‘The Sandlot’ actor Patrick Renna reflects on film about Fort Worth baseball team
Thirty-one years after “The Sandlot,” Patrick Renna is back on the baseball diamond.
Renna, 45, starred as Hamilton “Ham” Porter in the 1993 classic about a group of kids playing baseball over the summer. Renna played the team’s catcher and his delivery of — “You’re killin’ me, Smalls!” — still echoes through baseball fields today.
Now, Renna is back on the big screen in a film about the Fort Worth baseball team that made the Little League World Series called “You Gotta Believe.”
The film is based on the true story of the 2002 Westside baseball team that dedicated its season to a teammate’s dying father and subsequently reached the Little League World Series. First baseman Robert Ratliff’s father, Bobby, underwent cancer treatment during the run and died in 2003.
Renna portrays Kliff Young, the Westside Little League president who encourages coach Jon Kelly (Greg Kinnear) to lead the All-Star team. Kinnear, Luke Wilson, Sarah Gadon and Molly Parker also star in the film.
Ahead of “You Gotta Believe” ‘s Friday release in theaters, the Star-Telegram spoke with Renna about the film, visiting Fort Worth, and whether “The Sandlot” will ever get a legacy sequel.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Star-Telegram: Patrick, congrats on the movie. It’s an inspiring and heartfelt tale. First question for you, when you heard about the project what grabbed you?
Patrick Renna: I think that was one of the bigger selling factors was the script was so good. The story was really inspiring, emotional, beautiful story that I was very happy it was being told. That, for sure, was one of the big factors. I think the role, the fact that I got to work with Greg Kinnear, those are some other big ones. But yeah, just that the story was pretty great.
ST: It feels like the story was tailor-made for Hollywood. These kids go to the Little League World Series after being inspired by a dying parent to have the record-breaking 11-inning game. Did that ever cross your mind?
PR: It totally was. I mean, it was really cool. I got to go with Robert Ratliff Jr. to the Little League World Series. I just got back. I forgot what his position at the time was. I believe he’s the COO of Little League now, but he was there and met Robert, and they were talking. He said, ’Oh, I completely remember that game. That was the game where we implemented the pitch count from that game.’ Because [the game] went so long that these kids were pitching, you know, 150 pitches. Even going 20 years later, they know this game. It was a pivotal moment for the league, too.
ST: I was curious about that, if you got to meet Robert or anyone else. What was it like meeting him? Did you learn more about the true story than what was on the page?
PR: Oh yeah, we had lunch the other day and we dove into it a lot more and his perspective on it. I think the movie does a great job capturing it, [Robert] was very happy with it, too. But to hear it be told him from his mouth was even more emotional and inspiring. His dad really said, ‘You gotta believe.’ This was what his father said to them constantly. That’s a great message to pass on to your kids.
ST: One of your first scenes is with Greg Kinnear, and you’re telling him about coaching the All-Star team, and he’s not biting. It’s a funny push and pull. What was it like having Greg as a scene partner?
PR: Oh, it was like a kid in a candy shop for me. I’ve watched him in all the great roles that he’s played. Again, that was another selling point for me to do this. It’s always an honor and a privilege to work with someone like that.
ST: I know this movie was filmed mostly filmed in Canada and some in Fort Worth. Did you get to film any scenes in Fort Worth?
PR: No, I didn’t. I haven’t spent a lot of time there, but I’m excited to go to the premiere there. It’s funny, when we were out at the Little League World Series we were with some of the producers and some people that live in Fort Worth. [They said] Fort Worth is much different than Dallas. I know that now, and I’ve heard it, and I’m excited to experience the differences.
ST: Glad to hear you’ll be in Fort Worth for the premiere. Do you have anything else planned for Fort Worth? Catch a rodeo? Eat barbecue?
PR: I’m hoping Robert will show me the town, which he’s promised to do. Tell him I’m gonna take him up on that when you see him.
