Robert Redford and his relationship with the sport: from baseball in his youth to an immortal role in The Natural
The actor died at the age of 89 and left behind a legacy that also touched the history of baseball in film
Robert Redford, one of the most recognized legends in Hollywood, died on September 16, 2025 at the age of 89 at his home in Utah. His career is marked by iconic films, but also by a deep connection with sports, both in his personal life and in his artistic career.
From a young age, Redford displayed remarkable athletic ability. He played baseball, tennis, football, and swimming, in addition to other disciplines such as water skiing and winter sports. This skill opened the door to a college scholarship to the University of Colorado thanks to baseball.
However, he dropped out of the institution during his sophomore year. Years later, he would recall in an interview with People magazine: “I became the campus drunk and left before I could even start.” After that, he lived in Europe for a bohemian period that shaped his artistic vision.
Many years later, he was seen involved in baseball, attending Major League games.
The Natural: Baseball, Film, and Myth
While Redford is remembered for films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President's Men, his portrayal of Roy Hobbs in The Natural (1984) cemented one of the most memorable unions between film and baseball.
The film, directed by Barry Levinson and based on the novel by Bernard Malamud, tells the story of a player with extraordinary talent who wears the uniform of the fictional New York Knights. The character of Hobbs was inspired by real-life figures such as Eddie Waitkus and Ted Williams, Redford's idol. The actor even adapted his swing to follow the style of the legendary Boston Red Sox player.
Filmed when Redford was 47 years old, the film blends real and fictional elements that reinforced his mythical character. The famous scene in which Hobbs hits a home run that destroys the scoreboard clock was inspired by an event that occurred in 1946, when Bama Rowell of the Boston Braves hit the ball against the clock at Ebbets Field.
With a cast that included Glenn Close,Robert Duvall and Kim Basinger, The Natural cemented itself as one of the greatest sports movies of all time. For many fans, the character of Roy Hobbs transcended the screen and became a symbol of the romantic baseball genre, a blend of achievement, sacrifice, and glory.