Soul of the Game

Soul of the Game is a 1996 made-for-television movie about Negro league baseball.
It starred Blair Underwood as Jackie Robinson, Delroy Lindo as Satchel Paige and Mykelti Williamson as Josh Gibson. The film depicts Paige and Gibson as the pitching and hitting stars, respectively, of the Negro Leagues in the period immediately following World War II. Robinson is an up-and-coming player on Paige's team, the Kansas City Monarchs.
Directed by:Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Produced by:Robert Papazian
Written by:
Gary Hoffman (story)
David Himmelstein (teleplay)
Starring:
Blair Underwood
Delroy Lindo
Mykelti Williamson
Edward Herrmann
R. Lee Ermey
Music by : Lee Holdridge
Cinematography: Sandi Sissel
Editing by: Victor Du Bois
Distributed by: HBO
Release date: April 20, 1996
Running time: 94 min.
Country: United States
Language: English
(SUBSCRIBE)

[@Time.Travel]

Today, the Negro League Players were given the recognition they deserved by being included in the MLB record books.

[@dorianr4770]

I read that! that's why I ended up here to watch this and learn more.

[@deloreswillis9224]

Amen

[@JDilla2285]

Me too

[@Keepdapocket]

My grandfather played for the Grays! He had my father when he was 38 in 1953, then I was born in ‘72. When I was around five my grandfather would take his original glove and toss with me and talk about Josh Gibson. He had one team photo left. He had it framed, and I have it in my living room now. He passed away when I was 13. He lived an extremely long life. I would remember stories, not of his happy times. I remember the stories of what black men went through though says and how extremely tough minded and disciplined they had to be l. Being spit on and stuff knowing if you whooped their butt, you would be tree fruit that night! Not be able to get jobs just because you were black. My grandfather became a bootlegger at night, then a janitor at a school to provide for my daddy and my 3 uncles and 5 aunts. One of my proudest moments was when my wife and I son came home because they were learning about the Negro Leagues. I waited until they got more into it, and told him about his great grandfather. I allowed him to take the picture to school.

[@mglennon5535]

Thanks for telling your story! Well done.

[@unkelkreepy8529]

Badass

[@perrymcnee7365]

wow you have photo man that's amazing

[@dougellis7917]

that's awesome

[@California-king]

Dope story

[@cesarthegreeneyedbandit7162]

This is one of the best baseball movies of all time. Highly underrated.

[@my_stomach_hurt1876]

It’s a crime i didn’t know it existed until I stumbled upon it on KZbin by chance. Paige was a figure of admiration for me as a kid. I was in awe of his legend. Truly an overlooked gem. If I watched this at 10 I would’ve appreciated him more

[@unkelkreepy8529]

Agreed

[@professorxaviour3649]

Even better that it’s based on a true story!!

[@jasonsmith2439]

Top ten but that’s just my opinion. The Natural and Bull Durham ain’t bad either.

[@California-king]

I use to have this on VHS as a kid, we recorded it ourselves off showtime I believe

[@jasoncalhoun30]

Rest in peace Jackie Robinson Willie mays Josh Gibson and satchel page the best nergo league baseball players

[@OG-19]

"You think all these people came out here today to watch Jackie Robinson?" Best line ever.

[@my_stomach_hurt1876]

R. Lee Ermey saying it too. A liberal use of artistic license but for the sake of impact it works. Very cool line in my opinion.

[@Biggdoom344]

Kind of like David Ruffin saying ain’t nobody coming to see you Otis

[@marcusdupree8209]

"You're here stealing our assets, and WE'RE the racketeers?" OWNED

[@allanmacmillan7823]

Back in the late 60's, the Atlanta Braves signed Satchel Paige to a contract...likely to help him qualify for pension benefits...though he was not put on the active roster. My dad took me to Fulton County Stadium to see him and, in full uniform, he threw in the bullpen for a few minutes. He was probably 60 years old at the time, but he could still get it to the plate in a hurry. I was only about 12 at the time and didn't really comprehend the significance of what I was seeing. Fifty some-odd years later, I understand what a privilege it was to see him pitch...even if there was no batter. There aren't that many people still alive that can say they saw him. Good night, Satch...Rest easy.

