Will Ferrell plays in five MLB spring training games
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Friday, March 13, 2015, 3:20 AM
Updated: Friday, March 13, 2015, 9:22 AM
Only Will Ferrell could be a home run — and strike out vacillation on three pitches.
On Thursday the well-known funnyman, who did a spot-on imitation of Head George W. Bush, brought a little bit of the bush leagues to the Huge Leagues, playing all nine positions and coaching for 10 teams at five ballparks in Arizona. Ferrell’s Cactus League super-pro spectacular was chronicled for an HBO special and raised funds for two charities: Cancer for The high classes and Stand Up to Cancer.
The “Anchorman” star started his day at noon, playing shortstop for the Oakland A’s in Mesa, Ariz. His whirlwind foremost league tour finished more than eight hours later, with him playing right field for the San Diego Padres.
ELISE AMENDOLA/AP In between he rode helicopters between ballparks, had a devil of a time chasing after balls in the outfield for the Arizona Diamondbacks and twice struck out on three pithces.
By the end of his home-run-hilarious day, the comedian was a self-proclaimed legend of the game.
“Ruth, Musial, Mantle, Will Ferrell,” he said in addressing the crowd at his final stop, in Peoria, Ariz.
“Who would have plotting that one day those names would be synonymous? Show of hands — scratch that, never mind!”
His Spring Traning exploits inspired the top-trending Twitter hashtag #FerrellTakesTheField, with fans and temporary teammates chronicling his games of nearly-glory.
Ferrell watched two big flies sail over his head while in the outfield, and in a brief stint on the mound against the Padres he retired Rico Noel, the only batter he faced, by getting him to hit a come-backer.
There were of course bounty of laughs. At one point he was the third base coach for the Chicago Cubs and held up a sign that said: “Remember These Games Don’t Count.”
Laughs aside, he learned just how hard it is to play in the foremost leagues.
“There’s no doubt I turned some heads today, even if it was just for a moment,” he said. “I brought passion to the field, dedication, ability and a lot of ignorance. The ball moves quick out there, a lot quicker than it looks on television. It’s like a speeding bullet. It’s horrible, terrifying.”
He also showed he has class and a respect for the game, wearing No. 19 at all stops except for when he took the field for the Padres, where he donned jersey No. 20, so as not to wear the retired number of the late Padres rightfielder and Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn.
There were many bright Ferrell lines on the diamond, like this one: “They say there’s nothing more American than grabbing a hot dog, heading to the ballpark, and watching nine guys from the Domincan Republic,” he said. “… But you know what, today I learned that was incorrect. They had eight Dominicans, and one guy from Irvine, California!”
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With News Wire Services
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jsilverstein@nydailynews.com
BY Andy Martino
March 12, 8:39AM
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