Not to be lost amid the entertainment of the All-Star weekend is the 2015 MLB Celebrity Softball Game, pitting some of the biggest sporting and pop culture icons of Cincinnati and the nation against one another.
With the action serving as Monday night cap to the Home Run Derby on national television, viewers get to wash down the dozens upon dozens of home runs by watching famous people strike out and race around the bases. Throw in Celebrity Softball Game staples like Rollie Fingers and Jennie Finch along with popular Cincinnati faces like Andy Dalton and Aaron Boone, and the intrigue only increases.
The game will take place All-Star Sunday at the Great American Ball Park, but the viewing public will have to wait until Monday night to catch the action. Take a look below for more information.
2015 MLB Celebrity Softball Game
Air Time: Monday, July 13, immediately following Home Run Derby (game played Sunday)
TV: ESPN
Roster Info
Roster subject to change, courtesy of MLB.com.
There’s an awful lot of Ohio in the mix for Monday’s Celebrity Softball Game, and rightfully so.
As tends to be the case in the event that always has a hometown feel of local celebrities and heroes, the field is flush with some of Cincinnati’s best. It all starts in the sports world, as Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer headline the popular local names.
Dalton may or may not get to line up in the outfield to showcase his arm (let’s check with head coach Marvin Lewis about that), but Kirk Herbstreit apparently hopes so. The former Ohio State player and current ESPN analyst gave Dalton a shout on Twitter to make sure he’s prepared:
While the diamond talents of Dalton, Herbstreit and Meyer are a little up in the air, there shouldn’t be much doubt about a handful of former Reds that are making the trip.
Between Boone, Sean Casey, Eric Davis and Paul O’Neill, there are 11 total All-Star trips for the quartet of former Cincinnati Reds players participating. Amid a busy summer of work for ESPN networks, Boone is headed to Cincinnati for the festivities:
Of course, perhaps the most entertaining aspects of the Celebrity Softball Game are the actors, actresses, musicians and entertainers who go up against sporting legends. There are a few who hope to hone in on their baseball days from the past, including country music artist Justin Moore.
Moore attributed playing baseball to riding a bike in that you never unlearn it, per Mandy Slegers of Country Music Pride.
“I’m stoked to break out the spikes again,” Moore said. “Baseball is my favorite sport and one I’ve played my whole life. I may be a little rusty, but it’s just like riding a bike. Should be fun to get back on the diamond with all the other folks playing.”
Artist Cole Swindell also joins Moore from the country music world while Snoop Dogg and Macklemore give the game a hip-hop feel. Josh Hutcherson and Miles Teller offer stars of the silver screen, and Nick Lachey should be a hit among certain demographics.
All in all, there are more than enough B-list celebrities and intriguing names to tune into the action Monday night. The fact that it’s directly after the Home Run Derby just makes tuning in even easier.
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