Every 30 for 30 Baseball Doc, Ranked

Photos: ESPN

Baseball has often felt like it gets short shrift from ESPN's venerable film production unit, but tonight's debut of The Captain could change that. The new seven-part docuseries is a clear attempt to build on the success of the channel's phenomenal Michael Jordan series The Last Dance with another sports figure who's existed in the firmament of his sport since long before he retired, Derek Jeter.

Whether Jeter proves to be even a fraction of the fascinatingly complex personality that Jordan was remains to be seen (it's a tall order, and Yankee-haters will certainly have their knives out), but regardless of the outcome, The Captain gives us a chance to reflect on ESPN's previous baseball documentaries under the banner of the 30 for 30 series. Each of these films can be streamed on ESPN's subscription streaming platform, ESPN+.

14. Four Days in October

Season 1, Episode 24
Air date: October 5, 2010

It came as no surprise that the 30 for 30 enterprise — the brainchild of former ESPN personality, founder of The Ringer, and mascot for Boston sports fans everywhere — would eventually turn its gaze to the 2004 Boston Red Sox, who broke their nearly century-long drought and finally bested the New York Yankees en route to winning the World Series. 30 for 30 is almost always better when the subjects haven't been already covered to death, and sure enough Four Days in October adds precious little to this oft-told tale.

13. The House of Steinbrenner

Season 1, Episode 22
Air date: September 21, 2010

Oscar-winning director Barbara Koppel brought a hefty pedigree to this doc about the longtime Yankee owner that centers itself around the demolition of the old Yankee Stadium and the opening of the new one. Unfortunately, the doc never seems to settle in to the most interesting aspects of its story, namely Steinbrenner's reign of terror in the '70s and '80s, and too often relies on pat Yankee reverence.