31:
336:
Director Adell
Aldrich said "I was a mother, and that's part of the reason they hired me. Gary was brilliant. Just a natural actor who could memorize his lines after one reading. But his people -- his parents and his representatives -- didn't care how long the kid worked or what he was doing. So it
393:
liked it, while finding it highly sentimental, he praised the actors and said that
Guillaume and Coleman gave winning performances. He also praised director Aldrich as capable of making good films regardless of style and showed range from her previous output which was a darker film, while this one
406:
did not like it and wrote "Instead of constructing a vehicle designed to display the amazing talents of this youngster while he's at his winning, naturalistic peak, everyone involved elected to make do with a slovenly and underwritten bore."
252:
Jackie
Robinson "J.R." Cooper is a kid who loves baseball, and also the son of a former major leaguer now down on his luck (and now a vendor working the stands at games). J.R. parlays his baseball knowledge into becoming manager of the
642:
989:
868:
549:
609:
531:
853:
356:(who also appeared in the film as the team's announcer) as their new manager. This led to some jokes that the team had meant to hire Gary Coleman.
1180:
863:
1040:
838:
1748:
1738:
1020:
818:
752:
1723:
1129:
1113:
1108:
352:
game on
September 21, 1979. Oddly enough, the day after the film first aired on television, the Padres hired their announcer
1728:
1703:
1253:
1190:
873:
858:
1768:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1134:
999:
814:
878:
671:
241:
471:
1713:
1708:
340:
On the project se commented "we weren't trying to win awards, but we did want to make something people would enjoy."
1025:
833:
776:
337:
was my job to direct, but also to make sure he was OK. I hugged him every day and let him know I was there for him."
1778:
1763:
1718:
828:
823:
1743:
809:
1688:
1230:
1225:
745:
1773:
1220:
848:
333:
had originally been picked to direct, but quit after two days because he didn't want to work with children.
1733:
1663:
1658:
1652:
1646:
1640:
1623:
1618:
1613:
1608:
1603:
1598:
1593:
1588:
1583:
1578:
1562:
1557:
1552:
1546:
1539:
1533:
1528:
1523:
1518:
1513:
1497:
1491:
1485:
1479:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1417:
1412:
1406:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1369:
1364:
1359:
1354:
1349:
1344:
1339:
1334:
1329:
1324:
1308:
1170:
1165:
1753:
327:
The television film was made by NBC to enhance
Coleman's name recognition and boost his commercial value
1698:
1066:
384:
1758:
738:
1050:
1035:
984:
452:
596:
570:
1030:
932:
583:
312:
423:
for "Best
Children's Special or Episode in a Series," at the 13th NAACP Image Awards at the
1202:
843:
492:
282:
90:
8:
1693:
1214:
961:
647:
424:
402:
104:
30:
1208:
1196:
926:
719:
614:
536:
518:
420:
979:
968:
714:
661:
389:
316:
513:
1045:
974:
898:
799:
761:
557:
349:
294:
276:
254:
237:
86:
725:
373:
223:
60:
994:
1682:
1086:
1015:
691:
685:
440:
353:
330:
921:
667:
416:
270:
258:
233:
177:
82:
1092:
229:
226:
708:
627:
Thomas, Kevin (September 28, 1979). "'Kid from left field' win in 9th".
904:
675:
397:
300:
288:
94:
786:
64:
730:
372:
It was the 15th highest-rated prime time show of the week, with a
1269:
359:
The television movie first aired on Sunday, September 30, 1979.
1306:
1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 ·
1274:
571:
100 Things Padres Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die
436:
194:
36:
415:
At a dinner ceremony, Sunday evening, December 7, 1980,
464:
240:. Coleman's first film, it is a remake of the 1953
597:
The
Baseball Filmography, 1915 through 2001, 2d ed.
514:
Remembering Gary
Coleman as The Kid From Left Field
653:
1680:
532:Crowd at Ball Game to See Preview of a TV Movie
348:NBC held a special preview of the film after a
472:Picks and Pans Review: The Kid from Left Field
746:
753:
739:
29:
508:
506:
504:
502:
1681:
695:, part 6, p. 2; subscription required)
635:
626:
602:
576:
524:
419:, on behalf of the film, accepted the
1291:
734:
643:James Earl Jones, Sizzling in 'Paris'
563:
542:
379:
760:
589:
499:
1749:Films with screenplays by Jack Sher
1739:Films scored by David Michael Frank
1031:Roseanne Barr sings national anthem
610:NBC a Close 2d to ABC in TV Ratings
13:
1041:2007 NL Wild Card tie-breaker game
16:1979 American TV series or program
14:
1790:
702:
641:Shales, Tom (29 September 1979).
