If anyone knows acting and baseball, it’s the stars of “The Sandlot,” perhaps the most beloved baseball movie of all time.
Some of those stars were at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday for Red Bull’s Keys to the Stadium event, and Dodgers Nation’s Ava Brand got to ask them who they thought could transition from Chavez Ravine to Hollywood once they hang up their spikes.
Here’s what Chauncey Leopardi, Michael York and Brandon Quintin Adams — aka Squints, Yeah Yeah and Kenny DeNunez — had to say.
Joe Kelly
Both Leopardi, who played Michael “Squints” Palledorous, and York, who played Alan “Yeah-Yeah” McClennan, offered former Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly as a possible star.
“Joe Kelly would have been an amazing actor,” Leopardi said.
“I would think he did movies, he’s such a s— talker,” York added.
The pair were no doubt referencing Kelly’s infamous mocking of the Houston Astros, including Carlos Correa, in the 2020 season following the Astros’ cheating scandal during their World Series-winning season in 2017.
Kelly also endeared himself to Dodgers fans by trading his jersey to a mariachi Grover Castro Tiburcio in exchange for his mariachi jacket, then wearing that mariachi jacket to the White House.
A big personality like that would be right at home on camera.
Jackie Robinson
Adams had an iconic pick.
“My favorite Dodger, Jackie Robinson, so we’ll go with him,” said Adams. “Maybe an old film, a nice classic, black and white.”
Robinson likely would make a great actor, as he played himself in the 1950 movie “The Jackie Robinson Story,” and he was a broadcaster after his playing career ended.
Of course, he’s also been the subject of movies, including “42” starring Chadwick Boseman, adding to his Hollywood pedigree.
Other Dodgers
Leopardi had several other options as well, including superstar Shohei Ohtani.
“I hear Shohei is funny as hell,” Leopardi said.
A pair of future Hall of Famers also got mentioned: Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts.
“Freddie Freeman would be a great actor,” Leopardi said. “He’s got the look, All-American.”
“Mookie can act. He can do everything,” Leopardi added.
That said, Leopardi wasn’t limiting the options to just these players.
“I think they all could [be actors]. The Dodgers have a ton of personality, you know? They’re not one of those clubs that doesn’t have guys who can walk the walk and then talk the talk,” Leopardi said.
Who else on the Dodgers do you think would be a good actor?
