Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — James Earl Jones, the legendary actor whose resonant voice and commanding presence became synonymous with cinematic gravitas, passed away on September 9th at the age of 93. Though renowned for his role as the voice of Darth Vader in Star Wars, and as Mufasa in The Lion King, Jones also left an indelible mark on the world of baseball through his roles in two beloved films: Field of Dreams and The Sandlot.
In Field of Dreams (1989), Jones portrayed Terence Mann, a reclusive writer who is convinced by Kevin Costner’s Ray Kinsella to join a fantastical journey into the heart of America’s baseball lore. His portrayal of Mann embodied the soul and poetry of the game, capturing the deep connection between baseball and American culture. As Mann, Jones delivered one of the film’s most iconic lines, speaking with the gravitas only he could: “The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt, and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.”
This speech has become as timeless as the film itself, a tribute to baseball’s enduring place in the American heart. Jones’s rich voice and solemn delivery transformed what might have been a simple ode into something profound. He conveyed not only the nostalgic allure of the sport, but its role as a symbol of resilience, unity, and hope. The film became a beloved touchstone for baseball fans, and Jones’s performance as Mann helped cement its status as a classic.
LA Dodger fans will probably have just as big a place in their heart for Jones’s next entry into the baseball canon. Just a few years after Field of Dreams, Jones would again become a key figure in a baseball story, this time in The Sandlot (1993). Playing Mr. Mertle, the gruff but good-hearted owner of a legendary baseball memorabilia collection, Jones’s character holds the key to resolving the film’s central conflict. The kids who lose their ball to the fearsome dog, “The Beast,” find in Mr. Mertle not only a solution to their problem but a gateway to baseball history. In one memorable scene, he reveals a signed baseball from Babe Ruth, a testament to the sport’s greatness.
The movie was set in LA’s own San Fernando Valley, and featured a final scene in Dodger Stadium, where the fully grown Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez steals home.Though a relatively minor role in the film’s narrative, Jones’s Mr. Mertle becomes a bridge between generations of baseball lovers. His warmth, wisdom, and understated humor lent an air of dignity to the film, reminding the young characters—and viewers—of the timeless, generational bonds baseball creates.
In both films, James Earl Jones represented something more than just the sport. He was the voice of baseball’s spirit, a reminder of its place in the cultural consciousness, linking the innocence of youth with the wistful memories of older generations. His contributions to Field of Dreams and The Sandlot encapsulated the romanticism and mythology of the game, and through these performances, he will forever remain part of baseball’s cinematic legacy.
Though his roles spanned far beyond baseball, it is these performances that fans of the sport will remember and treasure. James Earl Jones, through his incomparable voice and powerful presence, gave baseball a voice that will echo through generations.
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