February 18, 2021

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

“Coming To A Theatre Near You.”

“Soon To Be A Major Motion Picture.”

Those are some of the interesting facts spilling out from a promo poster for Hurler, a baseball movie you will see sometime in the next few years.

Writer and director of the movie is one-time Toronto resident Tony Wylder of south Florida and production advisors he has added to his crew are former Expos scouts Fred Ferreira and Ed Bailey, who will also have cameos in the production.

The plot for the period-piece feature film centers around Tomy Hurler, a cricket-playing orphan and victim of war-time conditions from England, who makes his way to America to try and conquer baseball.

“You have to remember the American public, it’s one man against the world,’’ Wylder explained in an interview. “For Hollywood, the primary purpose is selling Forrest Gump movies, Back to the Future, about one guy who makes things happen.’’

When I interjected to add “underdog’’ to the type of movies Hollywood loves to make, Wylder said, “Precisely, it’s the underdog that people want to see, the guy who comes from nowhere.’’

Ferreira is delighted to be part of the movie and has already read the script. Wylder is also working on a book about Tomy Hurler.

“It’s entirely fictional,’’ Wylder said. “The only true historical event that appears in the book and movie will be (future U.S. president) Teddy Roosevelt, who came from San Juan Hill. He liked to play baseball with his kids.’’

Wylder is a Brit, who spent close to three years as a very young child in Toronto at a time when his father, a member of Britain’s Royal Air Force, taught radar to members of the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Due to the pandemic, Wylder isn’t sure when shooting will start but you might see him doing some scenes in Canada along with the U.S. What he finds concerning is the fact most theatres around the world are closed.

But you can’t help but like the hype staring out from the poster: “The greatest baseball adventure ever told. A turn of the century sports thriller. The story of Tomy Hurler is an epic adventure.’’

Wylder is hoping Hurler will be as brilliant as A League of Their Own, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams and other entertaining baseball movies.

“That’s the hope you want for your movies,’’ Wylder said.