[@mstrunn]

@Allan MacMillan Satchel did pitch in a ML game in 1965, pitched 2 innings gave up zero hits.

[@dannygood4227]

That’s awesome

[@dannygood4227]

“I never got to meet him…but I shook his hand once.” Unbelievable scene. Gets me every time.

[@donaldschmidt2990]

Lindo and Williamson are brilliant as Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson. Lindo captures the flashy antics and utter unreliability of Baseballs most brilliant Showboat Par Excellence. Williamson displays all the desperation that must have permeated Josh Gibson. Knowing in his heart that he was the greatest in the game. Given a level playing field both would have dominated in the Major Leagues. I'm shocked I haven't seen more of these two fine actors. Williamson could squeeze tears from a stone with his heart wrenching performance. Had Babe Ruth been black he probably wouldn't have been half the player. People ignorant of the faculties it takes to play Professional Baseball don't realize how great these black stars truly were. Separate Hotels, Restrooms, when they were allowed in. Unable to eat in Restaurants, while hiding in fear from racist lynch mobs. Most of the players who integrated the game actually performed at an even higher level in the Majors. The conditions they existed under were barbaric. How many men black or white could have performed at the level Jackie Robinson did? Facing more abuse than any athlete ever suffered through. Robinson is my great American Hero. For what he stood for as a man and a ballplayer. These great athletes were a microcosm of that. Paving the way for players that transcended the game.

[@perrymcnee7365]

couldn't imagine the pure racism, now we have these ungrateful athletes today!!!

[@tarrerdome]

With the recent landmark decision for Negro League stats to be included in the Major League Stats, this Epic Classic should be re-released world-wide and required viewing for everyone in Sports. Truly outstanding production, casting, and performances by Delroy Lindo, the Late Great Mykelti Williams, Blair Underwood and Sallie Richardson who is still fine!!!

[@DaxSmokax]

I agree! This is my first time seeing this movie in whole. I'm just 30 but I shed some tears for Josh Gibson. Fantastic movie. and yes Sallie was BAD in this movie lol

[@santiagochaconsanchez5813]

@@DaxSmokax mikety wiliiamson is a live , esta vivo no death

[@josephm.2856]

I AM A WHITE ITALIAN MAN and I can honestly say that its a shame the way they treated COLORED PEOPLE and COLORED ATHLETES TOO......Thank GOD for Jackie Robinson....I WOULD LIKE TO DEDICATE this movie to my father who taught me sooo much about colored ball players.....even though I was a WHITE, ITALIAN MAN. RIP DAD.....LOVE YOU....RIP JOSH AND SATCH. THE BEST THERE EVER WAS...... Sincerely, Joe M.

[@anthonywhite9497]

So true

[@brianbullock7875]

Well said

[@1lover633]

Touching but when we get sick we turn pale, when we get sunburn we turn red, when we die we turn blue and we call blk people Colored!

[@urfather3481]

eoj don’t say colored 😂

[@urfather3481]

Nvm saw this was 2 years ago 😂😂

[@chrisanderson7984]

I watched this with my grandfather and he told me stories about seeing all 3

[@DaxSmokax]

that's dope! Lucky man

[@tamerrawhite8668]

3 years ago I had an opportunity to be an extra in an opera based on Josh Gibson, it was called The Summer King. I got a chance to meet Josh Gibson's great grandson Sean Gibson.

[@maxp9347]

I would love to see this

[@wesleypeel4756]

I miss these HBO only movies that use to come on .

[@1lover633]

I met Gibson's back up Catcher Robert Gaston. He was in the nursing home my Grandmother worked at.

[@Kenneth-nVA]

#1 lover any good stories you could share or remember?

[@beerbellyjoker7532]

Was he any relation to Cito Gaston?

