After the death of actor Robert Redford this week, many movie fans’ natural inclination was to reminisce about his work. For the sports fans among us, that meant reminiscing about “The Natural.”
Who doesn’t remember that iconic home run swing that sent the ball crashing into the stadium lights, followed by the slow-motion home run trot as sparks showered down? Perhaps even better was the slugger’s interaction with the bat boy after Redford’s character broke his bat, calmly directing him to, “Go pick me out a winner, Bobby.”
It’s remarkable that a film that came out in 1984 still resonates so strongly with fans, and we encourage you to read this story explaining why — it might even help you with this week’s quiz.
We hope you enjoy the game this week, and make sure you check out our daily Connections: Sports Edition, too!
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(Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; top photos: TriStar, Kirk Irwin, Jamie Squire, Christian Petersen, Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
Sep 18, 2025
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