“I Rewatch Bull Durham Annually — Here’s the Baseball Trope It Perfects”
I was born just a few months before Bull Durham hit theaters and instantly staked its claim as one of the greatest baseball films ever made. Growing up, I gravitated toward more age-appropriate sports classics like The Sandlot and Rookie of the Year, but over time, Bull Durham became a personal favorite — so much so that I make a point to watch it once every year.
Over the years, I’ve written plenty about what makes Bull Durham so special — from iconic quotes to assembling a dream team of fictional ballplayers. But on my most recent rewatch, I was struck by just how well the movie handles one of the most emotional and often-overlooked baseball movie clichés: a player getting cut.
Crash Davis’s Release Is the Most Gut-Wrenching “Cut” Scene in Any Baseball Movie
Getting cut is a classic trope in baseball films. Major League used it for laughs, and Little Big League gave it heart when Billy Haywood had to let go of his childhood hero. But nothing hits quite as hard as the moment Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) gets released from the Durham Bulls late in Bull Durham.
With hotshot pitcher Ebby “Nuke” LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) called up to “The Show,” Crash — a career minor leaguer — is no longer needed. The team brings in a younger catcher, and Crash is quietly shown the door. At the Single-A level, that’s often the end of the road, especially for someone who’s spent two decades grinding through the minors. There’s no next step. No promotion. Just the quiet reality that the dream is over.
Skip’s “Coaching Opportunity” Line Hits Harder Than Any Pep Talk
What makes the scene even more poignant is how manager Joe “Skip” Riggins (Trey Wilson) delivers the news. He doesn’t sugarcoat it. He doesn’t throw out empty platitudes. Instead, he offers a soft landing: “There might be an opening to coach in Visalia next season.”
It’s a gentle nudge toward retirement — kind, yes, but also painfully honest. It’s the face of a man who knows exactly what he’s taking away, paired with a teammate, Larry Hockett (Robert Wuhl), trying to make the transition easier by downplaying the new guy coming in. It all combines into a moment that feels incredibly real and quietly devastating.
Crash’s Final Games Are Bittersweet, Even With a Record-Breaking Finish
Crash does get one last hurrah, catching on with the Asheville Tourists and hitting his 247th home run — a record for minor league play. But even as he rounds the bases, it’s clear: he’s not celebrating. He’s saying goodbye.
That’s why the ending works so well. Crash walks away from the game and into the arms of Annie Savoy (Susan Sarandon), closing the chapter not just on a season, but on a career. There’s beauty in that — in knowing when to let go — but also a sadness that lingers well beyond the credits.
If you haven’t seen Bull Durham in a while, or have never watched it at all, I highly recommend revisiting it. There’s more heart, humor, and heartbreak in that film than most sports movies even attempt. And for my money, no one handles the classic “cut” moment better than Crash Davis.
