“I still want just one at-bat in the Major Leagues. Just one. I’ll take it over an Oscar.
Then, I’m in the Baseball Encyclopedia. Forever. Forever. Even if I strike out or walk.”
A huge baseball fan, Charlie Sheen once owned the baseball hit by Mookie Wilson in the 1986 World Series that went under Boston Red Sox’s first baseman Bill Buckner’s legs for the game-winning RBI. (He’s since sold the ball).
In 1998, a thief stole two dozen rare baseball cards belonging to Sheen in NYC — the cards, on loan from the star and valued at $170,000, were housed in a display case at the Official All-Star Cafe, a sport-themed restaurant in Times Square.
A lifelong fan of the Cincinnati Reds, he announced in August 2012 that he would donate $50,000 to the team’s community fund, which supports various charities. The donation came after the team raised another $50,000 in an attempt to get broadcaster Marty Brennaman to shave his head on the field after a Reds victory.
After Brennaman shaved his head, Sheen offered to match the previous donation total.
Many tricks were used to make the actors seem like they were as good as their characters in “Major League” (1989).
For example, the pitching mound in a real baseball stadium is 60’6″ away from the home plate, but to give the impression that Sheen’s 85 mph fastball was traveling 100 mph, they moved the mound up 10 feet and shot from behind the plate so the viewer wouldn’t notice the distance difference.
Real life relief pitcher Mitch Williams (with the Chicago Cubs at the time of the film’s release) was inspired to model himself after the Rick Vaughn character.
He began to wear the number 99 and had “Wild Thing” played when entering games, shortly earning the nickname “Wild Thing.” In addition, the modern day tradition of relief pitchers, mainly closers, having their own intro songs was largely inspired by this film. (IMDb)
Happy Birthday, Charlie Sheen!