Patrick Renna touched down in Iowa last week to attend the MLB’s Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, featuring the Philadelphia Phillies and the Minnesota Twins. The interleague matchup, which streamed live on Netflix, took place inside a newly built stadium just a ball’s throw from the original movie site used for the 1989 sports classic starring Kevin Costner, Ray Liotta and James Earl Jones.
“Theo Von, baseball players, great food and there’s a baseball game to see tonight at the Field of Dreams — it’s spectacular. It’s once in a lifetime,” Renna told The Hollywood Reporter of the scene during a brief interview against the backdrop of the house used for filming. As Renna recapped his experience, a line of fans formed over his shoulder as people waited for a chance to take a photo with the actor best known for starring in another beloved baseball classic —The Sandlot.
In a chat with THR, Renna opens up on the nostalgic moment, being starstruck by the MLB commissioner and his recent reunion with his Sandlot pals on the series Dugout Dads.
How did it happen that you were able to be here for the game?
The [Sandlot] guys came out a couple years ago but I couldn’t make it for some reason, and I had such major [fear of missing out]. The fact that this [site] is still standing here is so epic, and they built a whole stadium. It’s great.
You’re wearing John Deere merch. Did they bring you out?
Yeah, they brought me out. I have a partnership with them that I’m doing here, and we shot a little fun thing in the cornfields. They brought me out for the game and I head home tomorrow.
Anything baseball must always kick up a lot of interest around you and the film. What is it like to be so closely associated to this sport?
It’s a great sport to be attached to — it’s America’s pastime, so it’s really special. The sport itself is almost nostalgic when you think about it; the experience of families watching the game together in the stands with all the food. It’s cool and it’s humbling. It doesn’t get lost on us how lucky we are to have been part of something like [The Sandlot]. We have now three generations of people coming up to us saying, “You’ve been in our living rooms for 30 years.” To be able to provide that is special.
What’s the other most common thing people say when they come up to you?
“You’re killing me, Smalls.”
It’s nice to see you embracing it, taking all the photos and engaging with the fans. Some actors lean into it, while others might say, “I’ve done 30 years of other work since then.” But you really enjoy it?
Yeah. As an actor, you kind of always worry about the things that you’ve done that are negative and you think to yourself, “Oh God, I hope nobody sees it.” But the great thing about doing something negative is that nobody sees it. So, yes, I’ve been working for 30 years but I haven’t topped Sandlot, and that’s OK. It still gives me something to shoot for and hopefully I do. There are major movie stars that don’t have a movie like Sandlot. There’s something there for people, and all the credit goes to the director, [David Mickey Evans], who wrote, directed and narrated it. It was lightning in a bottle for a movie to mean something and become so important to families. It’s mind-boggling to even be in it because it’s not really about me or the guys. It’s bigger than all of us.
How hard is it to be an actor today?
I do more producing and directing now. I have Dugout Dads coming out in August, which I brought all the Sandlot guys back for. That was fun. I’m an actor in that. But I don’t go out often [for acting jobs]. If something comes to me because I’ve been doing this so long, that’s exciting to me and I’ll do it. So acting isn’t that hard for me today because I just don’t do it often. I’m on the other side mostly now.
Can you describe the atmosphere here? You’re getting a lot of attention and I just saw you hanging out with Theo Von.
Super nice guy. Also, the commissioner of baseball is here. I was so starstruck and wanted to meet him. Theo Von, baseball players, great food and there’s a baseball game to see tonight at the Field of Dreams — it’s spectacular. It’s once in a lifetime.
Who are you rooting for between the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins?
I got no skin in the game. I’m just looking for a good ball game that is hopefully high scoring and down to the ninth inning. Maybe the Phillies? Maybe the Twins? I don’t know really. It’s going to be a good game either way.
Interview edited for length and clarity.