It happens yearly, when snow disappears, temperatures rise, and the hearts of millions turn to thoughts of baseball. It’s, by far, my favorite sport, and I’m looking forward to getting back into the dugout with my Falconer girls’ softball team, to umpiring some area high school baseball, to sitting in front of my television, turning on Sports Time Ohio nightly and watching my Cleveland Indians for the next six months, looking forward to serving as a part-time scorer for the Jammers this season, and looking forward to trekking to Progressive Field and using my 20-game season ticket package, cheering on The Tribe and seeing the new faces on this year’s edition of the ball club.

All that being said, and seeing week one of the 2013 Major League Baseball season in the books, it’s time to celebrate America’s Pastime, by looking at some actors, actresses and lines from some of the baseball movies which have graced the silver screen over the years. So grab some popcorn, peanuts or Cracker Jack, a pencil and piece of paper and get ready to take a swing at this edition of the Voice from the Bullpen’s Diamond Quiz.

Here we go …

1.) Who portrayed Pop Fisher, manager of the NY Knights in “The Natural?”

2.) What movie featured the line, “The Cathedral that is Yankee Stadium belongs to a Chapel?”

3.) What HOF Broadcaster spoke the line in question 2?

4.) Who starred as the main character in the movie, “Don’t Look Back: The Story of Leroy ‘Satchel’ Paige?”

5.) Who starred as Umpire “Two Call” Johnson in “Kill the Umpire?”

6.) What movie featured the line “Startin’ to come together, Pepper … startin’ to come together?”

7.) Who played Claire Hodgson Ruth in “The Babe?”

8.) Who played catcher Bruce Pearson in “Bang the Drum Slowly?”

9.) What movie featured the line “There’s no crying in baseball?”

10.) What did Kevin Costner’s character write on the baseball given to the Tigers’ owner toward the conclusion of “For Love of the Game?” (Give the complete quote.)

11.) Who starred as a Yankees’ coach in the 1962 movie “Safe at Home” (also starring Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris?)

12.) Who starred as the troubled young boy, befriended by a Cleveland Indians sportscaster, in the 1949 movie, “The Kid from Cleveland?” (also featuring Bill Veeck, Bob Feller, Lou Boudreau and Larry Doby)

13.) What movie featured the line, “God, I love baseball?”

14.) Who played Ty Cobb in the movie “Cobb?”

15.) Dan Dailey starred in two baseball movies, one based on a real player (1952), and one playing a former player turned peanut vender (1953). Name them.

16.) Name the three baseball movies starring Kevin Costner.

17.) Name three baseball movies with Charlie Sheen.

18.) Name four baseball movies with Dennis Haysbert.

19.) Which baseball pitcher was portrayed by a sportscaster, turned actor, turned POTUS?

20.) Who played, both, the wives of Jackie Robinson (“The Jackie Robinson Story,” starring Jackie Robinson himself) and Roy Campanella (“It’s Good to Be Alive.”)

21.) Who starred as troubled young man/baseball player Ron LeFlore in “One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story?”

22.) Who played the daffy pitching coach in “Rookie of the Year?”

23.) What movie featured an 11-year-old managing the Minnesota Twins?

24.) Name five baseball movies with James Earl Jones?

25.) What was the given first name of “Moonlight” Graham in the 1989 baseball movie nominated for an Oscar as Best Picture?

26.) 1994 saw a remake of 1951’s “Angels in the Outfield” and featured, understandably, the California Angels as the team aided by celestial seraphim. What team was featured in the original make of the film with the same name?

27.) Who played the short tempered manager in the 1951 version (question 26)?

28.) Who portrayed one-armed St. Louis Brown, Pete Gray in “A Winner Never Quits?”

29.) William Peterson, of CSI fame, once starred as the minor league player-manager of the Tampico Stogies in what 1987 Diamond Themed movie?

30.) What was the character name of the feisty, foul-mouthed shortstop in the “The Bad News Bears?”

31.) What movie featured the line, “Hey Dad, you wanna have a catch?”

32.) Who portrayed former Chisox All Star pitcher, Monty Stratton, whose career was cut short by a hunting accident (though he tried to comeback) in “The Monty Stratton Story?”

33.) What’s the first thing Ray Kinsella heard “the voice” say in the 1989 Diamond Movie starring Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones?

That’s it, though I could ask hundreds more questions featuring many more baseball movies, but space doesn’t allow it. Each answer’s worth 3 points, so you’ll get the extra point needed for a perfect score if you can name “The Pride of the Yankees.”

Here’s the answer key … good luck!

1.) Wilfred Brimley

2.) For Love of the Game

3.) Vin Scully

4.) Louis Gossett, Jr.

5.) William Bendix

6.) Major League

7.) Kelly McGillis

8.) Robert DeNiro

9.) A League of Their Own

10.) “Tell them I’m through … For Love of the Game”

11.) William Frawley

12.) Russ Tamblyn

13.) The Natural

14.) Tommy Lee Jones

15.) Pride of St. Louis (1952), The Kid From Left Field (1953)

16.) Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, For Love of the Game

17.) Major League, Major League II, Eight Men Out

18.) Major League, Major League II, Major League Back to the Minors, Mr. Baseball

19.) Grover Cleveland Alexander (Ronald Reagan)

20.) Ruby Dee

21.) Levar Burton

22.) Daniel Stern

23.) Little Big League

24.) Field of Dreams, The Sandlot, The Sandlot II, The Benchwarmers (voice), The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings

25.) Archibald

26.) Pittsburgh Pirates

27.) Paul Douglas

28.) Keith Carradine

29.) Long Gone

30.) Tanner Boyle

31.) Field of Dreams

32.) Jimmy Stewart

33.) “If you build it, he will come”

Extra Point answer Lou Gehrig … Play ball!