They can act! Joke! And hit the ball: Rain doesn’t dampen talent at Big Slick softball
The game was scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Friday, but the rain was pouring down and a tarp covered the infield at Kauffman Stadium.
Perhaps the eternal optimism of Ted Lasso had its effect. About a half-hour later, the rain let up, crews pulled the tarp away and the stars came out.
Big Slick Celebrity Weekend was back in full swing with the annual softball game featuring hometown hosts Paul “Ant-Man” Rudd, Jason “Ted Lasso” Sudeikis, Heidi Gardner of “SNL,” Eric Stonestreet of “Modern Family” and Rob Riggle of all sorts of funny shows. They, along with their famous friends, divided into teams, blue and white, and scampered around the bases. (Co-host David Koechner had a family commitment and couldn’t come.)
In addition to the usual comedians, actors and musicians, players from the Royals’ 2015 World Series team were on hand, too. But they weren’t ringers: Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas — or, as the crowd continues to call him, “MOOOOOOSE” — sat over at the announcers’ table, in charge of reading the rules and doing play-by-play.
Except for the time Stonestreet hit the ball and Hosmer ran the bases for him.
Former Royals players and World Series Champions #erichosmer and #mikemoustakas are in the house, you already know the stadium erupted in the classic “MOOOOOOSE” as Moustakas entered! pic.twitter.com/J5S41wvS28
— Caroline Zimmerman (she/her) (@CarolineGracez) May 31, 2024
Meanwhile star pitcher Jeremy Guthrie took the mound for both teams.
Guthrie made Rudd swing and miss on the first two pitches. But then Rudd, wearing a Bo Jackson shirt, harnessed his superhero powers to hit an infield single and eventually steal home.
The talent seemed endless. Kansas City rapper Tech N9ne got on base with a big swing. Gardner beat the throw to get a single as well.
Then again comedian/musician Al Yankovic tripped on his way to first base.
Throughout the game, the crowd was thrilled. OK, “Roastmaster General” Jeff Ross, fresh of his roast of quarterback Tom Brady, stepped up to the plate and got booed. Undaunted, he hit an easy single.
The game had to finish by 6:15 p.m. to make way for the Royals’ game against the San Diego Padres. So after a half-hour of play and just two innings, the team in white won 6-5, with Gardner’s “SNL” cast mate Molly Kearney hitting the winning run.
Big Slick was set to continue with the Party & Show at 8 p.m. Saturday at the T-Mobile Center. A limited number of tickets, starting at $75, are available at at BigSlickKC.org or T-MobileCenter.com.
