The Starting Line-up
What characteristics do you remember from the reading that signify a salient group?
What characteristics of the group signify its salience?
Why is Benny an effective leader?
What can Benny do to make the group more accepting of Smalls and to make Smalls feel more accepted?
What is provided and reciprocated by Benny, Smalls, and the team?
Critiques of Benny?
Bob Cannon of Entertainment Weekly said that, "The Sandlot lays down life's little lessons with the feathery touch of a sacrifice bunt... The best teams win with strong fundamentals. So do the best movies." & that, "Above all, The Sandlot is a love letter to the game and an era when baseball was still the National Pastime, when a kid's status was determined by how well he could rattle off Rocky Colavito's batting average, and when the unkindest cut of all was ''You throw like a girl!' "