MLB: Baseball’s Most Loyal and Dedicated Celebrity Fans
Movie stars, musicians, super models and even a few presidents. While on the surface these celebrities share little in common, the one thing they do share is their love for baseball as high-profile MLB fans.
Baseball is known for capturing the wonder of its fans and intriguing those uninterested in sports. It has the ability to bring together people of all careers, lifestyles and social economical status under the flag of one MLB team.
These celebrities might seem distant and far off, but their baseball fandom makes them much more relatable. At the ballpark, their famous personas melt away and they are humanized by their shared love for the game.
Their fandom could stem from their wealth, giving them the ability to attend the high-pressure games of the postseason. Others were baseball fans their entire lives and even though their fame earned them the rank of celebrity, their love of baseball never faltered.
This slideshow includes 10 of the top celebrity fans in baseball. Which one relates most to you?
Huey Lewis – San Francisco Giants
Hugh Anthony Cregg III, also known as Huey Lewis, broke onto the music scene during the 1980s with his band, Huey Lewis and the News. He was born in New York and his family moved to Marin County, California when he was four years old. It was there that not only his musical career took off, but where his major league loyalty lies.
Contrary to what his origin may indicate, Lewis is not a New York Mets fan. By the time he moved out of Manhattan, the Mets would not become a team for another eight years. Instead, he immersed himself in the San Francisco Giants and performed during a number of their historic moments.
After releasing their fifth album, Huey Lewis and the News were scheduled to perform at Candlestick Park in Game 3 of the 1989 World Series. However, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake delayed the series by 10 days and the band was unable to perform. Although his team ended up losing the series to the Oakland A’s, he performed at both the 2010 and 2014 World Series at AT&T Park and saw the Giants win three championships over five years.
Most recently, Mr. News served as the honorary manager for the Giants during a Spring Training game against the Chicago Cubs. On March 26, 2016, the Giants bested the Cubs with Lewis at the helm.
Bill Murray – Chicago Cubs
Since the Chicago Cubs began their 2016 postseason run, Bill Murray has been there to see it all from the stands of Wrigley Field. The Chicago native, born and raised in Evanston, Illinois, bore with the Cubs through their miserable history.
Outside of his successful career as an actor and comedian, not many people know that Murray spent some time in minor league baseball. Between filming his first season of Saturday Night Live and Meatballs, Murray pinch-hit and coached the Grays Harbor Loggers. His career with the Loggers only lasted for two at bats, but Murray managed to hit one single in 1978.
Murray later pursued his love for baseball by becoming a co-owner of the Charleston RiverDogs. The RiverDogs are a Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees and Murray works as the “Director of Fun” for the team. In one instance, when the RiverDogs clinched their first playoff berth in 11 years in 2016, Murray hit the town and celebrated with the team.
Murray’s most recent act of fandom truly puts all other Cubs fans to shame. While many claim to be die-hard Cubs fans, not many would crash a White House press briefing to talk about their favorite team like Murray did on Friday, October 21. In the midst of Chicago’s battled with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Murray was recorded taking questions about the team and reassuring reports that the Cubs would win the NLCS.
LeBron Lames – Cleveland Indians
The story of LeBron James and his relationship with Cleveland contains many highs and lows. Although he is native to Akron, Ohio, James grew up rooting for the New York Yankees. His pinstriped loyalty reached its peak when James openly expressed his desire for the Yankees to beat the Indians in the 2007 ALDS while a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
On top of that, his departure from Ohio to join the Miami Heat stirred negative emotions among Cleveland fans. However, nine years after the Indians beat the Yankees in the ALDS, James made it up to Cleveland by delivering them the 2016 NBA Championship.
And now, James and a number of his fellow Cavaliers were seen in attendance at Progressive Field to cheer the Indians on to their first World Series appearance since 1997. In fact, James addressed the crowd before Game 2 of the 2016 ALDS and spurred the team on to a victory over the Boston Red Sox.
In a recent interview, James explains his change of heart towards the Indians. Growing up, he was attracted to the successful sports franchises. The winning reputation of the Yankees during his childhood fueled his passion for sports and inspired him to achieve greatness. As a result of their evident postseason success, James’ fandom has clearly shifted to the Indians.