[@dianedavidson1344]

This is one of my favorite moves to watch over and over again

[@ErichLRuehs]

If Satchel Paige were pitching today in t MLB, he'd probably only have 8 or 9 K's a game and give up three runs over nine innings. BUT, then again, you'd have to factor in, he'd be 102-years-old.

[@shabba3450]

Erich L. Ruehs hahahahahaha I see what you did there

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

That was Ty Cobb's answer when asked why he'd hit only .290 against modern pitching: "Because I'm seventy-two F***ing years old!"

[@michaelderyder426]

When the press asked Cobb why he decided to retire, he said that if a man can't bat any better than he did this last year its time to hang up the cleats... He batted .323. :)

[@michaelhassler7446]

I've tried to watch soccer, it's totally unwatchable. Baseball rocks!!!

[@bw3240]

Doesn't seem very fair to the batter's but I completely agree

[@Troy428492]

I love that movie when I was 12yrs old in 1996.

[@Lennoxroadpoe]

Imagine fighting to be on equal footing when it’s a god given right … this country is all kinds of messed up

[@billysikes1374]

Delroy and Williamson are 2 of the most underrated actors ever

[@stevejewett3610]

I had the pleasure of meeting Williamson in person a few times. Super nice guy

[@cagesrages]

thank you for having this on KZbin. I watched this when I was a kid and again today. 26 years later and it was still great.⚾

[@johnporter2851]

Who ever uploaded this classical movie. Thank you 🙏🏿👍🏿✨✨💫

[@marcuslex8654]

This is movie blockbuster material even in 1996. Very Inspiring. I cant help but notice how well the blacks carried themselves back in the 40's.

[@California-king]

Literally got it from blockbuster

[@ryannettleton4708]

“I’m a baseball man, I wanna win the pennant.” In baseball, that’s ALL that matters. NO MATTER WHAT!

[@LaceyJamaal]

Big Man you finally a major leaguer!! RIP Big Josh

[@DaxSmokax]

RIP Josh! You will always be remembered by everyone now!

[@mamiller1980]

This is one of my favorite childhood movies. Watching it now and my lord not one of those actors ever swung a bat or threw a baseball in their life

[@josephhale9198]

I gotta try to buy this movie. These guys were incredible and as tough as you could get. It's a shame the way these men were treated.

[@enricodangelo3667]

The Forgotten GREATS! But for me- These were GIANTS! Love them,,, Bucky, Josh, Superman, Sachel, Monte, Ray D, Double Duty, Max Manning.....Man so many Great Ball payers!!!1

[@InfamousGUNN]

I love movies about this era and especially the Negro leagues thank you for posting this woo hoo😎

[@jasonsmith2439]

I also love movies based on this time period especially baseball movies.

[@kevinkilkenny1776]

When people ask me who is the homerun champ is; well I always say it's got to be Josh Gibson. It is still known by my students as the bonus question on the test. 😉

[@LEFTaTIP]

Thank You NegroLeagueHistory, for this upload. I watched this movie today, in tribute to Jackie Robinson B-day 100 yrs ago to this date and also for the pioneers of Black Americans into MLB. They not only had to play well, they had to endure the countless racial attacks. Its a shame, you fast forward 70 yrs to the present and we have some of the lowest totals of African American MLB baseball players ever. This movie, there was some great acting. Delroy Lindo, Mykelti Williamson and Blair Underwood put on great moving performances. Mr Lindo, IMO, stood out...,man did he bring Satchel Paige character to life. !!! Anyways I hope we keep making progress and see past our differences to make this a better world.

[@josephm.2856]

WHAT A GREAT....GREAT MOVIE AND A VERY TRUE STORY OF THE BLACK BABE RUTH........JOSH GIBSON. Thank you for putting this movie on YOU TUBE......amazing TRUE story..... JOSH IS TRULY THE GREATEST HOME RUN HITTER OF ALL TIME......HE BEATS THEM ALL.....EVEN BONDS AND MCGIRE

[@kingofbloccs718]

I Love this movie 🎦 for over 25 yrs.

