The Sandlot alum Patrick Renna is still in active group text with his castmates 30 years after the release of their Little League movie.
“A few guys have Android. So it’s really painful because [the texts show up in] the green bubble. I can’t take it,” the Boston-born 44-year-old – who played umpire Hamilton “Ham” Porter – joked to People on Tuesday.
‘We’re all working on it. We’re all pretty close. Some of the boys, Marty [York] and Victor [DiMattia], are quite close and they have more or less kept in touch over the years. But I see them a few times a year, and it’s like no time has passed and we just jump right back in. We’re close, that’s for sure. We all share this great moment in history together.”
The gang was last publicly seen together in 2020, when every popular movie and TV show held virtual reunions for charities, in this case Boston Red Sox first baseman Justin Turner’s foundation for homeless veterans and kids battling life-changing diseases.
Patrick was joined by writer-director David Mickey Evans and castmates Tom Guiry, Chauncey Leopardi, Marty York, Brandon Quintin Adams, Grant Gelt, Shane Obedzinski, Victor DiMattia, Marley Shelton, Wil Horneff and Art LaFleur.
‘We’re all in on it’: The Sandlot alum Patrick Renna is still in an active group text with his castmates 30 years after the release of their Little League movie
In 2018, the cast of Sandlot marked the coming-of-age movie’s 25th anniversary with a reunion segment on LA City College’s diamond, which aired on the TODAY Show.
Renna was just 13 in 1992 when he was cast as ‘The Great Hambino’ in the 1962 San Fernando Valley comedy starring Denis Leary, Karen Allen and James Earle Jones.
“We really were like brothers on and off the field,” the Brookline Agency manager gushed.
“So the moments of being back in the apartment complexes we stayed in, in the pool and just being buds during the summer. Those are the best memories.’
The $7 million budget family film went on to earn $34.3 million at the worldwide box office, earning a critical approval rating of 65% (out of 60 reviews) and an 89% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Sandlot spawned two direct-to-video sequels in 2005 and 2007, which only brought back three original cast members James Earl Jones, David Mickey Evans, and Chauncey Leopardi.
Patrick “would definitely be interested” in reprising his role if another Sandlot project gets the go-ahead, but there hasn’t been an update on the alleged Disney+ reboot since 2019.
Renna is best remembered for his scene where he taught Scotty (Tom Guiry) how to make the perfect s’more, so Dairy Queen enlisted him to helm their new S’mores Blizzard Treat campaign on Monday.
The Boston-born 44-year-old — who played umpire Hamilton “Ham” Porter — told People on Tuesday: “We’re all pretty close. Some of the boys, Marty [York] and Victor [DiMattia], are quite close and they have more or less kept in touch over the years. But I see them a few times a year, and it’s like no time has passed’
Via Zoom: The gang were last publicly seen together in 2020 when every popular movie and TV show held virtual reunions for charities, in this case Boston Red Sox first baseman Justin Turner’s foundation for homeless veterans and kids fighting against life-altering diseases
Home run: In 2018, the cast of Sandlot marked the coming-of-age movie’s 25th anniversary with a reunion segment on LA City College’s diamond, which aired on the TODAY Show
‘We really were like brothers on and off the field’: Patrick (3-R) was just 13 in 1992 when he was cast as ‘The Great Hambino’ in the 1962 San Fernando Valley comedy starring Denis Leary, Karen Allen, and James Earl Jones
Renna gushed, “So the moments of being back in the apartment complexes where we used to stay, in the pool and just being buds during the summer. Those are the best memories’
Spawned two direct-to-video sequels: The $7 million budget family film went on to earn $34.3 million at the worldwide box office, earning a critical approval rating of 65% (out of 60 reviews) and an audience rating of 89 % on Rotten Tomatoes
“Take the S’mores Blizzard first,” the flame-haired prankster instructed.
“You stick the spoon in the S’mores Blizzard and then you load the spoon. Once the spoon is loaded, remove the spoon from the S’mores Blizzard. And then you scarf. Mmm! What’s the opposite of killing me?’
The American fast food chain’s nostalgic frozen dessert ranges from 400 calories for a mini cup to 1,350 calories for a large cup.
Patrick will next play Umpire in David Henrie’s Martha’s Vineyard, a 1997 witchy adventure film, Boys of Summer, alongside Mel Gibson, Kevin James, Lorraine Bracco and Mason Thames.
Before that, Renna’s last acting gig was playing Rhonda ‘Britannica’ Richardson’s (Kate Nash) fake groom Toby ‘Cupcake’ Matkins in two episodes of Netflix’s critically acclaimed women’s wrestling series GLOW in 2018.
On a personal level, the Delphi Academy alum has two sons: Flynn Maxwell, 6; and Liam James, who turns 3 next month – from his 16-year marriage to Jasmin Renna.
Last November, Patrick and LA-based fashion designer Jessie Willner co-founded baseball-inspired sportswear company Hambino, which donates a portion of their proceeds to youth sports organizations in underserved communities through the Hambino Foundation.
“What’s the opposite of killing me?” The Brookline Agency manager is best remembered for his scene where he taught Scotty (Tom Guiry) how to make the perfect s’more, so Dairy Queen enlisted him to helm their new S’mores Blizzard Treat campaign on Monday .
Ready to scarf? The American fast food chain’s nostalgic frozen dessert ranges from 400 calories for a mini cup to 1,350 calories for a large cup
‘Available soon!’ Patrick will next play Umpire in David Henrie’s (L, pictured in 2021) Martha’s Vineyard 1997 set witch adventure film Boys of Summer alongside Mel Gibson (R), Kevin James (M), Lorraine Bracco and Mason Thames
Rejected in the ring! Before that, Renna’s last acting gig was playing Rhonda “Britannica” Richardson’s (Kate Nash) fake groom Toby “Cupcake” Matkins in two episodes of Netflix’s critically acclaimed women’s wrestling series GLOW in 2018