One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story | |
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Also known as | 'Man of Passion' |
Based on | Breakout: From Prison to the Big Leagues by Ron LeFlore |
Written by | Stanford Whitmore |
Directed by | William A. Graham |
Starring |
LeVar Burton Madge Sinclair Paul Benjamin |
Music by | Peter Matz |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
Tony Converse Roger Gimbel |
Producer(s) | William S. Gilmore |
Cinematography | Jordan Cronenweth |
Editor(s) | Aaron Stell |
Running time | 100 minutes |
Production company(s) | EMI Films |
Distributor | CBS |
Release | |
Original network | CBS |
Original release | September 26, 1978 |
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story (also known as Man of Passion) is a 1978 American made-for-television biographical sports drama film telling the story of Ron LeFlore, a troubled Detroit youth who rose from Michigan prisons to star in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers. The film was based on LeFlore's autobiography, Breakout: From Prison to the Big Leagues.
The film follows LeFlore from his heroin addiction, to his time in Michigan's Jackson State Penitentiary, and tells of his discovery in prison by Billy Martin, who was then the manager of the Detroit Tigers. The role of Ron LeFlore was played by LeVar Burton. Larry B. Scott portrayed Ron LeFlore's younger brother.
Former Detroit manager Billy Martin played himself, and former Tiger players Norm Cash, Bill Freehan, Al Kaline, and Jim Northrup also appeared as themselves.
The movie first aired on CBS on September 26, 1978 and was released theatrically in Europe.