Jimmy Fallon – New York Yankees
The lovable host of The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon, was born and raised to be a Yankees fan. Growing up in the southwest corner of New York City in Bay Ridge, Fallon dropped out of The College of Saint Rose to pursue his comedic career in Los Angeles.
After three years on Saturday Night Live, Fallon was forced to set aside his baseball team preferences and took the role of Ben Wrightman in the film Fever Pitch (2005).
In the movie, Wrightman is an avid Boston Red Sox fan, equipped with season tickets and every piece of Red Sox paraphernalia one can think of. Despite betraying his love for the pinstripes, Fallon’s love for Yankees baseball never died.
In fact, since he took over the role as the host of The Tonight Show in 2014, Fallon has interviewed a number of baseball stars. During his first year as host, Fallon not only witnessed Derek Jeter‘s final game, but had the opportunity to interview him on the show. Jeter recalled seeing Fallon in the stands and talked about his final game and retirement.
One year later, Fallon caught the attention of his fellow Yankees fans during a Blue Jays-Yankees game. Twice Fallon was startled by an incoming foul ball that bounced off the protective netting. After the second time he stood up and chugged his beer.
George W. Bush – Texas Rangers
George W. Bush’s love for the national pastime began on a Little League Baseball diamond in Midland, Texas. Instead of dreaming about becoming the president of the United States, Bush grew up with the dream to play baseball and follow in the footsteps of his favorite player, Willie Mays. Despite Mays being the most memorable ballplayer in San Francisco Giants history, Bush is dedicated to his hometown team, the Texas Rangers.
Before becoming the governor of Texas in 1995, Bush became a managing partner of Rangers. Eddie Chiles sold his shares to an investment group run by Bush and from 1989-1998, he was a partial owner of the Rangers franchise. His decision to buy a portion of the team improved his image as a public figure in Texas and aided him in his campaign for governor.
After serving as Texas’ governor from 1995-2000, Bush began his first of two terms as the president of the United States. Not only did he institute the White House tradition of t-ball on the south lawn in the Spring of 2001, but he led the nation through one of its the darkest times.
Due to the September 11 terrorist attack, baseball was postponed, resulting in a delay of the 2001 World Series. When Game 1 took place over a month after the attack, tensions were high and rumors of a second attack were spreading.
However, the strength and courage seen on Bush’s face as he threw out the first pitch of the World Series gave everyone watching confidence in their nation.
Kate Upton – Detroit Tigers
Love is a powerful emotion. It can sway even the strongest hearts to change, even change their favorite sports teams. In Kate Upton’s case, her love for Justin Verlander swayed her fan loyalty from the Yankees to the Tigers.
Although she was born in Michigan, Upton grew up a fan of the pinstripes. In fact, prior to her relationship with Verlander, she was seen sporting a Yankees hat during a game.
The couple began their relationship sometime during 2013 and eventually Verlander won the heart of Upton and her baseball loyalty. While watching Verlander take on the Yankees in August of 2014, he tossed Upton a baseball after his final inning of work.
Later in the season, Upton traveled to New York to support her soon-to-be fiancé at Yankee Stadium. However, things go messy when she ran into her ex, the Yankees, who she claims told her she was not allowed to wear any Tigers apparel to the game.
Regardless, the Tigers fans got engaged in May of 2016 after dating for three years.
Will Ferrell – Los Angeles Dodgers
Will Ferrell is known for his humor and outrageous comedic career. However, the Irvine native is also a huge Los Angeles Dodgers fan. At University High School, he left his mark by setting a school record for most field goals made. On top of that, he played soccer and was named captain of the basketball team.
A few years after transitioning from Saturday Night Live to film work, Ferrell and his wife showed off their athleticism by running the 2003 Boston Marathon. He finished in 4 hours, 2 minutes and 29 seconds. Eventually, his love for baseball began to surface.
Fitting his hilarious personality, Ferrell set up a gag relief appearance with the Round Rock Express in 2010. The Round Rock Express is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros.
Heading to the mound disguised as Billy Ray “Rojo” Johnson, Ferrell brought with him a sack of beers. After he threw one pitch that was way outside, the batter charged him. In response, the comedian threw his glove and was chased around the infield to the amusement of the fans.
