Bret Saberhagen, the All-Star pitcher for the 1985 World Series Champions Kansas City Royals, will return to Kauffman Stadium next weekend — for a different kind of ball game.
Organizers announced Friday that Saberhagen, as well as actors and comedians Adam Scott, Samm Levine, Martin Starr, Seth Herzog, Ian Gomez and Owen Burke, will be among the celebrities playing softball at The K, bowling in Overland Park and raising money for the Cancer Center at Children’s Mercy. The event — hosted by hometown stars Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Eric Stonestreet and David Koechner — will mark its seventh year June 17 and 18.
Saberhagen, who played for the Royals from 1984-1991 with an average ERA of 3.01, retired from baseball in 2001. But his legend lives on, most recently in a spoof on Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show.”
Scott portrayed Amy Poehler’s sweetheart Ben Wyatt on “Parks and Recreation” and has co-starred with some of the Big Slick hosts in movies: with Sudeikis in “Sleeping With Other People” and with Koechner in “Krampus.” Levine had roles in both TV’s “Freaks and Geeks” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds.”
Starr is an actor and writer known for “Knocked Up,” which co-starred Rudd, and “Superbad.” Herzog, a stand-up comedian, co-wrote “Role Models” with Rudd and, in case you missed it, had a bit part as a bell-ringing winged creature.
Gomez, an actor known for “Cougar Town” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” and Burke, a producer of “Funny or Die Presents …” and “Drunk History,” round out the group of 25 celebrity guests.
Both Saberhagen and Herzog will make their Big Slick debuts this year. The others are alums.
In other Big Slick news, Aisha Tyler, who was announced as a celebrity guest on Tuesday, has pulled out of the event, organizers say. That strikes a blow to diversity in the lineup and leaves the women on the list down to three: Olivia Wilde, Judy Greer and Hilarie Burton.
Organizers have rolled out celebrities on the guest list all week long. They announced on Thursday that Haley Joel Osment, Tom Arnold and Burton would attend. Wednesday: David Cook, Will Forte, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Josh Hopkins and Neil Flynn. Tuesday night: George Wendt, John Hodgman and Robert Smigel. Tuesday morning: James van der Beek and Kevin Pollak. Monday: Wilde, James Marsden, Greer and Kevin Rahm. Previously announced: Chris Daughtry.
Kate Miller: 816-234-4077, @_Kate_Miller_
Big Slick 2016
Big Slick Celebrity Weekend’s big fundraising events — the “Red, White & Bowl” bowling tournament the morning of June 18 and the “Victory Party & Auction” that night — are sold out. Here’s what you can still get in on:
▪ “Star Spangled Softball” game, 5 p.m. June 17, at Kauffman Stadium. Admission is included for anyone attending the Royals/Tigers game at 7:15 p.m.
▪ Red carpet arrival for “Red, White & Bowl,” 9:45 a.m. June 18, at Pinstripes at Prairie Fire in Overland Park. Free.
Find more information at bigslickkc.com.
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