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Kevin Costner on the time he struck out an MLB player (thanks to some friendly umpiring) | ESPN

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Kevin Costner recalls the time he fooled a big-leaguer with a little help from the home plate umpire.

In a sit-down with ESPN’s Neil Everett, actor Kevin Costner looked back on a 1999 exhibition game where he suited up for his alma mater, California State University, Fullerton. Having graduated from the school in 1978, Costner maintained a close relationship with legendary Titans head coach Augie Garrido, which paved the way for his cameo on the field. During the event, Costner found himself on the mound facing a former Major League Baseball player, leading to an unlikely strikeout.

• Costner recorded a strikeout against a professional hitter during a 1999 exhibition game for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.
• The actor admitted the home-plate umpire expanded the strike zone to ensure he secured the out.
• Costner’s real-world involvement with the program included casting Coach Garrido as a Yankees manager in the 1999 film For Love of the Game.

The Anatomy of a Hollywood Strikeout

Costner’s transition from playing ball-players on screen to standing on a collegiate mound required him to handle live, professional-level talent. While he had spent years honing his mechanics for iconic roles in Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, and For Love of the Game, facing a former big-leaguer proved to be a different test of his fundamentals. The actor confessed that the result was not entirely due to his own arm, noting that the officiating crew was more than willing to assist the Hollywood star during the encounter.

Maybe I got a little favoritism. But hey, I’ll take it.

A History of Diamond Dedication

The 1999 exhibition was not an isolated incident for Costner, who frequently integrated himself into the Titans’ culture, regularly attending team practices and games under Garrido’s leadership. This pattern of immersion was a staple of his preparation for baseball cinema, often blurring the lines between actor and athlete. Costner’s ability to leverage these personal connections to secure roles—such as hiring his real-life coach to manage the New York Yankees in his 1999 feature—underscored his deep-rooted ties to the sport.

The Path Toward Dyersville

As of August 2019, the cultural footprint of Costner’s cinematic work was firmly cemented by the league’s upcoming schedule. Major League Baseball had already confirmed plans to host its first-ever game at the Dyersville, Iowa farm site that served as the primary set for Field of Dreams. The event is slated for the 2020 regular season, marking a rare convergence of baseball history and Hollywood legacy.

The league is currently finalizing the participants for that inaugural Dyersville matchup, with front-office executives expected to announce the two teams slated to play in Iowa before the conclusion of the 2019 regular season.