Will Ferrell Plays For Ten Teams At Five Ballparks In One Day For Charity
Actor Will Ferrell got in on some of the Cactus League action on Thursday when he attended five different ball parks. But as we can expect from Ferrell, he didn’t attend as a spectator — he attended as a player.
Ferrell, taken to each ballpark by helicopter, proceeded to play for both teams at each park. Dressed in each team’s uniform, he played all nine field positions during his busy day, a nod to Bert Campaneris who once played every position in one game back in 1965. Campaneris joined Ferrell during his games.
It was all filmed as part of a Funny Or Die special on HBO, and its purpose is to raise money for cancer charities. According to Rolling Stone, the ten uniforms Ferrell wore and various equipment he used will be auctioned on MLB.com. The two benefiting charities will be Cancer for College and Stand Up To Cancer.
Will Ferrell has arrived! Declined all press interviews. “I can’t talk. I’m in beast mode.” #FerrellTakesTheField pic.twitter.com/dswQUGXEp6
— Funny Or Die (@funnyordie) March 12, 2015
But Ferrell wasn’t just there for show — though he struck out at bat, he played a pretty decent center fielder during his short time with the Angels, temporarily replacing Mike Trout.
Of course, it was anything but totally serious. Ferrell gave animated pep talks to his players as a base coach, as well as cheering on his teammates with signs like “Don’t pull a muscle,” “Swing as hard as you can,” and “Remember these games don’t count.”
Will Ferrell understands Spring Training better than most. #FerrellTakesTheFieldpic.twitter.com/U1Srj7HMn7 — MLB Memes (@MLBMeme) March 12, 2015
Major League Baseball itself partnered with HBO and Funny Or Die, and Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. said that everyone was looking forward to taking part.
“Spring Training affords an appropriate setting where our game can serve as the backdrop for an event that will benefit organizations that fight cancer. Will is a big fan of our game, and many of us in baseball — among our clubs, players and our millions of fans — are big fans of his. Major League Baseball is happy to take part in what will surely be a fun and memorable day for a great cause.”
Throughout the day, Ferrell visited HoHoKam Stadium, then Tempe Diablo Stadium, then moved on to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Camelback Ranch and Peoria Stadium.
This isn’t the only charitable event Will Ferrell has influenced recently; on Tuesday he joined Justin Bieber, Eugenie Bouchard, Natasha Bedingfield and Kevin Hart at the 11th Annual Desert Smash tennis tournament, which also raised money for Cancer for College.
[Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images]
