Product Details

• Actors: Doris Day, Ronald Reagan, Frank Lovejoy, Eve Miller, James Millican
• Directors: Lewis Seiler
• Writers: Merwin Gerard, Seeleg Lester, Ted Sherdeman
• Producers: Bryan Foy
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• VHS Release Date: April 1, 1992
• Run Time: 98 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6302344891
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,733 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In The Winning Team Reagan plays famed baseball pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander, whose struggles with illness and alcoholism form the spine of the tepid plot. Doris Day, now top-billed, co-stars as Alexander's supportive wife. The movie pays proper tribute to a legendary baseball moment: Alexander's heroic performance in the 1926 World Series. It's another win for the Gipper. --Robert Horton

Product Description

Bio-pic of baseball legend Grover Cleveland Alexander, who became a star despite an early career handicap.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DAY AND REAGAN PLAY A "WINNING" BALLGAME!, April 18, 2002

By 

Paul Brogan (Concord, NH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Winning Team [VHS] (VHS Tape)

When "The Winning Team" hit theatres in 1952, moviegoers gave it an enthusiastic welcome. Doris Day, billed first, was the top moneymaking star at Warner Brothers and Ronald Reagan was nearing the end of his contract run at that studio.
The pair had briefly dated some years before, and they clearly evidence an on-screen chemistry which propels this tale of the late, great pitcher, Grover Cleveland Alexander, to a near homer.
While it may play lose with some of the facts surrounding "Alex the Great's" life, toning down his drinking problems and virtually ignoring his epilepsy, the resultant film is a well crafted, lovingly enacted story that will please a variety of audiences including those who enjoy baseball tales and those who prefer some homespun Hollywood biography.
This smartly directed story pretty much limits its scope to the years during which Alex and his wife Aimee were courting and married. The popular standard, "I'll String Along with You" is utilized as part of the film's score during many scenes involving the pair. Although not actually written at the time the story takes place it is nevertheless poignant and sweet.
Ronald Reagan clearly worked hard at his role in this film. He delivers one of his most convincing performances and capably displays the many layers behind the great pitcher with heartfelt feeling and emotion. As noted earlier, his chemistry with Doris Day is never forced or artificial but seems to be completely real in every way.
Few actresses could play wife and/or mother with the conviction of Doris Day. In the 40's, 50's, 60's, or 70's, she consistently and with subtlety played such roles in a real and completely believable fashion. She never resorts to sacchrrine sweetness or cloying mannerisms. Although only in her 20's when making this film, she displays a natural maturity and warmth as well as strength of character that gives the role of Aimee more complexity than it may appear to have on the surface. One shudders to imagine what the role would have been in the hands of someone like June Allyson or Debbie Reynolds.
During their marriage and the ups and downs that occurred with frequency, Aimee becomes a force behind Alex's comebacks and renewed success. While never diminishing Alex's own strengths and skills, Aimee is, nonetheless, a presence in his life that he can always turn to with certainty.
The supporting cast is fine headed by the always reliable Frank Lovejoy, turning in another fine performance. Baseball scenes are interlaced with real footage, and staged with excitement and an obvious love for that most American of sports.
"The Winning Team" is the perfect antidote to livening up anyone's day. This is one ball game you should be happy to be taken out to!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you love baseball . . ., September 29, 2000

By 

Bob Schuda (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winning Team [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is one great movie. Have you ever tried to explain to somebody who doesn't understand how great baseball is? Show them this movie. Ronald Reagan is Grover Cleveland Alexander!Compared to all of the great baseball movies there are out there, this one is still one of the greatest!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Doris Day and Ronald Regan Go Out To The !BALL GAME!, April 28, 2004

By 

Chris "Chris" (Leeds, Utah United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Winning Team [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Grover Cleveland Alexander (Ronald Regan) is a Telephone worker who is always off playing Baseball instead of working he has a big crush on Aimee (Doris Day) well she tells him that if he marries her he has to give up Baseball permanently and put all of his attention on working and making their farm a big sucsess! But he gets hired to play for a big Baseball team and is offered a big deal of money to play Baseball Games so Aimee decideds to cancel her rule and let him go play well he becomes a great sucsess and they buy a big farm but one game he has an accident and falls over and gets Double Vision! Well after months of work he is able to go back to playing Baseball but it happens once again! Well he finally gets over it and he redeems his stardom! Great touching Adult Drama Film!