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 was Roy Hobbs based on?

According to Wikipedia, Author Malamud, supposedly not a baseball fan himself, created “the Natural” story and his Roy Hobbs character from the real life of Eddie Waitkus, a major leaguer in 1941 and 1946-55.

Is the natural movie based on a true story?

Based upon the bizarre shooting incident and subsequent comeback of Philadelphia Phillies player Eddie Waitkus, the story of Roy Hobbs takes some poetic license and embellishes what was truly a strange, but memorable, account of a career lost too soon.

Did Roy Hobbs actually strike out?

*OK, I'll spoil it for you: Hobbs does strike out in the book version. So maybe having the umpire say “strike” on that first pitch was Levinson's homage to the book. I should ask him about that. *There are those who point out that before 1950, the home team had the option to bat first.

Why did Roy Hobbs get shot?

Roy was a big shot as a teenager, and he believed he had a promising future ahead of him. Harriet thought so, too, which is why she only shot Roy after he answered her question about whether being the “best there ever was,” was an accurate assessment. Roy doesn't hesitate, confirming he would be the best in baseball.

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

Why did Roy Hobbs wear number 9?

Towne explained, “Some have asked if the on-screen Roy Hobbs was modeled after Ted Williams. In a way, yeah, but that was mostly because Williams was a hero of Redford's, and both were lefties, so Bob decided to wear number nine.

Was Roy Hobbs in a Redford movie?

The Natural is a 1984 American sports film based on Bernard Malamud's 1952 novel of the same name, directed by Barry Levinson and starring Robert Redford, Glenn Close, and Robert Duvall.

How old was Robert Redford in 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.

Who is the hardest MLB player to strike out?

Over nearly 145 years of professional baseball, no player was tougher to strike out than Hall of Fame shortstop Joe Sewell. In 7,132 career at-bats, Sewell heard the umpire say “Strike three” just 114 times.

Did Robert Redford do his own hitting in The Natural?

Johnson confirms that Redford did all of his own batting for the film, and made some solid hits. Of course, when the time came for the ball to defy gravity and light up the night sky, it required a stronger launch.

Did Robert Redford play baseball?

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.

Who was the bad boy in the movie The Natural?

Savoy, played by George Wilkosz, was the bat boy in Redford's movie “The Natural.”

How far was Roy Hobbs home run?

Hobbs' homer is not humanly possible. According to the Home Run Distance Calculator, a hit at 13 degrees and 150 miles per hour would hit our rightmost light bank at its apex and would go on to land around 550 feet from home plate.

What happened to Eddie Waitkus?

Remarkably, Waitkus returned to play with the Phillies in 1950, where he was the leadoff hitter for the National League pennant winners. He went onto play through the 1955 season. Waitkus died in 1972 of esophageal cancer at age 53.

What was the point of the movie The Natural?

The Natural focuses on the redemption of Roy Hobbs, who figures out that he has something to prove - and sets out to do it. And, as he rounds the bases amidst a shower of sparks in a scene that could only happen in a Hollywood-born field of dreams, he knows he has accomplished his goal and fulfilled his dream.

Who is the most feared hitter in baseball?

Ben Verlander: Barry Bonds, the most feared hitter in all of baseball, belongs in the Hall of Fame I Flippin' Bats.

Who has the best eye in baseball history?

... hitters like Barry Bonds, Ted Williams, Tony Gywnn, and Pete Rose were the elite of the elite when it came to baseball vision, pitch recogntion and the ability to hit a round baseball on the sweet spot, consistently.

What was the most violent MLB fight?

On Aug. 12, 1984, the longest, nastiest and most epic MLB brawl took place between the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves. The tension began in the first when Braves starter Pascual Perez hit San Diego second baseman Alan Wiggins in the lower back.

Why is Hobbs bleeding in The Natural?

He awakens in the hospital and learns that an old silver bullet, removed from his stomach, has caused him long-term damage. The doctor warns him it could prove fatal if Hobbs continues playing baseball without giving the surgery time to completely heal.

How old was Robert Redford when he played Roy Hobbs?

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.

Did Robert Redford marry?

Redford has seven grandchildren. On July 11, 2009, Redford married his longtime girlfriend, Sibylle Szaggars, at the Louis C. Jacob Hotel in Hamburg, Germany. She had moved in with Redford in 1996 and shared his home in Sundance, Utah.

Did Robert Redford like Paul Newman?

Redford and Newman's Real Life Friendship

In many ways, their on-screen chemistry was only heightened by their off-screen antics together. The fact that both actors were legends in their own rights only added to the colossal force that the pair was together.

What famous movie did Paul Newman and Robert Redford play in?

"Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" is a great film just due to the pairing of Paul Newman and Robert Redford. These two work so well together that the film would have been impressive no matter what.

What movie did Paul Newman and Robert Redford do together?

Redford and Newmans' chemistry together in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting was legendary, and A Walk in the Woods could have easily served as the conclusion of one of cinema's greatest duos. As a filmmaker and artist, Redford has always taken care of the co-stars he's worked with throughout his career.

Was Roy Hobbs a pitcher?

The movie Natural was named Roy Hobbs.

Hobbs was from Nebraska, a young phenom pitcher who had a gift for baseball at an early age. His dad tells him, “you got a gift, Roy, but it's not enough…you rely too much on your gift, and you'll fail.” Roy was going to have a tryout with the Cubs in 1923 at age 19.