What is James Earl Jones' connection to baseball? All you need to know about the iconic 'The Sandlot' and 'Field of Dreams' movies

James Earl Jones died at the age of 93 on Monday. The legendary actor's voice permeated cinema thanks to his iconic roles as Darth Vader and Mufasa. He also showed up in more than a few baseball movies, including one where he delivered a rousing monologue about the sport itself.

Two key roles in baseball based films helped define the legendary actor: Field of Dreams and The Sandlot. In the former, he played a reclusive author who had stepped away from public life. In The Sandlot, he plays a former ballplayer who went blind.

In Field of Dreams, Kevin Costner's character is tasked by the ghosts of baseball past, such as Shoeless Joe Jackson, to build a baseball field in the corn fields he lives on. If he does, "they," which ends up being his late father, will come.

It's a moving film, but Jones' dialogue is what sells it. He captures the essence of the sport like someone who played it. If nothing else, Jones' acting was that of someone with a deep passion for and connection to baseball.

The character's lines read, via The Athletic:

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It’s 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 it could be again."

The Sandlot was a much more comedic film. Field of Dreams gave James Earl Jones the chance to memorialize baseball as America's pastime. Field of Dreams was released in 1989. The Sandlot came out in 1993.

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James Earl Jones cause of death not provided

James Earl Jones was in his 90s when he died. He struggled with diabetes during his life, but that may not be the cause of death.

James Earl Jones has passed away (Imagn)

As of the time of writing, no cause of death had been specified. Jones died at home surrounded by family members, according to the actor's agent. He leaves behind a lengthy legacy of films, television shows and several projects he lent his legendary voice and presence to.