I love consuming everything baseball. Whether it’s documentaries, movies, TV shows, or video games; as long as it’s baseball, I’m in. Each character created for these platforms have their own unique personalities. So here we have it, a case for a number of fictional baseball players, to eventually decide who the best truly is.
Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh is a top pitching prospect playing for the Durham Bulls, portrayed by Tim Robbins in the 1988 film Bull Durham. LaLoosh is an immature young player who is guided through his eventual rise to the big leagues by his veteran catcher, Crash Davis (Kevin Costner).
LaLoosh is explained as a pitcher possessing a million dollar arm with a five cent head. In his mind, LaLoosh is a baseball god who should be pitching in the big leagues immediately. Initially, the biggest concern for Laloosh is his control. As Crash Davis so eloquently puts, "from what I hear, you couldn't hit water if you fell out of a fucking boat." This proves to be true when Davis dares Laloosh to hit him in the chest with a fastball, in the alley of the bar, when they first get acquainted with each other. LaLoosh misses Davis (standing well less than 60' 6") and breaks the bar door window.
Fast forward to the professional debut of Nuke LaLoosh, which proves to be infamous. LaLoosh's first pitch clocks in at 95 mph, and his last 5 pitches clock in faster than his first five pitches in the game. He ends up striking out 18 and walking 18. He hit a sportswriter, public address announcer, the bull mascot twice, and still ended up with the win through all of that.
All LaLoosh is interested in is bringing the heat, shaking veteran catcher, Davis off every time he held down two fingers. Davis holds him accountable for his stubbornness by gifting a fastball to an opposing power hitter, allowing a bull striking home run. LaLoosh falters mid-season, surrendering a lot of walks and hit-by-pitches, bringing his record to 1-6 after a long road trip.
After surrendering to the tutelage to Davis, LaLoosh swears off sex with love interest, Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon) until he loses, and switches to a twisting pitching motion, partnered with a full arsenal of pitches, called by Davis. Laloosh ends up getting the call up to the big leagues during late season roster expansions and matures into a well spoken, clean-cut, post-game player to interview. From there, he undertakes the mentality of the man who helped get him there, quoting Davis about playing the game one day at a time and doing anything he can to help the ball club.
Fast forward to the professional debut of Nuke LaLoosh, which proves to be infamous. LaLoosh's first pitch clocks in at 95 mph, and his last 5 pitches clock in faster than his first five pitches in the game. He ends up striking out 18 and walking 18. He hit a sportswriter, public address announcer, the bull mascot twice, and still ended up with the win through all of that.
All LaLoosh is interested in is bringing the heat, shaking veteran catcher, Davis off every time he held down two fingers. Davis holds him accountable for his stubbornness by gifting a fastball to an opposing power hitter, allowing a bull striking home run. LaLoosh falters mid-season, surrendering a lot of walks and hit-by-pitches, bringing his record to 1-6 after a long road trip.
After surrendering to the tutelage to Davis, LaLoosh swears off sex with love interest, Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon) until he loses, and switches to a twisting pitching motion, partnered with a full arsenal of pitches, called by Davis. Laloosh ends up getting the call up to the big leagues during late season roster expansions and matures into a well spoken, clean-cut, post-game player to interview. From there, he undertakes the mentality of the man who helped get him there, quoting Davis about playing the game one day at a time and doing anything he can to help the ball club.