Indians won’t call on ‘Wild Thing’ Charlie Sheen to pitch

The Cleveland Indians are back in the World Series for the first time since 1997 after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays three games to one to win the American League pennant.

After the Indians clinched their spot in the Fall Classic, a wave of fans took to social media proposing that “Major League” actor Charlie Sheen reprise his role of Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Some hoped Sheen would even don the skull-and-crossbones-adorned black-rimmed spectacles, the No. 99 jersey and the jagged haircut the Vaughn character made infamous when he trotted in from the bullpen with the Troggs hit song “Wild Thing" blaring when the movie was released in 1989.

Sheen heard about the buzz and tweeted that his arm was ready if needed. “Major League continues to be the gift that keeps on giving. If called upon, I’d be honored,” he wrote with a photo of himself as Vaughn from the movie.

But the Indians are keeping the wild one in the bullpen. A spokesman for Major League Baseball told the Associated Press on Friday morning that the league has worked with the team to identify “former franchise greats” to fill the ceremonial first pitch role. So Vaughn is likely the most famous Indians player of the last half century — even though he never actually played for Cleveland. The team is expected to make an announcement early next week as the World Series nears. 

By virtue of the American League’s 4-2 victory in the All-Star Game this summer at Petco Park, the Indians will host the first two games of the series on Tuesday and Wednesday. Cleveland will host Games 6 and 7 on the first two days of November, if the best-of-seven series lasts that long.

Sheen has long been a baseball fan and attended Game 4 of the National League Championship Series between the Dodgers and Cubs on Tuesday. But it doesn’t look like he’ll be tossing out any World Series pitches this year.

shotgun.spratling@latimes.com

Twitter: @ShotgunSpr