Movie information and fun facts
The Sandlot was written, directed, and narrated by David Mickey Evans. The film is loosely based on a childhood experience of Evans's younger brother.
- Original Title: The original title of the film was "The Boys of Summer." Evans changed it after receiving a call from an agent for author Roger Kahn, who had written a baseball book with the same name.
- Filming Locations: Though the movie is set in Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley in the summer of 1962, it was primarily filmed in Salt Lake City and Ogden, Utah. The heat during the summer shoot was so intense that on some days it reached 112 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The Sandlot: The actual sandlot baseball field was built specifically for the movie in Glendale, Utah, and still exists today. The surrounding homes are still privately owned.
- The Pool Scene: During the filming of the iconic pool scene, the weather turned cold and overcast. The water temperature was only 56 degrees, which is why you can see Squints' teeth chattering.
- The Chew Scene: The chewing tobacco the kids use on the carnival ride was a mixture of licorice and bacon bits. The nauseating concoction made the actors authentically sick during multiple takes.
- The Babe: The actor who played Babe Ruth, Art LaFleur, is a Boston Red Sox fan in real life. When given a New York Yankees glove to wear, he reportedly refused to wear it, stating, "Terry, for god sakes, you've given me a Yankee glove, and I'm a Boston fan. I'm not wearing this".
- Family Connection: The older version of Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of the film, was played by Mike Vitar's real-life older brother, Pablo.
Awards
While The Sandlot did not win any major awards upon its initial release, it has received significant retrospective recognition.
- Young Artist Award: In 1994, the young cast won the Young Artist Award for "Outstanding Youth Ensemble in a Motion Picture".
- Family Film Award: In 2024, the movie was nominated for "Best Iconic Family Film" at the Family Film Awards.
Box office and legacy
- Budget and Earnings: Made on a budget of $7 million, the film grossed about $34 million at the worldwide box office.
- Cult Classic Status: While its theatrical box office was modest, the film became a massive hit on VHS and DVD and earned a dedicated cult following. The movie continues to be cherished by those who grew up watching it.
- Enduring Quotes: The film is famous for several iconic and oft-quoted lines, most notably "You're killing me, Smalls!" spoken by Ham Porter.
- Lawsuit: In 1998, Michael Polydoros, a childhood acquaintance of director David Mickey Evans, sued the studio, claiming that the character "Squints" was based on him and caused him humiliation. The case was ultimately dismissed.
- Sequels: The film spawned two direct-to-video sequels, The Sandlot 2 (2005) and The Sandlot: Heading Home (2007). In 2018, a prequel to the original film was announced to be in development.