Some Hits for the VCR

With the baseball pennant races heating up, it’s the perfect time to check out some new baseball videos.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Brooklyn Dodger legend Jackie Robinson shattering the major league color barrier. Robinson changed the sports world forever when he stepped up to bat as a Dodger on April 15, 1947. To commemorate this landmark achievement, Major League Home Video has just released “Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers” (Orion, $15).

The compelling documentary features an abundance of terrific archival footage; interviews with Robinson’s wife, Rachel; their children, Sharon and David; grandson Jesse; friends; and Robinson’s peers. The tape also profiles the Jackie Robinson Foundation, founded after his death in 1972, which provides college scholarships. Proceeds from the sale of “Breaking Barriers” will go to the Jackie Robinson Foundation. This heartfelt profile in courage is a must-see.

Hollywood took notice of Robinson’s achievement, and in 1950 he starred as himself in the earnest bio-pic “The Jackie Robinson Story.” Monument Entertainment is offering a 50th anniversary collector’s edition of the film ($10), which features a mini-documentary on Robinson. Though Hollywood took some liberties with Robinson’s life--there’s no mention of his Army court-martial--Robinson acquits himself nicely in front of the cameras. And the film, especially for 1950, is quite honest in its portrayal of the racial injustices Robinson and his wife had to endure. Ruby Dee plays Rachel.

Dee also stars in the inspiring 1974 TV movie “It’s Good to Be Alive” (Monument, $10). Dee plays the loving wife of Robinson’s teammate, Roy Campanella (Paul Winfield), whose career was cut short in 1958 after a crippling auto accident. Louis Gossett Jr. plays Campanella’s physical therapist. Directed by Michael Landon.

Every baseball fan has their own dream team. Major League Baseball Home Video’s “Prime 9” (Orion, $15) features the dream lineup of Mo Vaughn of the Boston Red Sox; the Minnesota Twins’ Chuck Knoblauch; the San Diego Padres’ Ken Caminiti; Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners; the San Francisco Giants’ Barry Bonds; Albert Belle of the Chicago White Sox; the Dodgers’ Mike Piazza; and the Atlanta Braves’ Greg Maddux. The slickly produced tape includes interviews with each player and clips of them in action.

Major League Baseball Home Video’s “Show Me the Bloopers” (Orion, $15) is a lighthearted look at the glitches, gaffes and goofs that occur during baseball games. Besides amusing clips of players dropping balls, missing catches and running into each other on the field, the video also includes footage from such offbeat events as Elvis night in Cincinnati and dog night in Chicago.

“Once There Was a Ballpark” (Monument, $10) is a fair-to-middling documentary exploring the history of such famed ballparks as Yankee Stadium, Ebbets Field, the Polo Grounds and Fenway Park. Martin Sheen serves as host and narrator. Included are interviews with Brooks Robinson, Whitey Ford, Ernie Harwell and Al Kaline. No new insights but worth seeing for the footage of the old, beloved ballparks.

The so-so “The Men You Love to Hate” (Monument, $10) examines the history of baseball as seen through the mask of the infamous umpires. Brooks Robinson, Al Kaline, Whitey Ford, Dick Williams and Ernie Harwell are on hand to offer their opinions on the much-maligned umps.