Celebrities In Action

SI Staff | Mar 14, 2008

Celebrities In Action

AP

A lifelong Yankee fan, Billy Crystal (pictured here with Derek Jeter) saw his dream come true when he signed a one-day contract with the Yankees to play in a spring-training game against Pittsburgh on March 13. In his only at-bat, the self-described "Designated Hebrew" batted lead-off and struck out on a full count.

AP

In 2002, Kevin Costner appeared in a spring-training game for the Seattle Mariners' Class-A affiliate, the San Bernardino Stampede. The star of <i>Bull Durham</i> got the start at shortstop but was moved to pitcher where he faced then Mariners manager Lou Piniella. Costner walked him on four pitches.

Patrick Dempsey

AP

When he's not making women swoon as <i>Grey's Anatomy</i>'s McDreamy, Patrick Dempsey spends his time on the racing track. He has driven the pace car in the Indianapolis 500, raced in the Rolex 24 at Daytona currently is a co-owner of IndyCar Series team Vision Racing.

AP

Percy Miller (a.k.a. -- Master P) signed contracts with both the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors, but never appeared in a regular-season game. His son, Romeo, will suit up for USC next year on a basketball scholarship.

Tom Selleck

Cliff Welch/Icon SMI

When he played <i>Magnum P.I.</i>, Tom Selleck was often seen sporting a Detroit Tigers hat. He joined the team in 1992 for spring training and after fouling away half a dozen pitches, struck out in his only at-bat.

Andrew Shue

Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport

During the peak of <i>Melrose Place</i>, Andrew Shue slipped away to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy during its inaugural season, recording one assist in five games.

Garth Brooks

AP

Garth Brooks attended spring training with the San Diego Padres (1998, 1999), New York Mets (2000) and Kansas City Royals (2004) but only managed two hits in 47 at-bats with the three teams.

Kurt Russell

AP

Kurt Russell -- seen here talking to Bobby J. Jones -- played second base for the California Angels' Double-A affiliate El Paso Sun Kings in the early `70s but retired after shoulder surgery.

Paul Newman

AP

Paul Newman ran his first race in 1979 at the 24 hours of Le Mans and continued to race periodically for the next 25 years. He currently is a partner in Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing.

Steve McQueen

Heinz Kluetmeier/SI

In addition to acting, Steve McQueen was an avid auto-and-motorcycle-racing fan who participated in several races for each sport in the early 1970s. This SI cover from August 1971 shows McQueen riding a Husqvarna dirt bike.

Tim Allen

AP

Tim Allen sowed his racing roots by participating in the Rolex 24 at Daytona Speedway in January 1997.