Moments pages are Spoilers Off. You Have Been Warned.
- The moment when the catcher takes off his mask — and you realize what all this has really been about.Ray: Oh my god...
Annie: What is it?
Ray: It's my father...- Immediately followed by The Reveal of the true identity of "The Voice" that had been guiding Ray all along.Ray: (to Shoeless Joe) It was you...
Shoeless Joe: (smiles) No, Ray. It was you. - And the final exchange between Ray and his father, John. He knew Ray was his son all along, but pretended to not recognize him for what he thought was his own benefit:Ray: Hey, dad? ...You wanna have a catch?
John: (voice cracks) I'd like that.
- Immediately followed by The Reveal of the true identity of "The Voice" that had been guiding Ray all along.
- Ray, having time-traveled back to 1972, tries to convince Doc Graham to come with him back to Iowa to fulfill his dream of getting a hit in a major league game. Graham, however, refuses to go:Ray: Fifty years ago, for five minutes you came within... you... you came this close. It would kill some men to get so close to their dream and not touch it. God, they'd consider it a tragedy!
Doc Graham: Son, if I'd only gotten to be a doctor for five minutes, now that would have been a tragedy. - Mann, trying to find out why The Voice sent him and Ray to find "Moonlight" Graham, interviews the residents of Chisholm who knew Doc, and they tell all these fantastic stories of a decent, warm, cheerful guy who took care of the city for over 50 years. Even better, when a newspaper editor reads the obit she'd written for Graham back in '72, Terrence compliments, "You're a good writer." She replies, patting him on the back, "So are you." One might surmise it was her not-so-subtle hint for him to start writing again.
- The moment when Archie Graham steps out of the diamond to save Karin. Being "Moonlight Graham" was his dream, but being "Doctor Graham" was his life. And when a little girl was in danger, he chose which one he needed to be more. Even if it meant he couldn't go back. When Ray realises this, he is left in remorse, however Archie smiles sweetly and assures him it's alright:Doc Graham: [pats Ray] I'd best be getting home. Alicia will think I've got a girlfriend.
- The scene when all the baseball players say goodbye to Moonlight Graham, after he steps over the threshold to save Karin's life, affectionately calling him "Doc" and treating him like an equal. What makes the scene poignant is that (1) they're respecting him as "Doc", the man who saved Karin's life, rather than as "Moonlight", and (2) it was Burt Lancaster's final role.Shoeless Joe: Hey, rookie!
(The elderly Moonlight looks over at Joe)
Shoeless Joe: ...you were good.
(Moonlight offers a wistful, bittersweet smile before stepping into the cornfield for the last time) - When Terence Mann follows the players into the cornfield, he starts giggling like a young child again, and you realize that he's finally found peace. He also states that he'll do something he hadn't done in 20 years: write a book ("Shoeless Joe Comes To Iowa").
- Terence Mann's baseball monologue.Terence: The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us of all that once was good and that could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.
- His words are so powerful that even the players stop what they're doing so they can listen.
