The Winning Team

Director: Louis Seiler (1952)

Cast: Ronald Reagan, Doris Day

Based on a true story, Ronald Reagan stars as Grover Cleveland Alexander, a former worker for the telephone company whose hobby is pitching baseball. Recruited by the Philadelphia Nationals, Alexander rises to stardom while posting a won loss record of 373-208 over twenty years. After playing with the Nationals, "Alex the Great," as he was known, was traded to the Chicago Cubs, and later, to the St. Louis Cardinals where he was befriended by Frank Lovejoy who plays the manager. Doris Day is exceptional as his beautiful and loyal wife, Aimee.

Fun Facts: Major League players Gene Mauch and Bob Lemon had bit parts in the film playing, you guessed it, baseball players. Reagan also played George Gipp in the classic Football film,  Knute Rockne: All-American years before.

Grover Cleveland Alexander "has the unique distinction of being named after one U.S. president and being played on-screen by another."