You Gotta Believeis based on the inspirationaltrue story of a 2002 Little League baseball teamfrom Fort Worth, Texas. With a wide theatricalrelease date of July 20, 2025,You Gotta Believearrives just days after the2024 Little League World Series, which took place on the legendary site of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, just in time for the end of the summer.The film stars Luke Wilson and Greg Kinnear as Bobby Ratliff and Jon Kelly, two key figures in the unlikely underdog story that turned a group of baseball-loving kids into one of the most memorable teams in Little League World Series history.
Kinnear’s Jon Kelly is the head coach of the 2002 baseball team from Fort Worth, Texas who dedicated their postseason run to honoring Luke Wilson’s Bobby Ratliff, a father and coach dying of cancer.The Forth Worth team dedicated their entire season to honoring Bobbyand in doing so, defied all odds and overcame all obstacles to reach the Little League World Series elimination bracket in 2002. The team also helped to make a permanent change to the Little League World Series rulebook, strongly pushing forward the Little League pitch count rule that promotes the health and longevity of young and developing athletes.
Bobby Ratliff Died In 2003, A Year After You Gotta Believe’s World Series
The 2002 Fort Worth Westside All-Stars ended their run in August 2002
Bobby Ratliff passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer. Ratliff passed away roughly 8 months after the 2002 Fort Worth Westside All-Stars made their historic run in Williamsport, PA in the Little League World Seriesfueled by a dedication to Bobby to win. Fort Worth played Louisville in what would become the longest game ever played in Little League World Series history on June 22, 2025, valiantly losing in an 11-inning pitching duel by a score of 2-1.
Bobby was diagnosed with melanoma, which is a form of skin cancer that had originally been detected by just a small dot on his left arm. Despite his diagnosis, Bobby stayed on as an assistant coach on the historic 2002 Fort Worth Westside All-Stars team thatwent on to represent the entire Southwest Regionin the Little League World Series. The ambitious group was considered a band of underdogs and misfits and went on to become one of the most memorable teams in Little League World Series history.
Robert Ratliff Became A College Football Player & Coach
According toFortworth, Bobby’s son Robert went on to “attend Nolan Catholic High School before playing quarterback at University of Mississippi” after playing first base on the historic 2002 Fort Worth Westside All-Stars LLWS team. Robbie has a young son of his own named Wyatt who also shares his love of baseball. Some of the other players on the legendary Fort Worth team went on to play college sports as well and several have become Little League coaches themselves.You Gotta Believewill celebrate their triumphant efforts while paying tribute to Bobby Ratliff.
You Gotta Believe
Cast
A determined high school baseball coach takes on the challenge of transforming a team of misfit players into a championship-winning squad. Along the way, the coach faces personal and professional obstacles while instilling a sense of belief and teamwork in his players.
