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Cast

Tom Selleck
as Jack Elliot

Ken Takakura
as Coach Uchiyama

Aya Takanashi
as Hiroko Uchiyama

Ava Takanashi
as Hiroko Uchiyama

Dennis Haysbert
as Max `Hammer' Dubois

Toshi Shioya
as Yoji Nishimura

Kohsuke Toyohara
as Toshi Yamashita

Toshizo Fujiwara
as Ryoh Mukai

Mak Takano
as Shinji Igarashi

Kenji Morinaga
as Hiroshi Kurosawa

Joh Nishimura
as Tomohiko Ohmae

Lesly Leon Lee
as Lyle Massey

Norihide Goto
as Issei Itoi

Dianne Crittenden

Kensuke Toita
as Akito Yagi

Naoki Fujii
as Takuya Nishikawa

Takanobu Hozumi
as Hiroshi Nakamura

Jun Hamamura
as Hiroko's Grandfather

Mineko Yorozuyo
as Hiroko's Grandmother

Shoji Ohoki
as Coach Hori

Tomoko Fujita
as Hiroko's Assistant

Kinzoh Sakura
as 1st Umpire

Bradley Jay "Animal" Lesley
as Niven

Ikuko Saitoh
as Morita San

Hikari Takano
as Commercial Director

Tim McCarver
as Himself

Sean McDonough
as Himself

Art LaFleur
as Skip

Greg Goossen
as Trey

Nicholas Cascone
as Doc

Larry Pennell
as Howie Gold

Scott Plank
as Ryan Ward

Charles Joseph Fick
as Billy Stevens

Michael McGrady
as Duane

Frank Thomas
as Rookie

Michael Papajohn
as Rick

Roland Rodriquez
as Manuel

Rolando Rodriquez
as Manuel

Todd A. Provence
as Young Ball Player

Frank Mendoza
as New York Player

Kinzo Sakura
as 1st Umpire

Ken Medlock
as Umpire

Carrie Yazel
as Coed in Bed

Mary Kohnert
as Player's Wife

Michigo Washizukan
as Japanese Sportscaster

Makoto Kuno
as Japanese Sportscaster

Michiyo Washizukan
as Japanese Sportscaster

Shinsuke Aoki
as Nikawa

Rinzoh Suzuki
as Sato

Shintaro Mizushima
as Uchida

Nobuyuki Kariya
as Uemoto

Satoshi Jinbo
as Tsuboi

Masanao Matsuzaki
as Sugita

Shotaro Kusumi
as Takahashi

Katsushi Yamaguchi
as Kobayashi

Hiro Nagae
as Mutsui

Yoshimi Imai
as Ishimaru

Cin Chi Cheng
as Itami

Makoto Kaketa
as 2nd Umpire

Shogo Nakajima
as 3rd Umpire

Yoshiya Morita
as Yashiro/Coach

Takao Ito
as Katsura/Coach

Hidetaka Hoshino
as Adachi/Coach

Kazuhiko Migita
as Namiki/Dragons

Tsukumo Torisaka
as Anzai/Dragons

Kazukuni Mutoh
as Catcher/Giants

Hiroshi Masumoto
as Pitcher/Giants

Tomohisa Shoji
as 2nd Base/Giants

Fumio Kubo
as Pitcher/Whales

Yasunori Itoh
as Catcher/Whales

Nobuhiko Matsunami
as Giants Manager

Masahiro Nakane
as Pitcher/Carp

Toshikatsu Ida
as Catcher

Shinichiro Miura
as Umpire

Yoshio Fukazawa
as Player

Kenji Anzai
as Player

Masato Ohsumi
as Player

Youichi Monda
as Player

Shinya Kagimoto
as Player

Hirokazu Nagano
as Player

Kazuo Asahi
as Player

Yuji Inoue
as Player

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Critic Reviews for Mr. Baseball

