Matthew Modine
A Conversation with Matthew Modine
(Honus Wagner)

Q: What is THE WINNING SEASON about?
A: THE WINNING SEASON is based on the book Honus & Me, where a boy finds a very valuable baseball card -- a Honus Wagner baseball card -- that takes him back in time to 1909 during the World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Detroit Tigers. There, he meets Honus Wagner, the man on the baseball card. That's where the story really begins.

Q: How did you get involved with this movie?
A: I've always wanted to make a baseball movie. I thought the script for this was just beautiful. Besides all the cliches of being America's favorite pastime, there is something in it about the character of baseball and the character of our country. It's just something that's kind of magical and beautiful.

Q: In the movie you portray Honus Wagner, who serves as a mentor to Joe. What lessons does Honus teach him?
A: Honus teaches Joe that there are things that are much more important than money and that there's nothing wrong with being frightened, but you have to learn how to overcome your fears.

Q: How is today's baseball different from baseball in 1909?
A: The baseball glove has changed, and the game has changed and evolved. The bats are different, and the webbing in the gloves is so different. They really studied how someone gets in the box and swings, and you have to run hard all the time. I love that metaphor of running it out in life, to always run it out because you never know what's going to happen. Run as hard as you can, do the best you can and never give up.

Q: What did you come to learn when you did your research for this role?
A: I learned Honus was a man of tremendous character. He loved the game. He was arguably one of the best all-around players that's ever played defensively and offensively. He seemed to live a pretty commendable life.

Q: What was it like working with Kristin Davis and John Kent Harrison?
A: I've worked with John Kent Harrison before, and he's such a gentleman. I was really happy that he was directing this, because he's kind of an old-fashioned guy. He's got an old-fashioned sensibility to the way he approaches making movies. I think Kristin Davis was a great choice, because there's something wonderfully innocent and beautiful about her personality. It's been a real pleasure working with her.