According to the 1 Aug 1983 DV, actor Warren Beatty was originally cast in the role of “Darryl Palmer,” however, the 11 Nov 1983 DV announced Michael O’Keefe would begin training for the part.
       The 14 Nov 1983 HR reported filming was planned for the Houston Astrodome in TX, set to begin on 15 Mar 1984. Noting a change of location to Atlanta, GA, for the Mar 1984 start date, the 22 Dec 1983 HR announced Rebecca De Mornay was hired to co-star in the picture. The 10 Feb 1984 DV reported the Atlanta Braves ballpark would serve as one of the film’s locations. According to the 12 Aug 1984 NYT, the change in location for the $19 million picture was the result of the filmmakers wanting a more “middle America” setting, and the realization that the Houston Astrodome was “not a home run hitter’s ballpark.” Writer Neil Simon rewrote De Mornay’s character to be a rock singer instead of a country music star. NYT reported that De Mornay’s character initially spoke with a Southern drawl, but after two weeks of filming, director Hal Ashby did not think the accent worked, and reshot two-weeks worth of dialogue without an accent.
       Production notes in AMPAS library files reported that actor Michael O’Keefe practiced batting daily for six months, and attended spring training for a week with the Atlanta Braves, in West Palm Beach, FL. To create an authentic-looking baseball team, the filmmakers held tryouts at Atlanta Stadium in Jan 1984, attended by real-life former major-league ballplayers. Watching the tryouts was Atlanta Braves manager, Joe Torre, who was so impressed by retired major-league pitcher, Bob Galasso’s ninety-mile-per-hour fastball, that he recruited Galasso for the Braves, drawing him out of retirement.
       The picture marked director Martin Ritt’s acting debut, as manager “Burly De Vito,” according to the 12 Aug 1984 NYT.
       The 30 Mar 1984 DV reported high winds knocked over the trailer where Rebecca De Mornay and her acting coach, Hal Holden, were rehearsing. De Mornay suffered a “contusion over her left eye,” and missed a day of filming, while Holden incurred a shoulder injury.
       In order to fill the baseball stadium with 15,000 background actors, filmmakers coaxed locals by offering a $1,000 giveaway to one person, each hour of the shoot, as reported by the 6 Jun 1984 DV.
       The 23 Oct 1984 LAHExam announced that Columbia Pictures rescheduled the release of the picture from the end of 1984 until baseball season 1985. The 20 Dec 1984 DV confirmed the release date as 22 Mar 1985, and reported that director Hal Ashby and producer Ray Stark had differences involving the final editing of Slugger’s Wife, although attempts were made to keep the differences from becoming public knowledge.
       The 21 Feb 1985 DV announced the premiere would be held in Atlanta, GA, on 4 Mar 1985. The picture opened nationally on 29 Mar 1985.
       According to the 10 Apr 1985 USA Today, the film was the worst box-office failure of the year to date, grossing only $1.3 million in 900 theaters. The poor reception prompted Columbia to pull the film from most theaters and cease tracking ticket sales.
      End credits include the following acknowledgments: “Special Thanks To: State of Georgia-Film Commission; City of Atlanta; Atlanta Police Department; Atlanta Fulton County Stadium Authority; The Atlanta Braves Organization; Turner Broadcasting System; Baseball Commissioner’s Office; Major League Baseball Corporation; National League Office; St. Louis Cardinals; Cincinnati Reds; San Diego Padres; Chicago Cubs; Houston Astros; Philadelphia Phillies; San Francisco Giants; Rawlings Sporting Goods Company; and Eastern Airlines.” Additional acknowledgments include: “Sports Illustrated logo and cover simulation used with permission of Time Inc.; Sports Illustrated is a registered trademark of Time Inc.”