After announcing the Dodgers’ starting lineup for Game 5 of the 2013 NLCS, Ferrell showed his charitable side during the 2015 Spring Training. In an effort to raise money for the fight against cancer, Ferrell played in five different ballparks for 10 different teams at each position. He also honored the legacy of Bert Campaneris, who was the first ballplayer to play each position in a single game.
Jerry Seinfeld – New York Mets
Jerry Seinfeld’s love for the national pastime is abundantly clear. It seems as if he is more captivated by the New York Mets than his fans are of his humor.
The Long Islander’s love for baseball began when he was around 11 years old. In an interview with ESPN, Seinfeld remembers watching the Mets play as a child in his family’s large orange La-Z-Boy chair.
“I was probably 10 or 11,” said Seinfeld. “And when those lights hit you and you see the green grass — that’s my first really powerful baseball moment.”
Later on in the interview, he discussed Tommie Agee, his favorite childhood player. Agee’s speed on the base paths and in the outfield laid the foundation of Seinfeld’s love for baseball. He vividly recalls seeing Agee make two incredible catches in the 1969 World Series and the awe it filled him with.
29 years later, he met Jessica Sklar, who might have been a bigger baseball fan than her future husband. Seinfeld was instantly attracted to her love of baseball and soon they started dating. Furthermore, after they got married in 1999, they raised a family that also loves baseball.
“It’s great to explain it to my kids,” said Seinfeld. “They sense the enthusiasm, and they get into it. We play every day in the yard or in the living room.”
Over 50 years later, the comedian’s love for baseball is strong to this day. In fact, he told ESPN that his favorite active players are Curtis Granderson and Jacob deGrom. He also mentioned that he hopes Matt Harvey will make a speedy recovery during the offseason.
Barack Obama – Chicago White Sox
Given that Hawaii does not host a Major League Baseball team, President Barack Obama’s fandom belongs to the Chicago White Sox. Before his first term in the White House, Obama spent much of his adult life in Illinois. He was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996 and then to the U.S. Senate for Illinois in 2004.
Outside of his political experience, Obama is no stranger to the national pastime. He has thrown out a number of first pitches, including the 2009 All-Star Game. Furthermore, Obama has invited a number of World Series championship teams to the White House for a congratulatory event. Most recently he invited the San Francisco Giants and Kansas City Royals to Washington D.C. after their championships to revel in their accomplishment.
However, his comments when the Cubs clinched the National League championship raised some eyebrows regarding his dedication. Keeping in mind the heated rivalry between the White Sox and Cubs, Obama confessed on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he will root for the Cubs to win the World Series. In his own words: “I am rooting for my hometown team, even though its not MY team.”
His reluctance to say yes and the reasoning behind his answer gives no ground to accuse him of being a shallow fan. His support for the Cubs comes from his Chicago pride and not from the bandwagon.
Regardless, the first African American president will watch the Cubs’ first African American World Series player, Dexter Fowler, take on the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 World Series.
Mark Wahlberg – Boston Red Sox
To be a Boston native and not root for the city’s sports teams is almost unheard of. Born and raised in Dorchester, Mark Wahlberg lives his life by this unspoken rule. He openly supports the Boston Celtics, New England Patriots and above all, the Boston Red Sox.
Wahlberg struggled through his early life, battling an addiction to cocaine with quite a long rap sheet. However, he freed himself from that lifestyle and built a successful film career. He debuted in the film The Substitute in 1993, but never forgot his Red Sox.
By 2009, Wahlberg was not only an established actor, but also left his mark in the music industry. His success and Boston upbringing caught the attention of the Red Sox, who asked him to throw out the first pitch in July of 2009.
From there, a number of his cinematic roles reflected his love for sports. In 2010, Wahlberg played the role of NYPD detective Terry Hoitz in the film The Other Guys. His character earned the nickname “The Yankee Clipper” after he accidentally shot Derek Jeter during the World Series. Truly a fitting role, given the heated rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox.
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However, Wahlberg showed his love for baseball extends further than a bitter rivalry by expressing his respect for Jeter. Towards the end of Jeter’s final season, Wahlberg posted a photo on Twitter of him wearing a RE2PECT shirt and a Red Sox cap. A true fan like Wahlberg can set aside history and acknowledge the career and legacy of the other.