Did Tom Selleck Play Baseball?
Tom Selleck can don any hat for versatile roles. Even if he plays Monica’s boyfriend in Friends, a dad in Three Men and A Baby, or the private investigator in Magnum P.I., Tom Selleck’s Charming personality, tall height, and legendary mustache make him so lovable.
But who would have thought his talent knows no bounds?
He is such a legend that he just casually trains for baseball and then plays professionally!
Did Tom Selleck Play Baseball?
Tom Selleck actually played baseball, getting into the Grapefruit League game on 3rd April. You may wonder how does one go from acting to playing professional baseball?
It all started when he was preparing for his role in Mr. Baseball.
The movie is a comedy set in Japan, where Selleck’s character, a veteran player for New York Yankees, is on a trading block. He is then sent to Japan for spring training to play with the Nagoya Chunichi Dragons. The plot revolves around Selleck trying to overcome cultural differences, appreciate his new team, and lead them to a win.
Tom wanted to look every bit a professional player for a more believable character. During the production, he enrolled for the Spring Training with the Detroit Tigers. It was a dream come true for Tom, who was born in Detroit, and he looked up to his hero Al Kaline.
Sparky Anderson, manager for Tigers, threw a curve ball on Selleck, surprising him to pinch-hit in the seventh inning.
Tom performed with a pretty decent stance, considering he was suffering from a bad hamstring the previous night. He managed to get a 1-2 hole, although three pitches were fouled. But even with Tim Layana’s brutal knuckle-curveball, the mustachioed hunk managed to strike the ball.
Selleck talked about his experience with The Athletic in 2018–
“It was just one of the memorable experiences of my life, you know? If anybody asked me what I wanted to be when I was a kid, it wasn’t an actor. It was to be a professional baseball player.”
People were amazed by Selleck’s professionalism in the Mr. Baseball movie, making the experience more realistic. He perfectly played the part of an arrogant veteran moving to a new country. Apart from the baseball scenes, Tom’s character trying to understand an Asian culture was a refreshing take, unlike the usual stereotyping portrayed in Hollywood.
And his dedication to the character is clearly evident in his stellar on-field performance.
How Long Did Tom Selleck Play Baseball?
Tom Selleck played for three weeks of MLB spring training, donning his Detroit Tigers uniform. Even with the short stint, he felt like he belonged in the team. He recalls usual rookie hazing– shaving cream in ball caps, skin salve in the shoes, and whatnot.
But one harrowing prank stunned Tom, as he describes it as someone throwing an “atomic bomb” in his groin. Selleck wore his jock strap before heading to the field. All of a sudden, everyone could hear him howling.
It turns out that he fell prey to the team’s resident prankster, Mike Henneman, as he applied the heat rub to his strap using a tongue depressant. This was their way of welcoming him to the Tigers!
Were you aware of Selleck playing baseball before? What do you think of Tom Selleck as an actor?
Have you watched his current series Blue Blood? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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