true fact ! ..I quit baseball the next year as I was running Varsity track at Pitt /Ca. in 10th with a 9.8 /100 yd at 15 and a half ! ....I would never become " world class " as I ran at lifetime best 10.41 /100 meters in 1983, ( also at 20 in JC a Football 40 / 4.31 ).*. I should have stuck with my #1 sport of baseball as I know I too could have made it to " The Show ! " I had 4 of the 5 tools and SPEED always kills ! ( I would have hit 300 triples and been in CF like Ron was too ! ....Great , true story here !
Billy martin hof
And the guy playing Ron's dad was in "Escape from Alcatraz" as "English".
He was ML in Do the Right Thing too.
Should make a movie about Mark the bird fidrych..... it's about time p.s. they should call the movie phenom
His swing isn't that bad but he;s much smaller physically than LeFLORE was
@detoth67 Right, and the scoreboard was replaced between 79-80
This had to have been filmed in the 1977-78 offseason when they were painting the Tiger Stadium seats. Notice that the lower deck was blue but the upper deck was still green. I recognize a number of late 1970s Tigers (ie. Fernando Arroyo, Chuck Scrivener) but the actor playing Mickey Stanley was definitely not Mickey Stanley. Al Kaline (at 6:10) had the best line of the entire segment.
They didn't paint the seats. The replaced the green wood ones with blue and orange plastic.
Why was he wearing the road uniform? Lol
how come they didn't show Willy Horton it all
Because he was no longer with the Tigers by time LeFlore came around.
@@mikebradshaw6484 They played 4 years together. Horton did not get traded until late 1977 to Texas. Laflore started playing with the Tigers in 1974. So that is 74,75,76,& most of 77
My right ear is lonely.
2:14. Oh shit! It's Lamar Latrelle!
That ball the guy threw ended up in the reserved section, it was so bad.
Holy Shit! You beat me at my own game. I'm great at picking out insignificant actors/actresses from obscure roles, but never saw this one. Is that really Lamar Latrelle? Revenge of the Nerds plus a "background" Cobra Kai from Karate Kid
yes, larry b. scott! actually, this was his first movie.
The actor playing Mickey Stanley. His form catching that fly ball? Bad. Real bad.
No disrespect but I can't believe Billy allowed that poser to play a pro ball player. That swing was as bad as I have ever seen in a baseball movie. It's almost Tony Perkins "Fear Strikes Out" bad. And I know it was made for tv but Billy sure was kindhearted and benevolent in that clip.
stormed Norman cash
Bendix was the worst. Not even Gary Cooper was as bad (because he actually learned how to hit left handed).
William Bendix as Babe Ruth had to be the worst casting in a sports movie of all time. In partial defense, though, the script was horrid too.