A Look at Robert Redford's Bat, Ball and Glove from the movie The Natural
Throughout the 1984 filmThe Natural(1984), Robert Redford’s character, Roy Hobbs, wrestles with the consequences of his past. In a pivotal scene, Glenn Close’s character, Iris Gaines, tells him: “I believe we have two lives. The life we learn with and the life we live with after that.” It’s a line about redemption — and one that echoes Redford’s own early life path.
Redford (A&S ex’58, HonDoc Hum’87) attended Boulder from fall 1954 to spring 1956, joining Kappa Sigma and working as ajanitor at The Sink. He left to study art in Europe before enrolling in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. He then launched a career that spanned nearly 80 film roles, beginning withWar Hunt in 1962. By the timeThe Natural premiered, he was a household name.
Redford gave the bat, ball and glove from the film to Chancellor James Corbridge, who donated them to the Heritage Center in 1992.
Redford died in September 2025 at age 89, but his legacy in Boulder will continue — theSundance Film Festival, which he founded, moves to the city in January 2027.
Bat, Ball and Glove Facts:
- Glove was custom-made for Redford, who was left-handed.
- All three items were used by Redford in the film.
- Glove and bat feature 1930s styling.
Film Facts:
- The Naturalwas nominated for four Academy Awards.
- Film loosely based on a true story about Philadelphia Phillies player Eddie Waitkus
- Robert Redford modeled his character after a player he greatly admired, Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox
- Robert Redford was 47 years old when the movie premiered
Photo courtesy Mona Lambrecht, Heritage Museum