When he was young, Redford didn't love school, so he pursued his interests in art and sports. He had a great talent for baseball and spent his years at Van Nuys High School on the baseball team, where his teammate was future pitching legend, Don Drysdale.

Was Robert Redford a good baseball player?

Louis sportswriter Bob Broeg that Redford was a "pretty good ballplayer." Redford referred to Drysdale as his "old teammate." So the story spread that Redford had played high school baseball with Drysdale. He'd gone to the University of Colorado on a baseball scholarship, only to drink his way off the team.

Was Robert Redford a good athlete?

2. Robert Redford earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Colorado. As a boy, Redford had a natural aptitude for anything athletic, and sports were a main focus of his childhood (along with reading, which his parents both encouraged).

Is Roy Hobbs a real baseball player?

Roy Hobbs, fictional character, the ambitious and talented but flawed baseball player who is the protagonist of The Natural (1952), the first novel by American writer Bernard Malamud. The character was portrayed by Robert Redford in the 1984 film version of the novel.

Who shot Robert Redford in The Natural?

The 1984 film The Natural sees Robert Redford's Roy Hobbs shot by Harriet Bird, a mysterious woman who targets him. We break down Harriet's reasoning. The Natural had quite the surprising twist that saw Harriet Bird shoot Roy Hobbs before his big tryout with the Chicago Cubs.

The Natural (3/8) Movie CLIP - Batting Practice With Wonderboy (1984) HD

What baseball movie is based on a true story?

Dennis Quaid and Colin Ford star in the film about a traveling pastor's son who overcame his physical disabilities to play professional baseball. David Daniel has a look.

Did Roy Hobbs strike out Babe Ruth?

He struck out Babe Ruth in 3 pitches and hit a baseball so far that it broke the stadium lights. He did this with a bat he made himself while bleeding from his abdomen from a bullet that was still lodged in there from when he was shot. It's Roy Hobbs.

Who is Robert Redford's best friend?

In the decades that followed Paul Newman and Robert Redford's two films together, it was clear that they forged a lifelong friendship through them. This bond went on to solidify the impact of the two films in each of their careers, serving as a sentimental backdrop amid their real life friendship off-screen.

What kind of person is Robert Redford?

He is known for being highly introspective and private, often shying away from the public eye despite his fame.

Was Brad Pitt a baseball player?

“It's shameful how little I know about baseball I'm amazed they let me do this movie,” Pitt, 47, tells Sports Illustrated in this week's cover story, which will hit newsstands on Wednesday. “Baseball and I didn't get along that well,” he adds. “I wrestled one year [in high school]. I dove one year.

What are some cool facts about Robert Redford?

Other Facts

Redford had polio as a child. After losing interest in baseball at the University of Colorado, he worked in the California oil fields to earn money before moving to Europe to study painting. Founder of Sundance Village, Sundance Institute, the Sundance Film Festival and the Redford Center.

Did Robert Redford do his own hitting in the natural?

I loved playing baseball and I loved the Boston Red Sox and Ted Williams and I wanted to go in that direction [as a ballplayer] if I could, but never could until this.” Johnson confirms that Redford did all of his own batting for the film, and made some solid hits.

Was Kevin Costner a real baseball player?

He played on the Villa Park High School baseball team in Orange County, CA but was never able to play at the professional level. While at Cal State Fullerton, Costner was cut from the collegiate baseball team by legendary coach Augie Garrido.

What baseball movie is in jail?

After serving 17 years in prison for a violent mistake he made in his youth, a once-aspiring baseball player returns to his Bronx neighborhood.

What was Rickey Hill disability?

Rickey Hill Was Born With A Degenerative Spine Disorder

At age 5, Hill began wearing leg braces that allowed him to walk, though not entirely normally. This led to Hill having to face bullies and judgment from his peers.

Why was Paramount suing Redford?

Robert Redford originally agreed to play Blue and backed out at the last minute. He was sued by Paramount and afterward refused Roman Polanski's offer to play Guy Woodhouse in Paramount's Rosemary's Baby (1968).

How old was Robert Redford during the filming of The Natural?

Robert Redford was 46 during filming, but he played Roy Hobbs at 19 and 35. In Reel Life: When Roy makes it to the majors, he's 35 years old. In Real Life: Redford was 46 when the film was made, and even plays Roy as a 19-year-old in the movie.

How old was Robert Redford when he made the movie The Natural?

Robert Redford was 47 at the time of filming. The filmmakers scouted the country for a stadium to use in game scenes. They needed something nondescript with a pre-World War II feel, and found it in Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium.

Is Robert Redford a pilot?

Robert Redford he wasn't, but a pilot he certainly was. Affixed to one wall of his small office was a certificate of commendation from the Civil Aeronautics Administration, that Department of Commerce arm now known as the Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Agency.