ST: One of the strengths of this movie is a good young ensemble of kid actors. Obviously, from your experience with “The Sandlot,” you know what it’s like to be part of a young ensemble. These movies, even something like “Bad News Bears,” have a special kind of feeling. What is it exactly about this young little league age of movies that you find inherently cinematic?
PR: There’s a meme and it’s got a picture of “The Sandlot” guys and it says something like, “There was a time you went out with your best friends to play baseball and you didn’t realize it was your last time.” You think about that with your kids, like the last time you pick up your kid because now they’re 13 and too big. There’s just something about those pivotal moments in life, those coming-of-age times. It’s sort of those last moments of pure innocence and no worries and you’re now getting into the real world.
I just think there’s something really special about 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, those kind of formative years. I think it’s just very nostalgic for everyone.
ST: Yeah, I mean, baseball is America’s pastime for a reason. Do you coach baseball at all or play softball?
PR:Yeah, I played a little bit. I actually just played in a league last year. There was about five, six years where I played in a softball league. I was a pitcher, it was unlimited high arc. They called me the “Red Dragon.” So watch out. I was pretty good. [Laughs] I’ve coached my kids. My 7-year-old I coached for a couple years. This new year, I’m not coaching him anymore because now they’re starting to actually need real coaches. Before, it was like, ‘This is cute; I’ll wrangle everyone.’
My 4-year-old is starting, so I’m going to coach him for a few years just like I did my older, and then I’ll pass them on to the real coaches.
ST: I know you’ve been asked about “The Sandlot” your entire life, but it’s been 31 years now. When you look back on the movie, what do you think about its legacy?
PR: I mean, it’s mind blowing that it has lasted this long and meant that much to people. That it’s now been passed on to a new generation and almost passed on to two generations. Going to the Little League World Series, I met all these 12-year-olds, and they all knew the movie. When were they born? 2010? 2012? When I first went to the 20th anniversary in 2013, some of these kids weren’t even born yet. So, it’s pretty cool. As an actor, that’s why you do this. You do this to entertain. But for a movie to do it to that level and to have been a part of that is pure honor. It’s humbling, for sure.
ST: As an actor being so recognizable from that movie. Throughout your whole career, were you pitched a lot of baseball-related roles?
PR: Funny enough, I wasn’t. I did “Sandlot” and from there, I really didn’t do any baseball movies until now. Right after “Sandlot,” I did “Son in Law” and “The Big Green” right after that. From there, for the next five to 10 years, I just did a slew of independents and some studio pictures. But none of them had baseball in it. It’s kind of funny. Now, here I am 31 years later, doing one.
ST: Yeah, I also saw a trailer for the forthcoming “Monster Summer,” where you play an umpire. Is that right?
PR: Yeah, I got two baseball movies. It took 30 years. [Laughs]
ST: There was a report back in 2019 of a “Sandlot” sequel series. Do you have any updates on that?
PR: I don’t. I had heard that it was back then and we all had a meeting on it to test our temperature on it. But then I hadn’t heard anything since. I think maybe the Fox-Disney merger kind of complicated things on it, because it was a Fox movie and now Disney own it. Disney’s busy with Star Wars and Marvel, so we’ll see. I think it could be a good TV show or something, but I’m okay if they don’t do it, too. It’s a pretty special movie and the more you leave it untouched, I think it’s okay.
ST: I feel like right now, we’re in the era of legacy sequels.
PR: Sort of like “Cobra Kai.” If they did it like that and found some people that have a lot of success in that. As long as it’s really good. I’d hate to do something that people didn’t like. That would just be a bummer.
ST: Last question for you, Patrick. “You Gotta Believe” comes out on Aug. 30. What do you hope audiences take away from the movie?
PR: I hope it inspires them. You’ll see the message and what “You Gotta Believe” means. I hope they take that and hope they believe in themselves and what they want to achieve in their lives. I think that’s the whole moral of the story, is something special like that. I hope it entertains them and inspires them to do better in life.
“You Gotta Believe” releases in theaters on Aug. 30.
