1984 Nostalgic Classic Inspired by a Shocking True Story Was a No. 1 Hit 42 Years Ago
On this day in May 1984, The Natural, an instant sports classic about the rise of a gifted baseball prodigy, was the hottest ticket at the movie theater. Starring Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, and Glenn Close, and directed by Oscar-winner Barry Levinson, the film had as much star power behind it as Roy Hobbs had in his final at-bat. But even more shocking than Hobbs' electrifying home run is the true story that inspired the movie.
Adapted from Bernard Malamud's debut 1952 novel, the story blends truth and fiction, with the truth part being way stranger than the fiction part. Mental Floss tells the story like this: "On June 14, 1949, a crazed fan lured a pro baseball player to her hotel room and shot him, point-blank, in the chest."
Apparently, the teenage stalker holed up at Chicago's Edgewater Beach Hotel, where the Philadelphia Phillies were staying, and carried out her plot to shoot first baseman Eddie Waitkus. When asked later why she did it, she said simply, "I'm not sure."
Waitkus survived, with his wild story inspiring Malamud to write The Natural.
The art imitating life doesn't end there. According to Remind magazine, Redford's character, from his swing to the number on his jersey, was borrowed from Redford's baseball idol, Boston Red Sox icon Ted Williams. "Both were outfielders, and both hit home runs in their last career at-bats," the outlet writes.
The film held the No. 1 spot at the box office for two weeks, according to UPI, before Indiana Jones,Star Trek, and Ghostbusters took over the throne. Raking in a whopping $48 million on a $28 million budget, the film held onto that momentum for nearly a year, as it was nominated for four Oscars at the 57th Academy Awards, including for music from the legendary Randy Newman and supporting for the iconic Glenn Close.
Today, The Natural is held in just as high regard, with best-of lists consistently name-dropping the film. From Rotten Tomatoes, The Hollywood Reporter, and Paste Magazine, to the MLB itself, the film is usually somewhere near the top of baseball movie roundups. And certainly, always at the top of our own favorite ways to revisit Redford in top form.
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This story was originally published May 14, 2026 at 12:34 PM.