"Hollyball": A Film Series on Baseball as a Metaphor for American Society

The film series at UAB continues with Hollyball: Sport, Perseverance, and the Value of Sacrifice, a theme that explores the relationship between baseball and American values. On Tuesday, May 6 and Tuesday, May 13 at 12 p.m., two key films that align perfectly with this subject will be screened at the UAB Cinema Room: The Pride of the Yankees (Sam Wood, 1942) and The Stratton Story (Sam Wood, 1949).

The activity is organized by the Department of Communication and Advertising, with the support of the Live Culture Unit. “Hollyball” will include a brief introductory talk before each screening, led by Ludovico Longhi, a professor at the UAB Faculty of Communication Sciences and promoter of the series.

Through the lens of baseball, this series explores how cinema has used the sport to reflect the values of American society—emphasizing sport, perseverance, and sacrifice. Featuring two fundamental films on this topic, the series reflects on how sports become cultural testimonies that capture the values and essence of the 1940s and 1950s. Sam Wood, director of both films, stands at the center of this narrative style based on personal growth and overcoming adversity.

The first film, The Pride of the Yankees (Sam Wood, 1942), tells the story of Lou Gehrig, a renowned American baseball player who played more than 2,000 consecutive games in the U.S. professional league. His life takes a dramatic turn when he is diagnosed with a then-unknown illness: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The film serves not only as a tribute to the player but also seeks to instill patriotic values within American society. The second film, The Stratton Story (Sam Wood, 1949), portrays the career of Monty Stratton, a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox whose career is abruptly interrupted when he loses a leg in a hunting accident. It likewise represents sacrifice and perseverance in the face of adversity.

This film series reflects the messages that were intended to be conveyed to Americans during times of conflict. It represents the country's history during the 1940s and 1950s, when such values were especially emphasized. These two films, therefore, have become cinema classics that invite viewers to explore the role of sport in the shaping of cultural narratives.