Bang the Drum Slowly

"Bang the Drum Slowly" is a 1973 American sports drama film directed by John D. Hancock, based on Mark Harris's novel of the same name. The story follows the friendship between Henry Wiggen, a star pitcher, and Bruce Pearson, his terminally-ill catcher, on a fictional Major League Baseball team. As the team prepares for the season, Henry and his teammates try to make Bruce's last year memorable, while Bruce's illness and impending death weigh heavily on his mind.