Will Ferrell to play in MLB spring training games
LOS ANGELES — Will Ferrell is ready to take the mound — and every other position — for a new HBO special from his Funny or Die, in partnership with Major League Baseball.
The special, which will be filmed at this year’s spring training in Arizona, will have the comedian and sports nut spend one day donning 10 different uniforms as he visits five ballparks to play every position on the field (and maybe some off of it). Set to film on March 12, it will be covered on social media with the hashtag #FerrellTakesTheField and will air later this year. MLB players, managers, coaches, executives and fans will also be featured.
The feat is meant to honor Bert Campaneris, the Cuban-American baseball player who was the first player in MLB history to play every position in a game, and will be dedicated to organizations such as Cancer for College, a nonprofit that helps cancer survivors receive secondary education.
“We hope to always be in the Will Ferrell business,” says Michael Lombardo, president of HBO programming. “This latest collaboration is one of those things only Will could pull off. I can’t wait to see him take the field.”
The special is executive produced by Ferrell in association with his Gary Sanchez Productions, Funny or Die’s Mike Farah and Joe Farrell, and Stuart Miller, and it’s directed by Brian McGinn.
Participating Teams and Venues: 12:05 p.m. PT Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics (HoHoKam Stadium) 1:10 p.m. PT Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Tempe Diablo Stadium) 2:10 p.m. PT Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks (Salt River Fields at Talking Stick) 4:05 p.m. PT San Francisco Giants at Chicago White Sox (Camelback Ranch) 6:15 p.m. PT Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres (Peoria Stadium)
