NEW ULM – The New Ulm Film Society has crunched the numbers and has drafted “Moneyball” as the final film in its baseball film series.

The screening starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the New Ulm Public Library.

“Moneyball” is a 2011 film that is based on the true story of the Oakland Athletics 2002 season, in which general manager Billy Beane, played by Brad Pitt, used the sabermetric approach to create a competitive baseball team.

Sabermetrics analyzes a player’s abilities using game statistics and in-game activity. The concept of sabermetrics had been around for decades but it was a niche idea that was mostly popular with statisticians until the 2002 MLB season when the Oakland Athletics proved it could help a team win games. 

Ahead of the 2002 season, Beane was in a tight spot. The Athletics were strapped for cash with revenue down and the owners reluctant to spend money for new talent. Making matters worse, every time the team has a great player, a team with deeper pockets scoops them up once they become free agents. 

Beane has also become disillusioned with how the team’s scouts are selecting players. He believes some of the metrics they use for determining which players will perform well are outdated. This is from personal experience. Beane was a first-round draft pick in the 1980s, but he now looks on his playing career as a disappointment. 

In the film, Beane is introduced to the sabermetrics method after a chance meeting with Peter Brand, played by Jonah HIll, who shares his opinions. Beane and Brand begin collaborating on a new team philosophy of finding undervalued players who can be brought on the Athletics team for cheap.

Specifically, they are looking for players who have a high on-base percentage. These players do not necessarily have high batting averages, but they are able to get on base through walks. In one of the most famous scenes of the movie, Beane and Brand explain a series of controversial player selections by saying “he gets on base.”

“Moneyball” was a commercial and critical success upon its release. The film would receive six Academy Award nominations, including best picture, best actor and best supporting actor. Many critics were surprised that a film about baseball statistics could have strong emotional depths. 

“Moneyball” is the rare baseball movie that focuses more on what is happening off the field in the manager’s office than what is happening on field. The film’s main characters are a general manager and a player advisor. On paper, this film should not work as entertainment. It’s all about numbers and backroom dealings away from the real actions. However, a combination of a clever script and strong performances from Pitt and Hill created something that can hooked audiences.

Another reason for “the movie’s success was its theme of finding the true value of people. Several characters in the movie, including Beane and Brand have been overlooked, undervalued or dismissed through their lives because others were not looking at the important metrics. At the same time, the movie has a deep respect for the game of baseball. The sabermetrics approach to watching baseball has been criticized for taking a beloved sport and reducing it to a cynical numbers game. “Moneyball” argues that even when whittling a baseball down to numbers, the game still has the power to surprise and inspire.

The New Ulm Film Society’s screening of “Moneyball” is free to the public. Before and after the film, there will be a discussion about the film’s place in film history.