[@fwdavis1061]

I just watched entire movie this afternoon. I forgot how good it is!

[@IceManLikeGervin]

A very good movie with a great cast!!

[@davidmckinney6066]

Satchel Paige Josh Gibson I love how everyone was looking out for each other !!

[@marzelsimmons8708]

Gils arena brought me here idk how i never seen this

[@Kardaszpm]

Gunnery Sgt. Hartman 13:10 "hey private snowball, grab some pine"

[@cymaddux3131]

best baseball movie of all time!

[@inbankwetrustshakur3523]

Michael D handz down ♚

[@IceManLikeGervin]

Bingo Long Travelling All Stars And Motor Kings...

[@PATRICKBATEMAN855]

Go cubs

[@jasonsmith2439]

41 and Bingo Long are also great movies about the Negro baseball

[@mstrunn]

What a terrific film!!!!

[@MikeBrownOhio]

Awesome movie... Thank you for posting it... These guys need to be remembered not because they are black but because they were pioneers in the wonderful game we call baseball... Thank you again...

[@crikeybright]

Great film! Great acting from one and all! Buck O’Neil spoke often about all the great times he had while playing and managing in the Negro Leagues! This film follows along those lines! The Josh Gibson story is very sad. Fate can be cruel.

[@cathyt144]

A true allstar story with an allstar cast. ❤️

[@djtommyc.3678]

Holy cow, I had a VHS I taped off HBO I wore out as a kid, then I bought this on dvd at Walmart years ago but lost it. I really loved this movie, thanks for posting.

[@marylouleeman]

I sure get you with faves and old means of playing them.

[@FishFeelPain]

Great movie--thanks so much!

[@garyyost5568]

Somebody invent a time machine I'd love to see Satchel, Josh and all the rest play. If young willie Mays actually shook Josh Gibson's hand as portrayed in the movie then when I met Willie Mays that's the closest I came to shaking Josh's hand.

[@1lover965]

So I met Joe DiMaggio and shook his hand once , so with your logic since I shook Joe's Hand that must mean I also touched Marilyn Monroe's PU$$Y. 🤣

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

Gibson is the player who truly broke the color barrier. He signed the first MLB contract in 1939-1943 (not sure when). It was voided by Landis. Teams were trying to sign him before 1930.

[@yvettebailey4327]

Wow! I wonder why they didnt put that in the movie?

[@urfather3481]

Yvette Bailey atchel say “the pirates tried to sign him in 43 landis killed that” @55:07

[@capenmi]

Landis was one of the worst racists in history. May he rot in hell and his tortured soul never find comfort.

[@nizloc4118]

Super underrated movie, thanks for the upload. Havent seen it since it first came out... the ending game is pretty great.

[@killahnoez]

How the heck did I just discover this?!??!

[@jasonwhite9494]

I accounted for at least half of these views

[@jbigs21]

From 45:00 - 50:00 is pretty much the most important job interview in American History! Thank you Jackie, Josh, Satchel & the other legendary Negro Leaguers for changing the world!

[@clintcbrantley5542]

Tonight is movie night!!! Enjoy...

[@Channel51_LA]

Excellent movie!

[@unkelkreepy8529]

I was named after Josh Gibson after my father saw him and Satchel Paige play Horlick field here in Wisconsin

[@DaxSmokax]

you have a name of royalty brother!

[@chicagozephyr2399]

One sad part - Josh Gibson passed away the same year Robinson began play for Brooklyn.

[@TheBatugan77]

Brain tumor...

[@gabez8]

willie mays? as a giants it's so exciting to see the say hey kid portrayed in this movie ^^. a living legend born from legends!

