All-Star Jophery Brown as Emory "Champ" Chambers, an All-Star Leon Wagner as Sam "Fat Sam" Popper, an All-Star John McCurry as Walter Murchman, an All-Star DeWayne Jessie as "Rainbow", the All-Stars' batboy Ted Ross as Sallison Potter, owner of the Ebony Aces Mabel King as Bertha Dewitt, another team owner Ken Foree as "Honey", one of Potter's henchmen Carl Gordon as Mack, another one of Potter's henchmen Negro leagues tie-ins Some characters and situations are loosely based upon real-life people and incidents. Badham grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and was familiar with the Birmingham Black Barons, who shared Rickwood Field with the white Birmingham Barons. Bingo Long is based on former Black Baron Leroy "Satchel" Paige. Early in his career, Paige would call in his outfield while leading in the ninth inning against an amateur or semi-pro team and strike out the side. Bingo did a similar stunt in this movie. Leon Carter is a Josh Gibson-like power hitter, even playing the same position (catcher). "Esquire" Joe Calloway is an amalgam of another Black Baron, Willie Mays (in personality, talent, and fielding position) and Jackie Robinson (as being signed by a white team at the film's end). The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings were loosely based on the Indianapolis Clowns and other barnstorming Negro baseball teams, who likewise engaged in Harlem Globetrotters-like clowning routines. Production Luther Williams Field in Macon, Georgia, was used for filming as the Negro league ballpark. Luther Williams Field was home to the Macon Music, a minor league team in the independent South Coast League. Additional ballpark scenes were shot at Morgan Field in Macon, a Pony and Colt League Youth Baseball field, Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia, home of the Savannah Sand Gnats of the Class A South Atlantic League, and Wallace Field in Crawford County, Georgia. Exterior scenes set in St. Louis residential neighborhoods were also filmed in Savannah. Scenes set in rural communities were filmed in Talbotton, Georgia, and various small towns around Macon, including Monticello, Georgia. Some ballplayers were played by actual former athletes, including former members of the Indianapolis Clowns, who performed various stunts shown in the film. Steven Spielberg originally wanted to have a hand in producing the movie until the success of his film Jaws got his full attention. Reception The film received positive reviews, but several critics thought it could have been better. Roger Ebert wrote