Question 1

Why do players leave their gloves on the field in the movie, and what rule change followed?

Accepted Answer

Players left gloves on the field while at bat until the 1950s, but MLB demanded they take them to the dugout due to safety hazards, leading to a rule change and fines.

Question 2

How did D.B. Sweeney prepare to play the left-handed hitting 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson despite being right-handed?

Accepted Answer

D.B. Sweeney worked out with a Class A Minor League Baseball team to learn how to hit left-handed after budget constraints prevented filming in reverse.

Question 3

What inspired director John Sayles to cast Charlie Sheen and John Cusack in the film?

Accepted Answer

John Sayles cast Charlie Sheen and John Cusack because of their baseball playing experience and abilities.

Question 4

Why did John Sayles end up playing sportswriter Ring Lardner instead of a White Sox player as originally planned?

Accepted Answer

John Sayles was too old to convincingly play a ballplayer when filming started after working over a decade on the script, so he cast himself as Ring Lardner due to their resemblance.

Question 5

What was the contractual requirement for the film's runtime, and how did John Sayles encourage the cast to meet it?

Accepted Answer

John Sayles was contractually obligated to keep the runtime under two hours, so he showed the cast City for Conquest (1940) to inspire them to talk fast, resulting in a final cut of 1:59:48.

Question 6

Why do players leave their gloves on the field in some scenes?

Accepted Answer

Until the 1950s, players frequently left gloves on the field while at bat. MLB later demanded they take them to the dugout due to safety concerns and odd ball bounces.

Question 7

How did D.B. Sweeney prepare to play the left-handed hitting 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson?

Accepted Answer

Sweeney, who is right-handed, worked out with a Class A Minor League Baseball team to learn how to hit left-handed after budget constraints prevented filming in reverse.

Question 8

What inspired the cast to talk fast to meet the runtime requirement?

Accepted Answer

Director John Sayles showed the cast the 1940 film City for Conquest to inspire them to talk fast, helping achieve the contractually required runtime under two hours.

Question 9

Why did John Sayles cast Charlie Sheen and John Cusack?

Accepted Answer

John Sayles cast Charlie Sheen and John Cusack because of their baseball playing experience and abilities.

Question 10

What is the central conflict that leads to the World Series scandal?

Accepted Answer

Chicago White Sox owner Charles Comiskey underpays and treats players with disdain, making them demoralized and ripe for gamblers' scheme to throw the 1919 World Series.

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