"Leon" Lands Minor League Baseball Deal

[gblowfish]

I guess Leon and LJ really ARE two different people. Maybe Leon could come play a corner outfield position for the Royals! I'd much rather have Leon than Emile Brown!

BUD'S 'LEON' SIGNS WITH FLYERS

SCHAUMBURG, IL- Nigel Thatch, the actor who portrays the prima donna
athlete `Leon' in a series of Budweiser television commercials, has
signed a contract to play minor league baseball with the Schaumburg
Flyers Baseball Club. The Flyers play in the northwest suburbs of
Chicago in the independent Northern League.

Thatch's `Leon' character exploded on the national scene last
September alongside Fox sportscaster Joe Buck.
A former college pitcher at the University of Florida, the actor is
seeking a new challenge in professional baseball this summer. "I've
been playing baseball since I was six years old," said Thatch, a
native of East St. Louis, IL. "Everyone who knew me when I was growing
up knew me as someone that loved baseball and sports. My acting career
took things in a different direction but I'm more settled now and this
was an opportunity to follow my heart."

In addition to his work on the Budweiser spots, Thatch has had a
recurring role on the television series "American Dreams", receiving
past Emmy consideration for his role as Willy Johnson. He has also
starred in the action comedy film "L.A. Twister" and "The Player's
Club". Other TV credits include appearances in NYPD Blue, Half & Half,
Girlfriends, Moesha, 7th Heaven, The Parent `Hood and Beverly Hills,
90210. The actor resides in the Los Angeles area.

Thatch will join the team for spring training tomorrow at Alexian
Field, the Flyers' home stadium in Schaumburg. He will make his
professional debut on Wednesday, May 11 in the `Flyers Diamond Dare',
an exhibition game against a Chicago men's league team at Alexian
Field (7:05 PM).

The Flyers will open their seventh Northern League season on Friday,
May 20 with the home opener set for Tuesday, May 24. The club is
seeking its third straight playoff appearance under Manager Andy McCauley.

http://www.flyersbaseball.com/team_news/archive_details.asp?ID=136
http://www.flyersbaseball.com/flyers/current_roster/bio.asp?ID=120

[shaneo69]

I liked his first football commercial, where the reporter was asking about his 4 fumbles, but ever since then, I haven't liked any of the Leon commercials.

[ck_IN]

Interesting.

In a similiar vein Dennis 'Oil Can' Boyd is pitching with an independent minor league team. I can't remember which one but it was an interesting read. Oil Can was a helluva pitcher for a few years with the Red Sox, then he seemed to disappear.

[Braincase]

Remember, Leon stands on the left...

[Frankie]

I liked his first football commercial, where the reporter was asking about his 4 fumbles, but ever since then, I haven't liked any of the Leon commercials.

I don't remember one I didn't like.

[shakesthecat]

Interesting.

In a similiar vein Dennis 'Oil Can' Boyd is pitching with an independent minor league team. I can't remember which one but it was an interesting read. Oil Can was a helluva pitcher for a few years with the Red Sox, then he seemed to disappear.


Good grief, Boyd has to be sniffing 50 by now.

OTOH, maybe the Royals should give him a look. He can't be much worse than Lima.

[ck_IN]

The article said he was 47.

IIR he pitched two innings, struck out 3, gave up 1 hit and no runs. It wasn't against major league hitters but I haven't seen Lima with a line that good yet this year. *L*

[|Zach|]

Good for him, the commercials always gave me a chuckle.

[Reaper16]

Leon vs. the T-Bones... Two men enter, one man leave.

[shakesthecat]

The article said he was 47.

IIR he pitched two innings, struck out 3, gave up 1 hit and no runs. It wasn't against major league hitters but I haven't seen Lima with a line that good yet this year. *L*


At his age, that's pretty impressive.
Hell, my arm felt like it was going to fall off everytime I threw a ball after the age of 32.

[Phobia]

Thatch was in the Niners training camp last year as a WR, wasn't he?

[shaneo69]

I don't remember one I didn't like.


Did you see the one where he's on the end of the bench during the football game and the coach calls him over to go into the game but he refuses to go in for one stupid reason or another?

:lame:

[gblowfish]

Did you see the one where he's on the end of the bench during the football game and the coach calls him over to go into the game but he refuses to go in for one stupid reason or another?

:lame:I think you're confusing Leon with Neifi Perez.

Check out Leon's website:
http://leon.budweiser.com/leon_home.html

[ptlyon]

Wow - these dudes play our Explorers

[Ultra Peanut]

Interesting.

In a similiar vein Dennis 'Oil Can' Boyd is pitching with an independent minor league team.Wow.

[Rain Man]

Interesting.

In a similiar vein Dennis 'Oil Can' Boyd is pitching with an independent minor league team. I can't remember which one but it was an interesting read. Oil Can was a helluva pitcher for a few years with the Red Sox, then he seemed to disappear.


I saw the other day that Rickey Henderson had signed with some independent team at the age of 46. It'd be interesting to be some non-prospect kid and have Rickey Henderson on your team.

I like it, though. It tells me that he enjoys the game. Either that or he's very broke, but probably he enjoys the game.

[tk13]

I saw the other day that Rickey Henderson had signed with some independent team at the age of 46. It'd be interesting to be some non-prospect kid and have Rickey Henderson on your team.

I like it, though. It tells me that he enjoys the game. Either that or he's very broke, but probably he enjoys the game.
Julio Franco is 46 and he still plays for the Atlanta Braves.

[frazod]

Heh. Schaumburg's half an hour from here. I might have to go up and watch him play one of these days.