The Comeback Kid

A cocky, beer-slugging, self-centred minor league baseball player named Bubba Newman (John Ritter) has hit a real crossroads in his life. All he knows is baseball and chasing skirts and now he is told that at age 29 he is being sent down and might be the end of his chances of making the bigs. In a scene that was a little too reminiscent of BAD NEWS BEARS a bunch of kids find him passed out on a pitching mound surrounded by beer cans. In the end he meets up with Megan Barrett (Susan Dey) who gives him the job of coaching those very kids for a track meet.

Ritter is very good in the lead role and as usual makes this TV movie worth watching. Dey is very good as well who doesn't just accept everything Bubba tells her. There is a big twist in the film as well that I won't mention, but it really in fact makes this film more memorable in the end in how it effects all the characters. Also starring Patrick Swayze as one of Bubba's teammates and Kim Fields as one of the kids Bubba is coaching. Sadly another forgotten TV movie, but if you find it I would suggest giving it a viewing.