He's played a race car driver, a basketball player, an ice skater, an anchorman and one of Santa's elves.
But on Thursday, Will Ferrell was at MLB spring training in Arizona for the role of a lifetime: playing all nine baseball positions in one day. The comedian played for both the the Oakland A's and the San Francisco Giants as part of the HBO special "Funny Or Die."
Ferrell is dedicating the project to fighting cancer, According to HBO, The comedian is also honoring the historic feat by Bert Campaneris five decades ago by playing every position on the field, and maybe some off the field, for 10 different teams the same day, the Giants said.
“We are delighted to welcome Will to the team," Giants CEO Larry Baer said in a statement.
Telling everyone "I'm a five-tool guy,'' Ferrell was off on his barnstorming tour Thursday through five Arizona spring training games.
Wearing No. 19, first for Oakland and then for visiting Seattle, the star of "Anchorman, The Legend of Ron Burgundy,'' "Elf'' and many other movies played shortstop for the Athletics in the top of the first inning, then second base for the Mariners in the top of the second.
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He was enthusiastic, but alas, no ball was hit to him.
MLB will be auctioning off game items from Ferrell's journey across the five ballparks later this year, with proceeds going to Cancer for College and Stand Up to Cancer.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
Will Ferrell to play Catcher tomorrow for #SFGiants + 9 other positions for 9 other teams http://t.co/PMaOyOOl9E pic.twitter.com/6YRZmrFjyh — World Champs (@SFGiants) March 11, 2015
Will Ferrell will play for the #WhiteSox on Thursday...seriously: http://t.co/I3QagQhLLD #WhiteSoxTalk pic.twitter.com/Cwo7V72YN8 — Comcast SportsNet (@CSNChicago) March 11, 2015
#FerrellTakesTheField tomorrow! Will Ferrell to play 10 positions in 5 Cactus League games. http://t.co/Tq55akcjiW pic.twitter.com/mZ1FHvm3tV — MLB (@MLB) March 11, 2015
Will Ferrell is playing all nine positions in spring games tomorrow, will be a catcher for Giants. Hopefully Bochy makes him catch Affeldt. — Alex Pavlovic (@AlexPavlovic) March 11, 2015
"Hey. They laughed at Louis Armstrong when he said he was gonna go to the moon. Now he’s up there, laughing at them." pic.twitter.com/qxVE6XQuqQ — World Champs (@SFGiants) March 12, 2015
