The Church of Baseball

The Making of Bull Durham: Home Runs, Bad Calls, Crazy Fights, Big Swings, and a Hit

By: Ron Shelton

Narrated by: Ron Shelton

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

LA TIMES BESTSELLER • From the award-winning screenwriter and director of cult classic Bull Durham, the extremely entertaining behind-the-scenes story of the making of the film, and an insightful primer on the art and business of moviemaking.

"This book tells you how to make a movie—the whole nine innings of it—out of nothing but sheer will.” —Tony Gilroy, writer/director of Michael Clayton and The Bourne Legacy

"The only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the church of baseball."—Annie in Bull Durham

Bull Durham, the breakthrough 1988 film about a minor league baseball team, is widely revered as the best sports movie of all time. But back in 1987, Ron Shelton was a first-time director and no one was willing to finance a movie about baseball—especially a story set in the minors. The jury was still out on Kevin Costner’s leading-man potential, while Susan Sarandon was already a has-been. There were doubts. But something miraculous happened, and The Church of Baseball attempts to capture why.

From organizing a baseball camp for the actors and rewriting key scenes while on set, to dealing with a short production schedule and overcoming the challenge of filming the sport, Shelton brings to life the making of this beloved American movie. Shelton explains the rarely revealed ins and outs of moviemaking, from a film’s inception and financing, screenwriting, casting, the nuts and bolts of directing, the postproduction process, and even through its release. But this is also a book about baseball and its singular romance in the world of sports. Shelton spent six years in the minor leagues before making this film, and his experiences resonate throughout this book.

Full of wry humor and insight, The Church of Baseball tells the remarkable story behind an iconic film.

©2022 Ron Shelton (P)2022 Random House Audio

Shelton Hits One Out of the Park

This grand-slam history of the making of Bull Durham is enlightening for film buffs and baseball fanatics alike. Anyone with even a passing interest in baseball, the movie, or Hollywood will be engrossed,

Beyond Great

Laugh and cry - loved it ! Could not put it down and will read it again for sure !

If you liked Bull Durham, you'll love this book!

A detailed play by play of the life of Bull Durham, from concept to release. I loved hearing how the script was written, and how that eventually led to the movie I saw.

Obviously the perspective is one sided since the book was written by the movie's writer and director, but that didn't make it any less fun!

Honest

Great audio book. For fans of moviemaking, storytelling, baseball and honesty. Ron is real. Your best friend, grandfather and bartender weaving pieces of great story together.

Great Book for Non-Baseball Fans!

I’m biased because I went to the Durham Athletic Park as a kid, BUT if you like stories about movie making, actors early in their careers, or were a kid in the 80’s, give Ron Shelton your money!!! Totally worth it.

Informative and enjoyable movie memoir

I liked the movie Bull Durham. I watched it again before I listened to this book. And I liked the book even more than the movie itself! The author is a baseball guy and a movie guy, and his love of both came through clearly in this book. He connects his baseball experience to the writing of the screenplay and the making of the film. I think that if you enjoy baseball or movies, there is a lot here for you. And if you loved the movie Bull Durham, this will likely be your favorite audiobook of the year! This is read by the author, and that ends out working well with this book.

Couldn't Stop Listening

I have always loved the movie Bull Durham, but in the past, I have been disappointed in books about movie making so I was a little skeptical when I started listening despite the good reviews, I read about the print version. At first, I was not really a fan of the author's voice, but that changed quickly after he got into the story. The author was exactly the right choice to read his own book. I listened to the whole book over two days, usually I pace myself, but I was so engrossed in the story that I had to keep listening. In short, best audio book I have listened to in a long time.

A must listen.

If you are a fan of the movie this is a must inside tale of how the movie almost was not made.

Great baseball and movie production listen

Bought this book the day it was available and could not stop listening to it. While I had not seen Bull Durham in decades, the story of how the script was written and then movie was green-lit was fascinating and compelling. Finished it, reluctantly, in three days despite a very busy schedule. My oldest daughter has worked in movie production in L.A. for two decades so I have a basis to say this is both a great movie production book and a great baseball book. Shelton's narration was perfect. Highly recommended.

Terrific "read" about a Terrific movie!

Fascinating behind-the-scenes revealing thrill-ride peek into the tumultuous worlds of both movie-making & minor league baseball. Shelton is a worthy author, and an authentic narrator.