The Sandlot Review | Teen Ink

The Sandlot Review

April 26, 2024
By Addy_AHSWRITING BRONZE, Hartland, Wisconsin
Addy_AHSWRITING BRONZE, Hartland, Wisconsin
4 articles 0 photos 0 comments

“You’re killin’ me Smalls!” This quote instantly reminds me of my childhood. Everything was baseball related in my youth, my father has always been the biggest baseball junky for as long as I can remember. Therefore, baseball movies were a big hit in my house. Watching The Sandlot after an exhausting long weekend of watching my little brothers baseball games, really brings me back.


The movie's famous scenes, like the showdown with “The Beast”, the Babe Ruth baseball, and funny quotes, are still loved today. Many people still love this movie and its funny quotes because they trigger nostalgia, offer humor, touch on universal themes, and remain relevant across generations.


The Sandlot, released in 1993, is a fun and heartwarming movie about kids who love playing baseball together. It follows Scotty Smalls as he joins a group of friends on their sandlot baseball adventures. 


The movie teaches us about friendship and teamwork. The cast brings each character to life, showing the ridiculous challenges they face like confronting a scary dog called “The Beast.” The set was made to feel like it was the 1960s and the cast does a stellar job. Through all the kids' adventures, they learn about bravery and overcoming fears. Watching this movie makes me feel comforted. 


I learned the movie was influenced by the director's real-life experiences! David Mickey Evans—the director of this film, brought his childhood memories back to life with The Sandlot. The playful energy of the cast brings me back to my own childhood—and who doesn’t miss being a kid?


One of the best parts of the movie is how it mixes humor with life lessons. We see Scotty learn about friendship, facing fears, and the joys of playing baseball. My all-time favorite scene is when we see Scotty try chewing tobacco for the first time. He ends up getting sick, leading to another memorable line, “I’m gonna die!”  The bond between the kids, led by Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez, is touching and makes us think about our childhood memories.  


The Sandlot also shows why baseball is more than just a game. Everyone but Benny laughed at Smalls lack of ability to play catch at first. Nevertheless, Benny still invited him on their team. He knew they could help him improve his skills and earn the rest of the boys respect. The more you sit back and watch this movie, you can see how it is about community, never giving up, and dreaming big. 


While it’s aimed at younger viewers, The Sandlot is a movie that anyone can enjoy. It’s a feel-good movie that captures the essence of childhood and the magic of growing up.


The author's comments:

My family loves this film, I grew up watching it almost every weekend!


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