More than 30 years after playing the boisterous “Ham” Porter in the 1993 coming-of-age baseball film “The Sandlot,” actor Patrick Renna returns to the diamond with a new children’s book based on America’s beloved pastime.
Renna’s debut book, “A Little Slugger’s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball and Life,” was released on Tuesday.
The picture book, featuring illustrations by British artist Tommy Parker, aims to impart practical wisdom to players of all ages.
“Featuring anecdotes from Patrick Renna’s experience playing ‘The Sandlot’ character Hamilton Porter, this little slugger’s guide encourages readers young and old to ‘keep swinging’ and ‘find a glove that fits’ so that they can hit home runs on and off the field.”
The 45-year-old film producer’s book blends stories about the history of baseball with witty anecdotes of his acting life, beginning with how he landed his breakout role on “The Sandlot” at the age of 13.
“One of the many things I’ve learned on my journey is that being an actor on the set of a movie is, in a way, a lot like being a player on a baseball team,” Renna writes in the book’s introduction.
The actor went on to recount how he learned his first unwritten rule of life after David Mickey Evans, the director of “The Sandlot,” gave him a new script to memorize just an hour before filming the movie’s memorable insult scene, in which Renna’s character famously yelled: “You play ball like a girl!”
“I learned a very important lesson that day on set ... which I’ve carried with me to this very day: Always be ready,” he wrote.
‘Keep Swinging’
Renna’s experience portraying a young catcher in the cult 1990s sports film wasn’t his only inspiration for his debut picture book. The die-hard baseball fan told People magazine last month that his children also inspired him to bring the “Little Slugger’s Guide” to life.The actor has two sons—Flynn, 7, and Liam, 4—with his wife of almost 20 years, Jasmin Renna. The couple recently announced that their third child, a daughter, is due later this year.
Renna told People that he enjoyed interweaving life’s lessons with baseball in his book.
“It’s amazing how similar it is to life and how, if you have a good head on your shoulders or you have a good outlook on sports, that can transfer over into life,” he said.
The actor’s book offers a variety of other tips for young readers, including the importance of remaining focused and persevering in the face of challenges.
“Whether you’re up at the plate or have your mind set on another life goal, make sure to keep your eye on the ball,” the actor instructs in Rule #6.
“Rule #7: Keep swinging,” he writes. “Next time you swing and miss, remember: There’s always next at bat.”
After appearing in “The Sandlot,” Renna went on to star in “Son in Law” (1993), “Summertime Switch” (1994), “The Big Green” (1995), “Blue River” (1995), “Falling Sky” (1998), and “Dark Ride” (2006), among other films.
Most recently, Renna played an umpire in the 2024 thriller “Monster Summer,” starring Mel Gibson, Mason Thames, and Abby James Witherspoon.
While discussing his cameo during an October 2024 appearance on SA Live, the Boston native reflected on the lasting legacy of his first major film.
“So for something to mean that much to families, and then when they come up to you and say, ‘You’ve been in our living room for the last 30 years,’ that’s pretty special.”
