Is “You Gotta Believe” Based on a True Story? All About the Real-Life Little League Team That Inspired the Movie (and Where They Are Today!)

Warning: You Gotta Believe spoilers ahead!

You Gotta Believe tells the inspiring story of a group of young boys determined to turn tragedy into triumph.

The movie, which was originally released in theaters in August 2024 before it was added to Netflix in January 2025, follows a group of underestimated youth baseball players as they transform into all-stars in honor of their teammate Robert's (Michael Cash) father, assistant coach Bobby Ratliff (Luke Wilson).

With the support of their head coach, Jon Kelly (Greg Kinnear), the team rallies around one another after Bobby is diagnosed with cancer, pushing themselves to compete in the Little League World Series.

Their inspiring journey is based on the true events of the 2002 Fort Worth Westside All-Stars, telling the story of the real-life Bobby, who was diagnosed with terminal melanoma, and his son, Robert, the team's first baseman.

During an October 2024 appearance on 700 Club Interactive, Robert shared that although his dad was going through "some intense treatments with melanoma skin cancer," it gave him "a lot of purpose" to attend their games amid his treatment.

So, what is the true story behind You Gotta Believe? Here’s everything to know about the real-life Little League team that inspired the film — and where the players are today.

Is You Gotta Believe based on a true story?

You Gotta Believe is based on the true story of a Little League team's journey to the 2002 Little League World Series. The team traveled from Fort Worth, Texas, to Williamsport, Pa., dedicating the season to their teammate's terminally ill father.

In August 2024, former head coach Jon Kelly reflected on the team's historic season to the Fort Worth Report, saying, "The team was so supportive of Robert and his family, and they played their hearts out for Bobby ... it was really special."

The Little League baseball team's journey made its way to the big screen when Kelly shared their story with the producer of the movie nearly two decades after the events took place. Bobby's son, Robert Ratliff recalled to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he was eventually invited to Kelly's home to discuss the possibility of a feature film.

“Told them about that summer and about my dad,” he recalled to the outlet. “At the end of it, they agreed it was good enough to make into a movie.”

Robert shared that Wilson, who played Bobby, was "mindful of how hard this was on us," and added that he "did a really good job playing our dad.”

Who were the 2002 Fort Worth Westside All-Stars?

The 2002 Fort Worth Westside All-Stars were a group of young boys who competed in the Little League World Series that year.

The team, who represented the Southwest Region, won every game during the 2002 run, until they lost 2-1 to the Louisville, Kentucky Little League All-Stars in the semifinal round, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

According to local outlet WFAA, it was the longest game ever recorded in Little League World Series history, lasting 11 innings, with both teams setting a combined record for strikeouts. Although the Fort Worth players didn't win the final game, they became one of the most memorable teams in Little League World Series history.

While the movie closely mirrors their story, from their names to the game's outcome, Kelly told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in September 2024 that certain plot points are dramatized, including portraying the team as misfits to further emphasize their road to triumph.

“We were a good team, but we absolutely got better at every level,” Kelly told the outlet. “By the time we got to Williamsport, we were really, really good.”

What happened to Bobby Ratliff from You Gotta Believe?

While his son's team went on their journey to the Little League World Series in 2002, Bobby underwent treatment for his melanoma diagnosis, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Per the outlet, he remained dedicated to the team, sometimes missing appointments to attend games. Though he was present for their final match, he died in 2003.

Not only is Bobby's legacy celebrated through the movie, but his sons Robert and John also founded the You Gotta Believe sports camp in 2007, which inspires young athletes to understand the importance of always believing, per the end credits of the film.

What happened to the Ratliff brothers?

Robert went on to play football at Ole Miss before moving back to Fort Worth and working in insurance, according to a 2022 Fort Worth Star-Telegram article. Per the outlet, he is an aspiring Little League coach.

As revealed in the film's ending, Robert eventually started a family of his own. According to the Art of Fatherhood, he is raising sons Wyatt and Henry alongside his wife, Natalie.

At the end of You Gotta Believe, Robert reads aloud an old letter from Bobby to his son Wyatt. During his appearance on 700 Club Interactive, Robert shared that he is now writing some letters of his own for his two sons.

Although his dad would never get the chance to meet his boys, Robert shared that Bobby left him a list of lessons to carry as a father and husband.

"If I can do half as good of a job as my dad did with us in that short period of time with my boys, then I think I'll do okay," he said.

As for how Robert and his former teammates remember Bobby's legacy, he told Fort Worth Magazine in August 2024 that his father left them "a huge inheritance of great memories."

“We had a lot of fun, and we learned the importance of always believing and knowing that everything and anything is possible," he said.

Robert's brother John (who is featured in the film) also started a family of his own. He married his wife Haley in February 2020, per her Instagram, and the two have since welcomed three children, who joined him at the premiere of You Gotta Believe.

Where are the rest of the Little League players now?

In April 2022 — two decades after the Little League World Series — members of the 2002 Fort Worth Westside All-Stars team reunited on the same field they once played.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, many of the players and coaches have stayed in touch over the years, however they hadn't held any official reunions.

Since their days on the Little League team, the players have reached new milestones, from graduating college and building careers to coaching a new generation of youth baseball players.

According to the outlet, Michael Valdez continued playing baseball at Texas Wesleyan University and went on to run youth sports teams, while Chris Rivera works for Google.

Rand Ravnaas also continued to play baseball at Georgetown University and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2011 MLB draft, per the outlet. However, he has since returned to Fort Worth to work in the oil and gas business. His teammate Patton Eagle works in the same industry, but resides in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Robby Lebus and Mark Grace also reside in Fort Worth, with the former working in real estate and the latter in insurance, per the outlet.

Meanwhile, Walker Kelly went on to work in commercial real estate after playing baseball at Texas Christian University, and Chester Hamilton moved to St. Louis, Mo., and became an engineer for IBM.

Finally, according to the outlet, Mitchell Belew remains in Fort Worth, where he works in aerospace sales and coaches his nephew's Little League baseball team.

Read the original article on People