488:Spotlight on filming in SD County
1724:American comedy television films
1292:
854:Award winners and league leaders
670:accepting award from presenters
569:Kenney, Kirk & Randy Jones.
620:
512:Pearlman, Jeff (11 June 2010).
322:
273:- Jackie Robinson "J.R." Cooper
608:Brown, Les. (3 October 1979).
584:San Diego Baseball Fantography
550:Jerry Coleman to Manage Padres
480:
1:
1026:1984 Braves–Padres bean brawl
869:Opening Day starting pitchers
458:
430:
394:was positive and up lifting.
307:
1729:American sports comedy films
1704:1970s English-language films
410:
362:
204:September 30, 1979
7:
1769:Television remakes of films
666:December 9, 1980 (photo of
659:"13th Image Awards Named,"
446:
10:
1795:
367:
343:
1714:Remakes of American films
1709:1970s sports comedy films
1632:
1571:
1506:
1441:
1378:
1317:
1298:
1287:
1262:
1246:
1239:
1179:
1158:
1122:
1101:
1075:
1059:
1008:
946:
914:
894:
887:
798:
770:
435:The film was released on
200:
190:
185:
173:
165:
155:
147:
139:
131:
126:
118:
110:
100:
78:
70:
56:
44:
28:
21:
257:and leading them to the
178:Gary Coleman Productions
1779:Films shot in San Diego
1764:Sports television films
1719:American baseball films
1182:Minor league affiliates
955:The Kid from Left Field
864:First-round draft picks
721:The Kid from Left Field
710:The Kid from Left Field
631:. pp. Part IV: 34.
264:
247:
219:The Kid from Left Field
23:The Kid from Left Field
1744:Films set in San Diego
1051:MLB Mexico City Series
1036:Padres Paradise Series
985:San Diego Padres (PCL)
453:List of baseball films
1689:1979 television films
933:Peoria Sports Complex
839:Owners and executives
788:San Diego, California
689:, part 6, p. 1 &
629:The Los Angeles Times
530:(20 September 1979).
242:film of the same name
1774:1970s American films
1203:San Antonio Missions
1159:Wild card berths (2)
493:Daily Times-Advocate
174:Production companies
1734:Comedy film remakes
1215:Lake Elsinore Storm
1123:Division titles (5)
1102:League pennants (2)
1067:Los Angeles Dodgers
962:An American Journey
648:The Washington Post
599:, pp. 257-59 (2010)
425:Hollywood Palladium
403:The Washington Post
224:made-for-television
222:is a 1979 American
135:Deena Silver-Kramer
105:David Michael Frank
1754:NBC original films
1270:La Poderosa 860 AM
1209:Fort Wayne TinCaps
1197:El Paso Chihuahuas
927:Desert Sun Stadium
615:The New York Times
548:(2 October 1979).
537:The New York Times
519:Sports Illustrated
470:(1 October 1979).
380:Critical reception
181:Zephyr Productions
132:Executive producer
1699:1979 comedy films
1676:
1675:
1672:
1671:
1283:
1282:
1085:General Manager:
980:San Diego Chicken
942:
941:
662:Los Angeles Times
582:Strasberg, Andy.
