“Ballhawking is, more than anything, about love,” the film’s narrator, Bill Murray, said in the closing moments of “Ballhawks.” This summary was an apt metaphor for the surprisingly refreshing story of the fans who stand outside Wrigley Field’s outfield walls in hopes of nabbing a home run ball.

Wrigley’s limited bleacher seating, the Cubs’ zealous fan base and the wide streets beyond the stadium walls create an odd culture of home run chasers who lived out the seasons close but not actually within the old ballpark.

While love may seem like an odd word to describe these zany Cubs fans—most would think that insane would be far more appropriate—the film showed the motivations behind the men who stood in the street game after game.

The squad of featured “Ballhawks” made their habit seem rational and irrational at the same time while giving the film a human element and unanticipated depth. They all lived relatively normal lives but saw nothing wrong with knocking over anything or anyone that got in their way whilst in pursuit of a ball.

The elder statesman and record-holder of the group was Moe, who had 4,444 catches in his long-running “ball-hawking” career. Andy took care of his cancer-stricken father while also finding time to apply for fireman’s school and chasing home run balls; the most conflicted character, he constantly questioned when it would be time to give up his hobby.

Dave was another veteran who best summed up the outsider perspective on “ball-hawking” and his defiance to it: “I’m sure not many people care anything about it, but I do,” he said while showcasing his collection of baseball memorabilia and the over 3,000 balls that he had collected over the years

The motley crew of characters was just doing what they considered a hobby and a passion, no stranger than fishing. Fishing is a good comparison for what the Ballhawk does when waiting outside beyond the walls.

Much like in fishing, patience is a virtue for the home run hunter. A fan may wait for three or four hours at a time for just one ball, but that is not to say that the hobby is without its rewards.

It creates a deep bond of friendship among its participants, which was immediately evident in the film. It provides plenty of sun and a chance to follow their favorite team season after season.

These rewards were coming to an end in the final moments of “Ballhawks” with Wrigley Field’s planned bleacher expansion after the 2005 season. The expansion pushed the seats farther over the streets that the home run chasers roamed and added a fence that limited the amount of homers that made it out of the stadium.

The final game of home run chasing as the Ballhawks understood it closed out the film. Rich, in his 46^th year of hanging beyond the outfield walls, got his happy ending by catching a well struck batting practice ball.

It is easy to question the motivations of a man who spends the bulk of his life retrieving baseballs, but the look on Rich’s face was evidence that he was just enjoying his life’s passion. This lesson on how to enjoy life was the overarching theme of “Ballhawks” and made it a solid watch.

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