Award-winning ‘Curveballs’ tells inspirational story of the Louisville Slugger Warriors
Kirby Adams
Louisville, KY
May 23, 2025
Even if you aren’t a huge fan of the game of baseball, you may become a fan of a new documentary with ties to Louisville.
“Curveballs … Secrets to the Game of Life” is the inspiring true story of the world’s first competitive baseball team made up of amputees.
The film tells the story of The Louisville Slugger Warriors, a nationally sponsored and extremely competitive amputee baseball team that consists of U.S. military veterans, active-duty personnel, wounded warriors and current and former amputee college baseball players.
“Louisville Slugger was the team’s first sponsor before it got off the ground 15 years ago,” Rick Redman, vice president of corporate communications for Hillerich & Bradsby Co. said. “It has been an honor for us to support these challenged athletes as they demonstrate to the world their drive, determination, and discipline in overcoming disabilities. Their stories are ones of perseverance and inspiration.”
All of the players on The Louisville Slugger Warriors team have either suffered a loss of limb, partial limb, digits, eye or serious limb deformities. Others have prostheses due to congenital, disease, or trauma-related reasons.
Directed by nine-time Emmy Award winner John Biffar for Dreamtime Entertainment, the film’s world premiere was held May 14 during the opening night of the Fort Myers Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Feature Film.
More than a documentary about the game of baseball, “Curveballs … Secrets to the Game of Life” recounts the inspirational stories of a group of highly skilled athletes.It’s the most inspirational project I have ever been involved with,” Biffar said. “I’m so grateful to the players who shared their intimate stories with us.”
Founded by David Van Sleet, a prosthetics expert who has dedicated his career to supporting disabled veterans, the Louisville Slugger Warriors not only gives hope to disabled athletes but also shows the world that almost anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
When the team was first formed, Van Sleet held national tryouts for exceptional baseball players and selected a team of 15 diverse members ranging in age from 20 to 40 years old.
Today, the team plays in national and regional baseball tournaments around the country and in special baseball game events against able-bodied teams, and often win.
According to Redman, there are plans for The Louisville Slugger Warriorsto play at Western Kentucky University in October. It’s part of a collaboration with another organization Louisville Slugger supports called Play Ball Puerto Rico, which is based in Louisville, along with WKU and the Bowling Green Rotary Club.
“Curveballs … Secrets to the Game of Life” is currently screening on the film festival circuit and will next be shown in Italy.
