“The Forgotten Baseball Film That Marked Kevin Costner’s Debut on the Diamond”
Kevin Costner is well-known for his roles in baseball movies, but his very first baseball film is one that most people have forgotten. While Costner has recently gained fame for his work in Westerns like Yellowstone (as John Dutton) and the Horizon film series (as Hayes Ellison), his early career was shaped by several sports films. Costner’s breakthrough came with the beloved late-1980s classics Bull Durham and Field of Dreams, both of which remain fan favorites and critical successes. However, neither of these was actually his first baseball movie.
That honor goes to Chasing Dreams, a little-known sports drama from the early days of Costner’s career.
Chasing Dreams: Kevin Costner’s First Baseball Movie
After his film debut in 1981, Costner landed a small but meaningful role in Chasing Dreams. The movie centers on Gavin (played by David G. Brown), a teenage boy living on a farm who discovers a passion for baseball. Costner plays Ed, Gavin’s older brother, who appears briefly at the beginning of the film. Although Ed isn’t seen playing baseball, his part sets the emotional tone for Gavin’s coming-of-age journey.
Unlike Costner’s later baseball roles, where he’s front and center on the field, Chasing Dreams features him only in a few key scenes. His character shares important advice with Gavin before leaving for school, hinting at their close relationship and leaving viewers expecting more involvement—though Ed never returns later in the story.
Why Chasing Dreams Remains Forgotten
Chasing Dreams follows a familiar formula of inspirational sports dramas, showing a young protagonist overcoming challenges to pursue his dreams. Unfortunately, the film’s performances and storyline are considered weak and predictable, which contributed to its rapid fade from public memory.
Despite this, the movie’s marketing heavily featured Kevin Costner, prominently displaying his name and image on posters. This misleading promotion suggests Costner had a larger role than he actually did, which may have set false expectations for audiences. The early scenes imply that Ed’s character will play a bigger part, but this never materializes.
Because of its shortcomings and Costner’s brief appearance, Chasing Dreams is easily overlooked today. Still, it represents an important first step in Costner’s long and successful career, particularly in the sports film genre that would later bring him widespread acclaim.