390:Los Angeles Times
317:San Diego Stadium
215:
214:
119:Original language
111:Country of origin
1786:
1759:San Diego Padres
1307:
1289:
1288:
1244:
1243:
1226:DSL Padres Brown
1183:
1082:Chairman: vacant
1046:MLB China Series
1021:1984 NLCS Game 4
975:Gallagher Square
899:Qualcomm Stadium
892:
891:
802:
789:
779:
764:
763:San Diego Padres
755:
748:
741:
732:
731:
697:
694:
688:
672:Danielle Spencer
657:
651:
639:
633:
632:
624:
618:
606:
600:
593:
587:
580:
574:
567:
561:
558:Associated Press
546:
540:
528:
522:
510:
497:
484:
478:
468:
350:San Diego Padres
277:Robert Guillaume
255:San Diego Padres
238:Robert Guillaume
211:
209:
186:Original release
159:Robert Hernandez
87:Robert Guillaume
39:release of movie
33:
19:
18:
1794:
1793:
1789:
1788:
1787:
1785:
1784:
1783:
1679:
1678:
1677:
1668:
1628:
1567:
1502:
1437:
1374:
1313:
1305:
1294:
1279:
1275:97.3 FM The Fan
1258:
1235:
1231:DSL Padres Gold
1191:Player overview
1181:
1175:
1154:
1118:
1097:
1071:
1055:
1004:
938:
915:Spring training
910:
883:
800:
794:
787:
777:
774:Established in
766:
762:
759:
726:Rotten Tomatoes
705:
700:
696:
690:
684:
658:
654:
640:
636:
625:
621:
607:
603:
595:Erickson, Hal.
594:
590:
581:
577:
573:, p. 295 (2016)
568:
564:
547:
543:
529:
525:
511:
500:
485:
481:
469:
465:
461:
449:
433:
413:
382:
370:
365:
346:
325:
310:
297:- Marion Fowler
267:
250:
207:
205:
180:
160:
93:
89:
85:
63:
61:Katharyn Powers
51:
49:
40:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1792:
1782:
1781:
1776:
1771:
1766:
1761:
1756:
1751:
1746:
1741:
1736:
1731:
1726:
1721:
1716:
1711:
1706:
1701:
1696:
1691:
1674:
1673:
1670:
1669:
1667:
1666:
1661:
1656:
1649:
1644:
1636:
1634:
1630:
1629:
1627:
1626:
1621:
1616:
1611:
1606:
1601:
1596:
1591:
1586:
1581:
1575:
1573:
1569:
1568:
1566:
1565:
1560:
1555:
1550:
1543:
1536:
1531:
1526:
1521:
1516:
1510:
1508:
1504:
1503:
1501:
1500:
1495:
1488:
1483:
1476:
1471:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1451:
1445:
1443:
1439:
1438:
1436:
1435:
1430:
1425:
1420:
1415:
1410:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1382:
1380:
1376:
1375:
1373:
1372:
1367:
1362:
1357:
1352:
1347:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1327:
1321:
1319:
1315:
1314:
1312:
1311:
1302:
1300:
1296:
1295:
1285:
1284:
1281:
1280:
1278:
1277:
1272:
1266:
1264:
1260:
1259:
1257:
1256:
1250:
1248:
1241:
1237:
1236:
1234:
1233:
1228:
1223:
1217:
1211:
1205:
1199:
1193:
1187:
1185:
1177:
1176:
1174:
1173:
1168:
1162:
1160:
1156:
1155:
1153:
1152:
1147:
1142:
1137:
1132:
1126:
1124:
1120:
1119:
1117:
1116:
1111:
1105:
1103:
1099:
1098:
1096:
1095:
1089:
1083:
1079:
1077:
1073:
1072:
1070:
1069:
1063:
1061:
1057:
1056:
1054:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1012:
1010:
1006:
1005:
1003:
1002:
997:
992:
990:Swinging Friar
987:
982:
977:
972:
965:
958:
950:
948:
944:
943:
940:
939:
937:
936:
929:
924:
918:
916:
912:
911:
909:
908:
901:
895:
889:
885:
884:
882:
881:
876:
871:
866:
861:
856:
851:
846:
841:
836:
831:
826:
821:
812:
806:
804:
796:
795:
793:
792:
782:
771:
768:
767:
758:
757:
750:
743:
735:
729:
728:
717:
704:
703:External links
701:
699:
698:
692:Newspapers.com
686:Newspapers.com
679:
652:
634:
619:
601:
588:
586:, p. 48 (2014)
575:
562:
541:
523:
498:
486:(1983-12-01).
