What year was the movie "The Natural" set in?

The 1984 Robert Redford baseball film The Natural was set in 1939. How do we know this? Simple.

Forget the cars, the costumes and music. The confirmation came during the memorial service for Bump Bailey right after his ashes were sprinkled on Knights Field from the air. A plaque that read: Bartholomew "Bump" Bailey 1911-1939.

Can't get any more definitive than that.

The film was an adaptation of Bernard Malamud's 1952 baseball novel. The story revolves around Roy Hobbs, a fabulous young prodigy who's career was temporarily derailed by a shooting incident 16 years earlier. Hobbs joins the basement dwelling, downtrodden New York Knights of the National League and leads them to success.

Redford plays Hobbs, Darren McGavin (who was uncredited) plays a noted gambler, Robert Duval is the annoying sportswriter Max Mercy with Kim Basinger and Glenn Close in the lead female roles.

Wilford Brimley stars as the manager Pop Fisher in a scene-stealing role.

The movie was filmed on location in Buffalo.