David ‘Big Papi’ Ortiz, Alex ‘A-Rod’ Rodriguez star in MLB Field of Dreams promo
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees won’t be the ones playing ball in a perfectly manicured cornfield in Iowa on Thursday, but two of their most fearsome former sluggers showed up this week to promote the second Field of Dreams Game.
In a spoof of the iconic film, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez, find themselves in their old jerseys, walking through a maze of maize. A-Rod asks Big Papi, to play catch, and the newest Hall of Famer corrects him, “You want to have a catch?” and refuses, because Sox and Yanks don’t play together.
- @AROD: "Papi, would you play a little catch with me?"
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 9, 2022
- @davidortiz: "Oh, you want to have a catch with me? HELL to the no! You're still a Yankee, I'm with the Red Sox. That will never happen son." 😅
📺: MLB at Field of Dreams, Thursday at 6PM ET on FOX pic.twitter.com/JL3Sl32K6t
Technically, Ortiz is with the Red Sox, who signed him to a lifetime contract of sorts, less than a year after he retired, to remain affiliated with the organization in a manner of ways, including mentoring young players.
Still, it’s good to see Ortiz staying true to his team in the promo, because off the (corn)field, he and A-Rod are actually pretty good friends, much to the chagrin of anyone alive on either side of the rivalry in 2004. They do postseason broadcasts (also on Fox) together and recently starred in a series of Ghostbusters-themed commercials for DirectTV with Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey Jr.
Speaking of the rivalry, the Yankees come to town this weekend. Hopefully, it goes better than their last visit.
Maybe next year, they’ll face off in Iowa. People will come, Ray.