Ballpark Memories

As the World Series bounds into its last hours this week, baseball fans around the world will turn to television and radio to witness the passing of another season, hoping for a memorable Game 7 or a dramatic home run that will sustain them until next spring.

Baseball never has to ask, “Will you love me in September as you did in May?” The affair between a fan and the game seems to last a lifetime. Many of television’s favorite stars can attest to that passion, as they readily recall some of their favorite moments of the quintessential American game.

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Larry King, talk-show host

When the Brooklyn Dodgers won the 1955 World Series, it was the first time they won the World Series. I was listening to the radio. My heart was pounding. And at 4:30 p.m., Elston Howard of the Yankees grounded out to Pee Wee Reese of the Dodgers. We had won. I went nuts.

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John Mendoza, NBC’s “The Second Half”

There are many great moments in baseball, and if I was the person in charge of the time capsule it would be a very difficult task. How can you compare the great moment of Roger Maris’ 61st home run, Hank Aaron rounding the bases, Kirk Gibson’s dramatic home run in the World Series, Nolan Ryan’s longevity? I guess the most memorable moment is when a young boy first steps into a ballpark. The green grass, the energy, the overall power of this great moment. It can only happen once in a lifetime.

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Jerry Seinfeld, NBC’s “Seinfeld”

Game 6 of the 1986 World Series when (the Mets) Mookie Wilson’s ball went through (Red Sox) Bill Buckner’s legs.

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Marion Ross, formerly of “Happy Days” and “Brooklyn Bridge”

Among my favorite memories in life are participating in the “Happy Days” softball team. We played lots of other casts and demonstration games all over the world, won some of them and lost some of them. But it didn’t matter because we were a team and a family and we just had a wonderful time.

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LeVar Burton, host of “Reading Rainbow” and actor in “Star Trek: The New Generation”

My favorite baseball moment happened during the filming of an episode of “Reading Rainbow.” We were allowed access to spring training for the Oakland Athletics. For one week I was a member of the team. I had my own locker in the clubhouse and uniforms with my name and number (11). I worked out and practiced alongside Dave Henderson, Dave Parker and Walt Weiss. It was a dream come true.

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Herb Siguenza, Culture Clash

When I was born I was named Herbert Orlando and I found out later my older brother, Ruben, had suggested the name for me because of Orlando Cepeda, the great first baseman of the San Francisco Giants.

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Alfonso Ribeiro, NBC’s “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”

My favorite baseball moment was when my family and I were watching TV at home in New York and saw Reggie Jackson hit a home run to win the World Series back in ’78. Everybody in my house and everybody in the streets of New York went absolutely crazy!

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Agustin Rodriguez, ABC’s “Moon Over Miami”

When Reggie Jackson came back to Yankee Stadium as a California Angel and hit a home run.

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Bertice Berry, talk-show host

I saw my first baseball game two years ago in Chicago. Our executive producer Bonnie Kaplan invited me, so I didn’t want to say no. I ended up having loads of fun, and screaming louder than anyone else. I’ve been a fan ever since.

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Ric Salinas, Culture Clash comedy troupe

When I was a kid my family immigrated from El Salvador where my dad played minor league baseball. We would go to all the Giants games at Candlestick Park. My dad couldn’t speak English, so whenever there was a foul ball he would look straight up in the sky. Finally, one day, I asked him why he always looked up in the sky when there was a foul ball? He said he heard the radio announcer say ‘airplane.’ What the announcer really said was ‘out of play.’

Also, in 1989 the Giants made it to the World Series and my dad was finally going to see a World Series game in person. We went to Candlestick Park and the earthquake hit.

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John D’Aquino, NBC’s “seaQuest DSV”

When Roberto Clemente threw out a runner at home in the National League pennant series against the Giants. Off the right field fence--one bounce to the plate. Perfection.

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Branford Marsalis, NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno”

I have a bunch of them. The first one would be when I first moved to New York. I was going to find Ebbets Fields for my dad and my grandfather because they were Brooklyn Dodger fans. I had no idea where it was because I knew nothing about Manhattan, so I jumped on a train and started asking people. I searched for a week or two and I couldn’t find it. (It had been torn down.) One day I hit the street and I started walking. I met this old guy and he said, ‘You walk straight up this street for a couple of miles. You know, it’s gone, but there is a plaque. It is a housing project.’ I found it and I called my dad.”

Because we are in entertainment, my son is not impressed with famous people. It is not a big deal. Daryl Strawberry and Greg Jeffries were his favorite players. It was Strawberry’s last year (with the Mets). I knew some guy in the front offices and I said my son really wants to meet Strawberry. He said, “We will hook it up.” Strawberry walks out of the clubhouse and my son almost died. He froze and Strawberry said, “What’s happening little man?” My son was grinning from ear to ear. He started to pay attention to games after that.

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Neil Patrick Harris, formerly of “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and the upcoming NBC movie “Sudden Fury.”

My father and I got to sing the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium two years ago. My dad is very talented musically. He would always play the guitar and we would sing folk songs and sing at church. The opportunity came along to (sing at Dodger Stadium) and I thought how cool that would be for him. It is very bizarre. You are right in front of the microphone and you are standing right in front of the big screen that is showing the close-up of you, and there are speakers there. So you hear yourself, but you are in deep center field so the crowd is very far away. We sang a capella. It wasn’t bad.

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Pat O’Brien, CBS sports announcer and host of CBS’ “How’d They Do That?”

Favorite baseball moment that I did see: Kirby Puckett’s last at-bat home run to force a 7th Game in the 1991 World Series.

Favorite baseball moment that I didn’t see: Kirk Gibson’s home run (in the 1988 World Series at Dodger Stadium).

Soon-to-be-baseball moment: Someday catching Bob Costas without his Mickey Mantle card and loaning him mine.

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Regina Taylor, NBC and PBS’ “I’ll Fly Away”

I always was a fan of Hank Aaron and I dreamed about being in a female league. I was pretty good, too. My hopes of being a baseball player soon vanished after I was hit in the mouth with a baseball during practice back in junior high school. It was during one of those practices where we were in a circle pitching to each other. As I threw, I heard my name called, turned around and caught the ball in my mouth. The kids were running around the playground trying to find my tooth. They found the tooth, rushed me to the dentist, and he put it back in. I walked around with a cast on my mouth for a couple of months. And that was the end of baseball for me. Now I enjoy baseball from a distance.

For World Series game times, consult Best Bets in this issue.