Will Ferrell Crashes Spring Training

Plays all 9 baseball positions, among other things
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Suggested by TopstepTrader1
Posted Mar 13, 2015 10:15 AM CDT
Will Ferrell Crashes Spring Training
Actor Will Ferrell, right, replaces Chicago Cubs first baseman Mike Olt during a spring-training baseball exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels in Tempe, Ariz., on Thursday, March 12, 2015.   (Chris Carlson)

"Ruth, Musial, Mantle, Will Ferrell." The star of Anchorman, Elf, and several sports-related flicks played all nine positions and coached for 10 teams in five Arizona ballparks yesterday in a spring-training blitz chronicled for an HBO special. In addressing the crowd at his final stop in Peoria, the comedian said, "Who would have thought that one day those names would be synonymous? Show of hands—scratch that, never mind." Ferrell started at noon in an Oakland Athletics uniform at shortstop and ended eight and a half hours later, playing right field for San Diego in the ninth inning. Ferrell wore No. 19 for every team except his last one. He didn't want to wear the late Tony Gwynn's number, so he donned No. 20 for the Padres.

He hugged a guy in an elf suit as he left Mesa, held up a sign saying "Remember These Games Don't Count" as impromptu third-base coach for the Chicago Cubs, struck out twice on three pitches each, watched two home runs sail over his head, and chased the ball around the outfield during a challenging stint in left field for the Arizona Diamondbacks. "When I embarked on this journey way back at breakfast," Ferrell said, "I thought to myself, 'Could I do it?' The answer is yes." Memorabilia from his journey is to be sold at auction on MLB.com, with proceeds going to Cancer for College and Stand Up to Cancer. Click for more from Ferrell's amusing adventure, or read about 21 celebs who played baseball in high school. (More Will Ferrell stories.)

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