“Batting Fundamentals” is an instructional film from 1946 that educates the viewer on the fundamental techniques for best batting practices in baseball. Produced by Coronet Instructional Films in conjunction with educational collaborator James Smilgoff of the Chicago Cubs Training Camp and Baseball Coach for Chicago Public Schools, the film is part of a larger series called “Baseball Skills Series.” The film features footage from a game at Wrigley Field as well as from baseball practices and is organized by the different skills that the film is speaking about from bat selection to stance to bunting. Coronet Films was a leading producer and distributor of many American documentary shorts shown in public schools, mostly in the 16mm format, from the 1940s through the 1980s. The timing of this film is important because baseball suffered during World War II. Many of Major League Baseball’s (MLB) star players were drafted into the war and were absent from games and few people had the spare money to spend on an afternoon game. 1946 marked the beginning of a new and fertile age in baseball that would last for the rest of the decade. Perhaps this film was made to help bolster the post-war return of baseball and peak the interest of fresh talent.

Opening credits (0:08-0:23). View of Chicago’s Wrigley Field: Pitcher winds up for pitch, batter runs to first base (0:24). Another batter hits ball towards 2nd base (0:39). Player makes a run for home base from 3rd base (0:45). Player in nondescript 1940s baseball uniform chooses a bat (0:51). Close-up of batter’s stance in the box and grip on the bat (0:57). Bat selection (1:09). Baseball bats of varying lengths and colors lie on gravel (1:12). Player in nondescript 1940s baseball uniform tests out the different bats (1:14). Two MLB players examine a bat (1:37). The stance (1:57). Narrator describes the correct baseball stance as a player in nondescript 1940s baseball uniform sets up for a swing (2:06). The grip (2:41). Narrator details the three basic grips while camera zooms into player’s hands at the base of the bat (2:49). Full length/ free swing bat grip (2:52). Modified free swing (3:03). Choke grip (3:16). Eyes on the ball (4:10). Close-up of young batter’s face: young man with red baseball cap, eyes locked on the pitcher (4:19). The stride (4:33). Another player in nondescript 1940s baseball uniform demonstrates the perfect stride, illustrated arrows direct the viewer’s attention (4:41). The swing and follow-thru (5:07). Narrator talks over slow-motion clip of player’s swing (5:14). Illustrated parallel lines delineate ideal height of the bat during the swing (5:54). Pitcher takes position behind batter on baseball field (6:37). Bunting (6:44). Camera angle from above catcher and batter to demonstrate three types of bunts (6:52). Sacrifice bunt (6:54). Surprise bunt down the third base line (7:02). Push/ drag bunt (7:06). Player in isolated black background slowly demonstrates technique for different bunts; illustrated arrows to point out details (7:16). Slow-motion scene of bunt on baseball field (8:15). Pepper game for batting practice: one player hits brisk ground balls to group of fielders standing nearby (8:33). More batting practice outdoors (8:52). Baseball player in bright orange shorts and tank top stands with bat for batting practice at indoor gym; hits at ball suspended from a string (9:00). Catcher puts on catchers mask (9:24). Return to scenes from baseball game at Wrigley Field (9:32). Game ends, field floods with bystanders (9:55).

Opening credits (0:08-0:23). View of Chicago’s Wrigley Field: Pitcher winds up for pitch, batter runs to first base (0:24). Another batter hits ball towards 2nd base (0:39). Player makes a run for home base from 3rd base (0:45). Player in nondescript 1940s baseball uniform chooses a bat (0:51). Close-up of batter’s stance in the box and grip on the bat (0:57). Bat selection (1:09). Baseball bats of varying lengths and colors lie on gravel (1:12). Player in nondescript 1940s baseball uniform tests out the different bats (1:14). Two MLB players examine a bat (1:37). The stance (1:57). Narrator describes the correct baseball stance as a player in nondescript 1940s baseball uniform sets up for a swing (2:06). The grip (2:41). Narrator details the three basic grips while camera zooms into player’s hands at the base of the bat (2:49). Full length/ free swing bat grip (2:52). Modified free swing (3:03). Choke grip (3:16). Eyes on the ball (4:10). Close-up of young batter’s face: young man with red baseball cap, eyes locked on the pitcher (4:19). The stride (4:33). Another player in nondescript 1940s baseball uniform demonstrates the perfect stride, illustrated arrows direct the viewer’s attention (4:41). The swing and follow-thru (5:07). Narrator talks over slow-motion clip of player’s swing (5:14). Illustrated parallel lines delineate ideal height of the bat during the swing (5:54). Pitcher takes position behind batter on baseball field (6:37). Bunting (6:44). Camera angle from above catcher and batter to demonstrate three types of bunts (6:52). Sacrifice bunt (6:54). Surprise bunt down the third base line (7:02). Push/ drag bunt (7:06). Player in isolated black background slowly demonstrates technique for different bunts; illustrated arrows to point out details (7:16). Slow-motion scene of bunt on baseball field (8:15). Pepper game for batting practice: one player hits brisk ground balls to group of fielders standing nearby (8:33). More batting practice outdoors (8:52). Baseball player in bright orange shorts and tank top stands with bat for batting practice at indoor gym; hits at ball suspended from a string (9:00). Catcher puts on catchers mask (9:24). Return to scenes from baseball game at Wrigley Field (9:32). Game ends, field floods with bystanders (9:55).