Tigers Today podcast: Graham, Paul unveil inaugural baseball movie draft

Tony Paul Adam Graham
The Detroit News

You can tell baseball fever is back in Detroit.

The Tigers are in first place in the Central Division with a 3-0 record, the first time in franchise history they've opened the season with three straight one-run victories, and Tigers fans will be packed into Comerica Park on Friday afternoon for the home opener against the A's.

So, to prepare you for Friday's unofficial first day of spring and the unofficial day off for Tigers fans, Detroit News reporter and Tigers Today host Tony Paul sat down with News film critic Adam Graham to rate their favorite baseball movies, a top 10 list of great baseball movies to watch this season.

After talking about the Tigers' fast start (1:40 into the podcast) and memories of opening day at Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park (4:20), it was time for Adam to make the first pick in the inaugural baseball movie draft, a baseball version of those NFL mock drafts.

Adam, you're on the clock (6:30 into the podcast).

First round

"Major League" movie was released in 1989.

Adam: "Major League" (6:30)

Tony: "The Sandlot" (12:10)

Second round

Robert Redford in "The Natural."

Adam: "Everybody Wants Some!!" (16:00)

Tony: "The Natural" (19:00)

Third round

Adam: "Field of Dreams" (21:30)

Tony: "Little Big League" (27:70)

Fourth round

Abbi Jacobson, Rae Gray, D'Arcy Carden and Melanie Field in "A League of Their Own."

Adam: "A League of Their Own" (31:00)

Tony: "For Love of the Game" (33:30)

Fifth round

Adam: "Bull Durham" (37:30)

Tony: "The Rookie" (40:30)

Sixth round

Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in "Moneyball."

Adam: "Moneyball" (42:30)

Tony: "61*" (45:10)

Seventh round

Adam: "Fever Pitch" (48:40)

Tony: "Major League II" (51:10)

Eighth round

Mary Wilson of the Supremes films at Tiger Stadium during the "Tiger Town" shoot in summer 1983.

Adam: "Tiger Town" (53:10)

Tony: "Brewster's Millions" (56:50)

Ninth round

"Shoeless" Joe Jackson was the headliner among those who earned a lifetime ban as part of the 1919 Black Sox scandal, featured in the movie "Eight Men Out."

Adam: "The Fan" (59:30)

Tony: "Eight Men Out" (61:40)

Tenth round

Reggie Jackson in "Reggie."

Adam: "Reggie" (62:30)

Tony: "Bad News Bears in Breaking Training" (65:15)

Adam's top 10 list

Major League, Everybody Wants Some!!, Field of Dreams, A League of their Own, Bull Durham, Moneyball, Fever Pitch, Tiger Town, The Fan, Reggie

Tony's top 10 list

The Sandlot, The Natural, Little Big League, For Love of The Game, The Rookie, 61*, Major League II, Brewster's Millions, Eight Men Out, Bad News Bears in Breaking Training

On deck

Tony Paul and Chris McCosky will be back on Thursday to wrap up the first six games of the regular season and preview Friday's home opener against Oakland (1:10 p.m./BSD/97.1).