479:
462:
460:
457:
456:
455:
448:
445:
432:
429:
412:
409:
381:
378:
374:Nielsen rating
369:
366:
364:
361:
345:
342:
324:
321:
315:took place at
309:
306:
305:
304:
298:
292:
286:
280:
279:- Larry Cooper
274:
266:
263:
249:
246:
213:
212:
202:
198:
197:
192:
188:
187:
183:
182:
175:
171:
170:
167:
163:
162:
157:
153:
152:
151:Frank Thackery
149:
148:Cinematography
145:
144:
143:David Vreeland
141:
137:
136:
133:
129:
128:
124:
123:
120:
116:
115:
112:
108:
107:
102:
98:
97:
80:
76:
75:
72:
68:
67:
58:
54:
53:
46:
42:
41:
34:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1791:
1780:
1777:
1775:
1772:
1770:
1767:
1765:
1762:
1760:
1757:
1755:
1752:
1750:
1747:
1745:
1742:
1740:
1737:
1735:
1732:
1730:
1727:
1725:
1722:
1720:
1717:
1715:
1712:
1710:
1707:
1705:
1702:
1700:
1697:
1695:
1692:
1690:
1687:
1686:
1684:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1657:
1655:
1654:
1650:
1648:
1645:
1643:
1642:
1638:
1637:
1635:
1631:
1625:
1622:
1620:
1617:
1615:
1612:
1610:
1607:
1605:
1602:
1600:
1597:
1595:
1592:
1590:
1587:
1585:
1582:
1580:
1577:
1576:
1574:
1570:
1564:
1561:
1559:
1556:
1554:
1551:
1549:
1548:
1544:
1542:
1541:
1537:
1535:
1532:
1530:
1527:
1525:
1522:
1520:
1517:
1515:
1512:
1511:
1509:
1505:
1499:
1496:
1494:
1493:
1489:
1487:
1484:
1482:
1481:
1477:
1475:
1472:
1470:
1467:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1446:
1444:
1440:
1434:
1431:
1429:
1426:
1424:
1421:
1419:
1416:
1414:
1411:
1409:
1408:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1383:
1381:
1377:
1371:
1368:
1366:
1363:
1361:
1358:
1356:
1353:
1351:
1348:
1346:
1343:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1326:
1323:
1322:
1320:
1316:
1310:
1304:
1303:
1301:
1297:
1290:
1286:
1276:
1273:
1271:
1268:
1267:
1265:
1261:
1255:
1252:
1251:
1249:
1245:
1242:
1238:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1218:
1216:
1212:
1210:
1206:
1204:
1200:
1198:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1188:
1186:
1184:
1178:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1163:
1161:
1157:
1151:
1148:
1146:
1143:
1141:
1138:
1136:
1133:
1131:
1128:
1127:
1125:
1121:
1115:
1112:
1110:
1107:
1106:
1104:
1100:
1094:
1090:
1088:
1087:A. J. Preller
1084:
1081:
1080:
1078:
1076:Key personnel
1074:
1068:
1065:
1064:
1062:
1058:
1052:
1049:
1047:
1044:
1042:
1039:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1016:"Oh, doctor!"
1014:
1013:
1011:
1007:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
970:
966:
964:
963:
959:
957:
956:
952:
951:
949:
945:
935:
934:
930:
928:
925:
923:
920:
919:
917:
913:
907:
906:
902:
900:
897:
896:
893:
890:
886:
880:
877:
875:
872:
870:
867:
865:
862:
860:
857:
855:
852:
850:
847:
845:
842:
840:
837:
835:
832:
830:
827:
825:
822:
820:
816:
813:
811:
808:
807:
805:
803:
797:
791:
790:
783:
781:
780:
773:
772:
769:
765:
756:
751:
749:
744:
742:
737:
736:
733:
727:
723:
722:
718:
716:
712:
711:
707:
706:
693:
687:
683:
677:
673:
669:
665:
663:
656:
650:
649:
644:
638:
630:
623:
617:
616:
611:
605:
598:
592:
585:
579:
572:
566:
559:
555:
551:
545:
539:
538:
533:
527:
521:
520:
515:
509:
507:
505:
503:
495:
494:
489:
483:
477:
473:
467:
463:
454:
451:
450:
444:
442:
441:Vestron Video
438:
428:
426:
422:
418:
408:
405:
404:
399:
395:
392:
391:
386:
377:
375:
360:
357:
355:
354:Jerry Coleman
351:
341:
338:
334:
332:
331:Vince Edwards
328:
320:
318:
314:
303:- Bill Lorant
302:
299:
296:
295:Tricia O'Neil
293:
291:- Fred Walker
290:
287:
285:- Pete Sloane
284:
281:
278:
275:
272:
269:
268:
262:
260:
256:
245:
243:
239:
235:
231:
228:
225:
221:
220:
203:
199:
196:
193:
189:
184:
179:
176:
172:
168:
164:
158:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
134:
130:
125:
121:
117:
114:United States
113:
109:
106:
103:
99:
96:
92:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:Adell Aldrich
73:
69:
66:
62:
59:
55:
47:
43:
38:
32:
27:
24:
20:
1651:
1639:
1545:
1538:
1490:
1478:
1405:
1293:Seasons (56)
1254:MLB-produced
1240:Broadcasting
967:
960:
954:
953:
931:
922:Keegan Field
903:
859:Broadcasters
849:Hall of Fame
785:
775:
720:
709:
681:
680:(accessible
668:Gary Coleman
660:
655:
646:
637:
628:
622:
613:
604:
591:
578:
565:
554:Lewiston Sun
553:
544:
535:
526:
517:
496:, 52, 56-57.