[@kidmack3556]

Except I would've cast Cuba or Omar Gooding for that small part. Washington looks nothing like the Great Willie Howard Mays

[@JAWrightonline]

@@kidmack3556 Omar Gooding as Willie Mays? Not bad...🤔🤔🤔

[@seankelly4594]

HBO used to produce the best movies

[@williamavitt8264]

And they used to have such a reverence for baseball. 61* was an HBO original, this movie, HBO produced the When It Was a Game documentary series. Man, HBO used to be the spot for baseball content

[@kidmack3556]

Now all the cable produced shows are gangstas, dope dealers, amiable serial murderers and single female roommates competing with each other to see who can keep their legs up in the air the longest...

[@captkirk9797]

Great, great movie! Thanks for the upload.

[@GETavarez]

The Stadium you see at the begining with Satchel Paige pitching for "Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo" in Santo Domingo, DR still exists (Estadio La Normal), the trophy won in the World Baseball Classic 2013 by the Dominican Team (Undefeated) will rest there. Some of the players the team Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo had: Satchel Paige Josh Gibson Cool Papa Bell Cy Perkins Pedro Cepeda Lázaro Salazar

[@Individuo80]

Well, that wasn't exactly La Normal but looks similar. Also, the Ciudad Trujillo team was formed in 1937, not 1945, and the San Juan team didn't exist, but I suppose the scene was added for the sake of script consistence. I wonder who's playing Trujillo. He doesn't appear in IMDB.

[@johnjohn824]

great movie one of my favorites

[@tom_reagan]

Great quality (watched on my large TV), thanks for uploading!!

[@kendallfountain3729]

Love this movie, Love the sport.

[@elyodasalsero]

Thanks for upload this movie.

[@thomasbooker9534]

Greatest athletes to ever live!!! PERIOD!!!

[@rentslave]

We'll never know.Size and speed are not the ultimate determinants of success as they are in basketball and football.For example,John Kruk is a horrible athlete but he was a far better baseball player than was Bo Jackson,a great athlete.

[@tmat2024]

Tom Dockery True! Krukie was a good player. But you're doing a disservice when you implying he wasn't a purely great athlete because of his build-and let's be honest-skin color. Smh.

[@kholmes39]

That was exceptional. Thanks for the upload.

[@jayblackout]

Here I am 8 years later and in quarantine thinking about baseball.

[@SANDIEGOROOTS619TM]

Great Film!

[@terencethomas7409]

I love Delrot lingos voice

[@DaveG425]

Really good film. Thanks.

[@codybrooks4068]

this is a good movie.

[@mountainhigh2334]

Ah powerful movie yes indeed!!

[@scottdavidson9963]

Masterpiece

[@RMO6701]

all i gotta say is thank you!

[@emccoy1972]

Great movie... PHENOMENAL!

[@LilBeezy7]

The guy who plays Josh Gibson has the best laugh lmao

[@aziza7660]

Not Even Close I kicked up so much dusty lols from his laughing. Class act...

[@yvettebailey4327]

Bubba in Forest Gump. TI's uncle in ATL

[@DaxSmokax]

@@yvettebailey4327 If there's anybody that's supposed to be getting cutty in his house, it's HIM! lol

[@Pgpadlock]

Thank You😢!!!!!!!! Give everything you have.... One day they'll include your stats... You may be the G. Greatest O. Of A. All T. Time

[@nizloc4118]

Thanks for the upload. This is one of those great flew under the radar movies. Wish you could get it on Prime or Vudu

[@hiawathaclemons]

YES. Finally found This.

[@duanedorman6134]

This was truly the beginning of the Civil Rights movement. According to Bob Kendrick, host of Black Diamonds, Robinson was not Rickey’s first choice. His first choice was Monte Irvin. Effa Manly put up a roadblock to prevent it. Why is Larry Doby always left out of this conversation? He came up with Cleveland the same year. Granted, he was not there on Opening Day, but he certainly had it no easier.

[@chiefpimp]

Good movie. Thanks

[@ernestfann2162]

CHIEF VIDEOS x

[@jasonwhite2110]

My favorite

[@sylvayngauthier7182]

Merci!!!!!

