In a tribute to Major League Baseball’s return to Washington, D.C., the National Theatre is presenting a free summer cinema series titled “Play Ball! — Hollywood and Baseball in America.” The nine film series begins tonight at 6:30 p.m. with the 1989 classic “Field of Dreams.”

Other films scheduled to be shown this summer include such favorites as “Pride of the Yankees,” “The Natural,” “A League of Their Own,” “Eight Men Out” and “Bull Durham.”

“The featured films weave inspiring tales of fact and fantasy,” Donn Murphy, president and executive director of the National Theatre, said in a release. “Anyone whose inner child has ever grabbed a bat, kicked up some dust and hit a home run will revel in these rousing Hollywood films.”

All films will be shown on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Helen Hayes Gallery of the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Admission is free, but seating is limited. Tickets are required and distributed 30 minutes prior to show time on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information and a complete schedule of movies, go to www.national theatre.org.