491:
487:
482:
475:
466:
434:
417:Gary Coleman
414:
401:
396:
388:
385:Kevin Thomas
383:
371:
358:
347:
339:
335:
329:
326:
311:
283:Gary Collins
271:Gary Coleman
259:World Series
251:
234:Gary Coleman
218:
217:
216:
166:Running time
91:Gary Collins
83:Gary Coleman
22:
1093:Mike Shildt
1000:Rally Goose
995:Trevor Time
421:Image Award
230:comedy film
169:100 minutes
161:Peter Kirby
71:Directed by
1694:1979 films
1683:Categories
1247:Television
1221:ACL Padres
1213:Single-A:
1201:Double-A:
1195:Triple-A:
905:Petco Park
879:No-hitters
676:Kim Fields
459:References
431:Home media
398:Tom Shales
323:Production
308:Production
301:Tab Hunter
289:Ed McMahon
208:1979-09-30
127:Production
95:Ed McMahon
57:Written by
1091:Manager:
1060:Rivalries
888:Ballparks
815:Expansion
801:Franchise
784:Based in
443:in 1984.
411:Accolades
376:of 21.4.
363:Reception
232:starring
65:Jack Sher
35:Cover of
1219:Rookie:
1207:High-A:
844:Division
834:Managers
447:See also
227:baseball
140:Producer
101:Music by
79:Starring
947:Culture
874:Records
829:Players
824:Seasons
810:History
387:of the
368:Ratings
344:Release
313:Filming
206: (
201:Release
191:Network
156:Editors
122:English
674:&
476:People
50:Family
48:Comedy
1633:2020s
1572:2010s
1507:2000s
1442:1990s
1379:1980s
1318:1970s
1299:1960s
1263:Radio
969:Pitch
819:draft
52:Sport
45:Genre
1664:2024
1659:2023
1653:2022
1647:2021
1641:2020
1624:2019
1619:2018
1614:2017
1609:2016
1604:2015
1599:2014
1594:2013
1589:2012
1584:2011
1579:2010
1563:2009
1558:2008
1553:2007
1547:2006
1540:2005
1534:2004
1529:2003
1524:2002
1519:2001
1514:2000
1498:1999
1492:1998
1486:1997
1480:1996
1474:1995
1469:1994
1464:1993
1459:1992
1454:1991
1449:1990
1433:1989
1428:1988
1423:1987
1418:1986
1413:1985
1407:1984
1401:1983
1396:1982
1391:1981
1386:1980
1370:1979
1365:1978
1360:1977
1355:1976
1350:1975
1345:1974
1340:1973
1335:1972
1330:1971
1325:1970
1309:1969
1171:2022
1166:2020
1150:2006
1145:2005
1140:1998
1135:1996
1130:1984
1114:1998
1109:1984
1009:Lore
817:and
778:1969
715:IMDb
265:Cast
248:Plot
236:and
724:at
713:at
682:via
439:by
437:VHS
400:of
195:NBC
37:VHS
1685::
645:,
612:,
552:,
534:,
516:,
501:^
490:.
474:,
427:.
319:.
261:.
244:.
754:e
747:t
740:v
678:)
664:,
560:)
556:(
210:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
