The baseball season is at its apex as the Phillies and Astros are battling it out to take home the ultimate goal for a Major League Baseball team, the World Series trophy. The intense games may leave some viewers with a craving to watch more of America's pastime.
After the final out is recorded, baseball fans who feel like they are not done watching the game could turn on these TV series. Since there are so many aspects to the game, including the players, front office, and commentators, baseball makes for a great premise on which to base a television show.
Pitch (2016)
Stream On Hulu
Pitch ran for one season on Fox, and it stars Kylie Bunbury, Mark Consuelos, and Mark-Paul Gosselaar from Saved By The Bell fame. This show is about the first woman who plays in Major League Baseball and the tumultuous time she has breaking the gender barrier.
Since it is only one season, it is a quick watch for baseball fans to binge in one sitting, with 10 episodes of about 45 minutes each. Even though it is a drama, the whole family will like this one and its progressive perspective. It even won Most Exciting Television Show at the Critics Choice Awards, according to the show's IMDb page.
A League Of Their Own (2022)
Stream On Prime Video
A League of Their Own is one of the newest releases in the subgenre and stars Abbi Jacobson, Chanté Adams, and D'Arcy Carden. The series follows an all-American women's baseball team during WWII.
The series is an adaptation of the 1992 comedy movie of the same name and the cast has a few comedy veterans, like Carden, who has been in shows like The Good Place, so she has a comedic background that plays out well here. This comedy is good to turn on if fans need a break from all the pressure during the World Series. A League of Their Own could start a trend where the best women-centric movies are adapted into TV shows.
Brockmire (2017 - 2020)
Stream On Hulu
Brockmire had four seasons on IFC and stars Hank Azaria, Tyrel Jackson Williams, and Amanda Peet. The show follows Azaria as a slandered baseball announcer who tries to revive his career.
This is a good show for people who want a peek into an aspect of the sport that often goes unnoticed: the commentators. It also features cameos from sports personalities like Joe Buck, Rich Eisen, and Tim Kurkjian. Azaria is known for being an avid baseball fan, so his passion for the sport is coming from a place of genuine love.
Eastbound & Down (2009 - 2013)
Stream On HBO Max
Eastbound & Down ran for four seasons on HBO and stars Danny McBride, Steve Little, and Katy Mixon. The show follows McBride as he plays a washed-up former pitcher who goes back to his hometown to become a gym teacher.
Even though Eastbound & Down is not his most popular role, overall, it is definitely one of Danny McBride's best projects. This type of role is classic McBride playing his best character archetype: a swagger-less jerk. Any show with McBride at the center of it is going to be very funny and should take some tension off baseball fans after watching the Phillies and Astros battle it out for three-plus hours.
All American: Homecoming (2022 - )
Stream On Netflix
All American: Homecoming is a teen soap that stars GeffriMaya, Peyton 'Alex' Smith, and Kelly Jenrette. The show follows a group of young adults at an HBCU who have to navigate the dynamic world of college sports.
All American: Homecoming is a spinoff of the very popular All-American series. This show is great for the younger crowd, especially if they want to play sports in college. It is very soapy and sometimes a bit too dramatic for its own good, but should be a pleasant experience for its target demographic as it currently sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Back In The Game (2013)
Stream On iTunes
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Back in The Game is a sitcom that ran for one season on ABC and stars James Caan, Maggie Lawson, and Benjamin Koldyke. The show is about a newly divorced mom who goes back to her hometown to coach her son's little league team.
This is another series that falls into the category of a quick binge since it is only 13 episodes at 22 minutes each. It is interesting to see such a serious drama actor like James Caan, who is known for films like The Godfatherand Misery, play a goofy sitcom grandpa. It is also no doubt fun for fans to see a young Griffin Gluck, who would go on to star in projects like American Vandaland Big Time Adolescence.
Hot Stove League (2019 - 2020)
Stream On Prime Video
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Hot Stove League is a Korean show that was on for one season and stars Min Namkoong, Park Eun-bin, and Oh Jung-se. The show follows two baseball managers trying to turn their team from the worst in the league to the best.
This is for baseball fans who love the underdog or hate how the big guys always come out on top. The show has a similar feeling to the movie Moneyball, they even have a similar colorway as the Oakland Athletics do in the film. The series ran for 16 episodes at an hour each, so it is something fans could watch an episode or two right after a World Series game.
The Bronx Is Burning (2007)
Stream On YouTube
The Bronx Is Burning is a miniseries that stars Oliver Platt, Kevin Conway, and Daniel Sunjata and follows the New York Yankees inv1977 as they try to win the World Series.
The show is an adaptation of the book Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx Is Burning. This is geared toward fans of the New York Yankees, but all baseball fans can enjoy the show. The 1977 World Series is very famous and known as the one in which Reggie Jackson earned the nickname of Mr. October.
Slo Pitch (2020 - 2022)
Stream On Roku
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Slo Pitch has two 10-episode seasons and stars Karen Knox, Gwenlyn Cumyn, and Kirsten Rasmussen. It has a mockumentary style that follows a women's baseball team called the Brovaries that try to overcome many obstacles to make the playoffs.
The show has a similar feel to A League of Their Own but it is less serious and more raunchy. The cast has great chemistry and the mockumentary style makes it reminiscent of other legendary comedy shows like The Officeor Parks And Rec.
A Whole New Ballgame (1995)
Stream On YouTube
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A Whole New Ballgame is a sitcom that ran for one season and stars Corbin Bernsen, Julia Campbell, and Richard Kind. The series follows a big league player who gets hired by a television station during the 1994 strike and constantly clashed with its manager.
The interesting thing about this series is it shows what a professional player would be doing when they can not play or even train since the laws of the strike prohibited played from using any of the team's facilities. Sitting at eight episodes 30 minutes each, this is an easy and enjoyable binge.
Source:gamerant.com