On this day in 2002, The Rookie swung into theaters, telling the story of high school coach Jim Morris (Dennis Quaid) who thought his dream was over. He’d had his shot playing baseball, blew out his shoulder and retired without ever reaching the big leagues. Then in 1999, he made a bet with his perpetually losing team: If they won the district championship, Morris — who threw a 98 mph fastball — would try out for the majors. The team went from worst to first, and Jim was soon on the road to becoming the oldest rookie in the major leagues! More than just another Disney fairy tale, The Rookie teaches real-life lessons about never giving up on a dream, because it’s based on the true story of Jim Morris. In fact, the film’s star, Dennis Quaid, once said, “I think if this had been a fictional story, I don’t think anyone would be doing it because it’s too unbelievable.”