Audience Reviews for Mr. Baseball

• Jan 10, 2015

  In all honesty this movie looked very much like a 'Major League' clone judging by the title and poster, hell they even cast Dennis Haysbert who played the menacing Pedro Cerrano in that movie. So is this a crazy kamikaze comedy with over the top characters, wacky situations and foul language? well no actually.Believe it or not this is actually a sensible light-hearted romcom which showcases the cultural differences between Japan and their baseball traditions, and America and their baseball traditions. Tom Selleck plays the obligatory aged fading baseball star who is transferred to Japan to play professional baseball whilst also becoming the clubs poster boy. Naturally Selleck's character is against this move and has a hard time getting to grips with the cultural differences both on and off the ballpark. Spoiler alert (as if you need it)...eventually he comes around with the help of his new love interest and helps the team...well I'm sure you can guess. Yes the tale is a predictable one that has been covered by virtually every sports flick ever, but that's not the point of the movie. The main point here is providing an insight into Japanese culture and how they play and watch the game of baseball, its like the sport version of 'Lost in Translation'...almost. Just like that film this story delves deep into the Japanese traditions, routines and rituals that make up their sport, how the Japanese made baseball their own. This naturally provides many giggles with Selleck's big bold brash arrogant cowboy-like character stepping on many toes and accidentally insulting everyone or harking bad luck. Its not all giggles though as we see much of Nagoya and its surrounding areas, how Japanese people live in parts and indeed how they watch baseball...munching on bowls of noodle meals with lots of colourful fanfare mainly. Its actually very interesting and I enjoyed watching these segments, being interested in Japan helps I guess. For me the one thing I didn't really like was Selleck's character. I realise this guy is suppose to be a cocky hotshot star player and the whole point of the movie is to have him be a jackass...but boy is he an unlikable jackass! He obviously doesn't take the Japanese game seriously and treats the players, staff, media and coach with disrespect, this of course sets up the plot twist midway through. But generally I found his character to be whiny, rude and obnoxious, he never even gives the Japanese culture a chance, he constantly takes the piss and ignores the rules. Now lets be serious here, I know this is just a movie but I think even the most arrogant player/person wouldn't really act like this from day one. Sure over time people could lose their rag under strange circumstances, under stress with different cultures in a foreign land, but I think most would give it a shot and at least be polite to a degree to start with sheesh! The fact that he doesn't like anything about Japan and constantly moans about how he hates it even though he's a popular sports icon earning money just makes him unlikable in my book. Sure its a come down for this character but he's still treated like a star and everything is provided for him, not too shabby really. Anywho apart from the bitchy Jack Elliot (Selleck) the other cast members are very good and add much gravitas to this soppy tale. The best of these easily being Ken Takakura as the cliched hard nosed team coach who must put up with Elliot's sulky behaviour. Think of this guy as a Mr. Miyagi type character, he doesn't say much, grunts a lot, looks very serious and stern all the time, hides a few tricks and in the end wins your heart (much more so than Selleck's character). The film isn't as cliched as you'd think at times, there is the slimy ponytailed agent of Elliot who you'd swear blind will turn out to be the bad guy and somehow screw Elliot over...well you'd be wrong. Its definitely a solid movie and its nice to see baseball through the eyes of another country even though there aren't too many outside of the US to choose from. The baseball sequences are visually pleasing and realistic whilst the action is as you would expect with lows followed by a training montage and then highs. The final scene gives you a reasonable adrenaline boost as the entirely predictable plot unravels before your eyes. Relaxing fun from the land of the rising sun, its just a shame about the main character being a complete douche.
  Phil H Super Reviewer
• Jan 06, 2010

  I could almost say Tom Selleck is a hero of mine, mainly due to his mustache and chest hair that are constantly finding ways to present itself to the audience, it's ridiculous and borderline impressive. Decent fish out of water film with classic cheese.
  Lenny M Super Reviewer
• Sep 14, 2009

  This movie wasn't funny at all, and not even that entertaining. I haven't seen many Selleck movies, but this one didn't leave a good impression. Oh well, least we see a nice naked Japanese butt take a step or two at one point.
  Jason O Super Reviewer
• Jun 18, 2007

  Another lame fish out of water comedy that sees an ageing baseball star relocated to Japan. Not one cliche is left unturned.
  xGary X Super Reviewer

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