[@kingtim775]

Josh Gibson face terrific challenges and he never gave up on his dream

[@popthe1nonly562]

Man this is a great movie

[@donaldschmidt2990]

I love the comments expressed by Keepdapocket and Perrymcnee 7365. The Racism in that era was enough to send a putrid stench to High Heaven itself. The glorious black athletes of today owe an unpayable debt to these Pioneers of Yesteryear. As slowly and painfully as grass growing through a sidewalk. Their determination battered down the barriers barring their way. Until equality was reached on the shoulders of their Martyrdom. Keepdapocket has a unique story to tell. His Grandfather actually knew the man himself. The legendary Josh Gibson. Playing alongside Gibson on the great Homestead Grays. As for his talent, Gibson was so gifted that Hall of Famer Roy Campanella called him, "Not only the greatest catcher, but the greatest ballplayer I ever saw." Another typical comment was, "Gibson was at a minimum, Two Yogi Berras." What a telling scene the Rainout of the Exhibition game with the Major League players is. Gibson and the other great black players were rained on figuratively for their entire careers. Yet, they soldiered on. Until the sun finally rose on a glorious new era.

[@StukInBuf]

The guy playing Satchel Paige... didn't he play Malcolm's underworld boss in the *Malcolm X* movie?

[@salaamakbar3630]

YES....HE PLAYED WEST INDIAN ARCHIE IN MALCOLM X

[@bluemarvel4601]

SuperPat88 Delroy Lindo

[@john-dw4kr]

Delroy Lindo

[@johnlee5197]

He also played in Crooklyn and Romeo Must Die..

[@davidlindenmuth5431]

@MANCHESTER UNITED, so what's your point? Go have a soccer circle jerk on a soccer video.

[@TheBatugan77]

No one knows how many HRs Gibson hit. But it's a historical fact that Clark Griffith wanted to sign Gibby for the Washington Senators... Because he outhomered the Senators at Griffith Stadium!

[@yvonnehilbert9859]

Thankful to seen Ebbets Fields NYC

[@savannah58]

Thanks

[@mikem1956]

I was watching this movie today and I took a break to go outside and water scrubs because we are in a drought. I looked up at the taller trees and their upper leaves are turning brown from lack of rain . I looked up how they get their water and it called transpiration. Or to transpire. When I think of these great players I think of how they are similar to the highest leaves on the tree . Reaching the highest level taking the most abuse from the sun and having to work the hardest for the life giving water .

[@cornellhartfield8731]

Great movie

[@FastDuDeJiunn]

from everything i seen. documentaries etc sadly josh gibson i dont think mentally would of made it in the mlb. Talent yes. But the day in day out drama would of tore him to pieces. cant blame him. As for Paige. i feel he would of been the best choice to sign. but he was not an everyday player. getting a position player who played everday realy sets the tone imo. and as everything you learn about Jackie says. he had the intelignece and integrity to do what needed to be done. Sad that this wasnt that long ago. Sad how easy it is for people to hate.

[@raymondsolisjr.1262]

I wonder how true to the character Myketi Williams is to Josh Gibson. That laugh. I wondet if he really did that

[@edwardrock8153]

If Gibson was so good, where's all the footage of him!

[@marcojaimejardina7526]

Great Cinema 🎥

[@YouraveragefnaffanYT]

Legends!!...... everyone whoever played Negro League Baseball.......LEGENDS!!....... MLB missed out on some Great players.

[@MrSullen]

My deepest gratitude to whoever posted this. I just learned about this film today (16/9/17). Why was it not released to the cinema?

[@tmat2024]

MrSullen Probably wouldn't have been profitable.

[@djtommyc.3678]

I love how the actor playing Gibson sounds so much like Bernie Mac.

[@dongreiner7052]

great baseball movie.....they were the best.....Hempstead grays started one season 62-0 6 hof on team best baseball team ever

[@stevejewett3610]

You would think for a channel that has history in the name, they would have gotten Jackie Robinson‘s number correct. He never wore 42 with the monarchs