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.

Was Roy Hobbs a real ball player?

Roy Hobbs is the character in the book, “The Natural,” by Bernard Malmud, written in 1952, and turned into a Hollywood production in 1984, thrusting the fictional baseball hero Roy Hobbs on the American public.

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.

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.

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.

The Final Homerun - The Natural (8/8) Movie CLIP (1984) HD

How old was Roy Hobbs supposed to be in the natural?

The two eras of the film show Roy Hobbs at age 19 and age 35. Robert Redford was 47 at the time of filming. The filmmakers scouted the country for a stadium to use in game scenes.

Why was Roy Hobbs 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.

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.

Who hit 500 foot home runs?

Mazara set the MLB Statcast record for home run distance -- not just the Rangers' -- and joined Giancarlo Stanton in the 500-foot club with this rocket to the upper reaches of the upper deck in right field in Arlington. On a team with Joey Gallo, it takes a monster home run to set the record, and Mazara provided it.

How old was Robert Redford in 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.

Who was the hardest 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.

Who does Roy Hobbs end up with?

We then follow the flight of the ball to Hobbs back home on the farm, playing catch with his carbon-copy blonde son as Iris (Glenn Close), presumably now his wife, affectionately looks on. Roy smiles, finally content.

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.

Were the New York Knights a real baseball team?

Uniform & Team History

The only fictional team in the Oldtime Baseball Game. Film buffs will recall “The Natural,” in which Robert Redford portrayed a slugger named Roy Hobbs.

Has anyone ever hit a 600 foot home run?

Babe Ruth was said to have hit a home run over 600 feet. A Mickey Mantle homer was originally estimated to have gone 734 feet. While those feats would shatter Meyer's mark, there was no technology or tool that could give an exact measure of those distances.

Does anyone have 3000 hits and 500 home runs?

7 players are members of elite '3,000 + 500' club

Miguel Cabrera wrapped up his fantastic career in 2023 with 3,174 hits and 511 homers. Those two totals cement his status as one of the greatest hitters in the history of the game as only seven players have registered 3,000 hits and 500 home runs.

Who else has 3,000 hits and 500 home runs?

There are twenty-eight players who are members of the 500 home run club. Seven 500 home run club members—Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Pujols, Alex Rodriguez and Miguel Cabrera—are also members of the 3,000 hit club.

Was Robert Redford good at 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.

Did Robert Redford quit acting?

'That's enough': Robert Redford announces his retirement from acting. Robert Redford is calling it a career after nearly 60 years as one of his generation's most iconic actors. Redford, 81, announced to Entertainment Weekly on Monday that his upcoming film, "The Old Man & The Gun," will be his final acting job.

Is the movie The Natural 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.

Why was 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.

Did Memo poison Roy in the natural?

Not knowing that Memo poisoned him, he nonetheless realizes she's playing against him. Injured and recovering from the poison, Roy struggles during the play-off game for the pennant. Iris, in the stands with her son, sends him a note telling him he's the father.

Why was Darren McGavin uncredited in the movie The Natural?

Despite playing a significant role in the baseball film The Natural (1984), due to a contract dispute, McGavin was uncredited for his portrayal of a shady bookie, Gus Sands.

What is the story of Eddie Waitkus?

In 1949, with his career on the rise, his life changed dramatically in a Chicago hotel when a nineteen-year-old shot him in the chest. Waitkus's dramatic recovery the next year inspired his teammates as the Phillies won the National League pennant. Although Waitkus survived the shooting, he could never outlive it.