SummaryThe Battered Bastards of Baseball is one of baseball's last great, unheralded true stories. In 1973, Hollywood veteran Bing Russell (best known for playing Deputy Clem on "Bonanza") created the only independent baseball team in America at the time, the legendary Portland Mavericks. Bing operated without a Major League affiliation while playing in... Read More
Directed By:Chapman Way, Maclain Way
The Battered Bastards of Baseball
Metascore
Generally Favorable
75
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
75
100% Positive
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Jul 11, 2014
91
Behind the on-field shenanigans and eccentric personalities, there's a meatier story about the corporatization of sports and the disappearance of the barnstorming attitude Bing Russell took as a virtual religion.
Jul 11, 2014
83
The Batterered Bastards of Baseball is an entertaining celebration of the independent spirit and the love of the game.
User score
Generally Favorable
7.6
86% Positive
12 Ratings
12 Ratings
7% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
7% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Feb 20, 2026
10
This documentary reminded me of everything that I love about baseball. The heart, the grit, the never-quit determination and the fun. THE FUN. It's a heartwarming story about one man's dream of helping other people chase their own dreams. Bing Russell's pursuit of turning the forgotten and abandoned everyday folks into a team of inspiring leaders and players is one I respect and appreciate, both as a baseball lover and a compassionate human being. So glad I came across this film, because it brought a big, fat smile to my face and made me antsy for baseball season to return!
Jun 15, 2015
8
The Battered **** of Baseball is one helluva movie! Seeing Kurt Russell play baseball is outstanding. After watching the movie I wanted to setup a league on a game called OOTP 16 and let us just say I was unsuccessful.
Jul 11, 2014
83
It's full of laughs and, towards the end, I even got a bit choked up in places.
Jul 11, 2014
70
That Battered Bastards is practically a hagiography doesn't negate the fact that it has more anti-establishment joie de vivre in any given scene than most talking-head docs about previously unheralded mensches contain in their entire run times.
Jul 11, 2014
70
A fast-paced valentine to Russell and his quixotic vision so rife with underdog victors and hairpin twists of fortune that, if it weren’t all true, no one would believe it.
Jul 11, 2014
70
The Battered Bastards of Baseball is an affectionate scrapbook of a documentary.
Jul 13, 2014
8
As a somewhat new Portlander, I appreciated getting to know an interesting part of city history from before I was even born. The joy of this movie is in showing how much has changed in sports since the Mavs played ball about thirty years ago. I have a very difficult time imagining a team such as this one existing in the profit driven world of sports now. I enjoyed getting to know the interesting cast of characters shown in this film. If you have a love of sports and the purity that comes with that love, this movie is for you.
