During the early '40s, keenly feeling the absence of baseball with the men away fighting overseas, businessman Walter Harvey (Garry Marshall, the director's brother) decides to invest in an all-women's pro baseball league. Rival ball-playing sisters Dottie (Davis) and Kit (Petty) get signed up, and go on to have a memorable time on the road with their teammates. However, their alcoholic manager, Jimmy Duggan (Hanks), seems less than motivated to lead them — at first.

Warmly nostalgic, heartwarming, and hilarious, Penny Marshall's underrated gem (based on fact) features one of Tom Hanks's most memorable comic performances as a former baseball star turned alcoholic manager, who feels totally humiliated at the prospect of managing an all-girls team. The various players under his initially shaky leadership make up a terrific ensemble as well, including — believe it or not — Madonna and Rosie O'Donnell. The Golden Globe-nominated Davis anchors the film in one of her most sympathetic roles as Dottie. Okay, ladies: batter up!