It’s back to bacon as I continue my quest to link every minor league team back to Kevin Bacon in a fun but unusual game of Six Degrees Of Separation. This time, I’m taking a look at the Eastern League.
Akron RubberDucks
Link 1) Before Akron rebranded in 2014 as the RubberDucks, they were the Akron Aeros. In 2011, comedian Lewis Black reviewed some of their ballpark food on The Daily Show. Lewis Black was the voice of Anger in Inside Out while Riley’s mom was voiced by Diane Lane. Lane was in My Dog Skip with Kevin Bacon.
Link 2) Part of the movie …All The Marbles was shot in Akron. The movie starred Peter Falk who was in The Princess Bride with Cary Elwes. He was in Twister with Bill Paxton who was in Apollo 13 with Kevin Bacon.
Link 3) Actor Jesse White is originally from Akron and he was in the movie Matinee with John Goodman. Goodman was in Death Sentence with Kevin Bacon.
Altoona Curve
Link 1) One of the Altoona Curve’s alumni is Andrew McCutchen. He proposed to his girlfriend on the December 11, 2013 episode of The Ellen Show. Another guest on that show was Tom Hanks who was in Apollo 13 with Kevin Bacon.
Link 2) Screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker was born in Altoona. He is best known for writing the screenplay to the movie Seven which starred Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt. Pitt was in Interview With A Vampire with Tom Cruise who starred alongside Kevin Bacon in A Few Good Men.
Link 3) Fellow screenwriter John Pielmeier was also born in Altoona and one of his writing credits is the TV mini-series Pillars Of The Earth. The show had several big stars including Ian McShane. He was in Nine Lives with Aidan Quinn. Quinn and Kevin Bacon both starred in the movie Cavedweller.
Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Link 1) Daniel Murphy played for Binghamton in 2008. In 2011, he was a guest star on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for their Veterans Day episode. Another guest star on the show was Xzibit. He was in Bad Lieutenant: Port Of Call New Orleans with Val Kilmer. Kilmer was in Top Gun with Tom Cruise who was in A Few Good Men with Kevin Bacon.
Link 2) Actor William Baldwin graduated from Binghamton University and he starred in Flatliners with Kevin Bacon.
Link 3) Actress Bridget Moynahan was born in Binghamton and she starred in the movie Serendipity with John Cusack. He was in America’s Sweethearts with Julia Roberts who starred alongside Kevin Bacon in Flatliners.
Bowie Baysox
Link 1) Jake Arrieta suited up for the Baysox in 2009. He was a guest star on Chicago Fire during Season 5. (Spot him in episode 22, “My Miracle”.) One of the main cast in the show is Jesse Spencer who was in Uptown Girls with Dakota Fanning. She was in Trapped with Kevin Bacon.
Link 2) TV host Kathie Lee Gifford grew up in Bowie and had a cameo as herself in the move Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! Bill Engvall appeared in the movie as the White House Chief Of Staff. He was in Kevin Bacon’s WhoSay video for the 12 Days Of Christmas.
Erie SeaWolves
Link 1) John Lackey played for the Erie Seawolves in 2000. He and some of his Boston Red Sox teammates were in the music video for country artist Kevin Fowler’s song Hell Yeah, I Like Beer. Fowler was originally signed to Clint Black’s label Equity Music before it folded in December of 2008. Black had a small cameo in the movie Anger Management with Jack Nicholson who was in A Few Good Men with Kevin Bacon.
Link 2) Patrick Monahan, the lead singer from the band Train, is originally from Erie, Pennsylvania. One of the band’s most recent hits is Marry Me. In the music video for Marry Me, Monahan falls in love with a waitress played by Anna Camp. She was also in The Help with Emma Stone who was in Crazy, Stupid, Love with Kevin Bacon.
Harrisburg Senators
Link 1) Since 2016, the Harrisburg Senators began honoring former Senators’ players with life-size bobbleheads. One of the first honorees was Bryce Harper. He was on the January 15, 2013 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! Another guest that night was Rob Lowe who was in The Outsiders with Tom Cruise who was in A Few Good Men with Kevin Bacon.
Link 2) Actor Eric Martsolf was born in Harrisburg. He was in Smallville as Booster in the episode that aired April 22, 2011. Tom Welling was the star of Smallville and he was in Draft Day with Kevin Costner. Costner starred in JFK with Kevin Bacon.
Hartford Yard Goats
Link 1) Before the Yard Goats moved in Hartford, the team was the New Britain Rock Cats based out of New Britain, Connecticut. David Ortiz suited up for the Rock Cats in 1997 and 2001. He played himself in the movie Patriots Day which also starred Kevin Bacon.
Link 2) Screen legend Katharine Hepburn was born in Hartford. Her last film was Love Affair which also starred Pierce Brosnan. He was in Mamma Mia! with Meryl Streep who was in The River Wild with Kevin Bacon.
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Link 1) Former Fisher Cats player J.P. Arencibia was once married to Kimberly Perry from The Band Perry. The band appeared on Celebrity Family Feud on July 24, 2016 facing off against Guiliana Rancic. She has a cameo as herself in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer which starred Jessica Alba. Alba was in Never Been Kissed with Drew Barrymore who was in Scream with Neve Campbell. She was in Wild Things with Kevin Bacon.
Link 2) Comedian Adam Sandler grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire, the town the Fisher Cats called home. He graduated from Manchester Central High School. Sandler was in 50 First Dates with Sean Astin who starred alongside Kevin Bacon in White Water Summer.
Portland Sea Dogs
Link 1) Adrian Gonzalez played for the Sea Dogs in 2002. He was in the Ferret Royale episode of Angie Tribeca with Rashida Jones. She was in The Muppets with Chris Cooper. Cooper worked with Meryl Streep in Adaptation while she worked with Kevin Bacon on The River Wild.
Link 2) We can use the same Meryl Streep connection to Kevin Bacon in this link. However, this time it’s because of Portland native Anna Kendrick. She starred alongside Meryl Streep in the musical Into The Woods.
Reading Fightin Phils
Link 1) Ryan Howard played over 100 games for the Fightin’ Phils in 2004. He was in It’s Alway Sunny In Philadelphia. (Season 6, Episode 11) One of the main cast is Charlie Day who was in Horrible Bosses with Jennifer Aniston. She was in Picture Perfect with Kevin Bacon.
Link 2) Socialite and actress Draya Michele was born and raised in Reading. She was in the movie The Perfect Match with Donald Faison who was in Uptown Girls with Dakota Fanning. She starred alongside Kevin Bacon in Trapped.
Richmond Flying Squirrels
Link 1) Brandon Crawford played for Richmond during the 2010 season before working his way up to the San Francisco Giants. In 2016, he made a guest appearance as himself on the TV show Liv and Maddie starring Dove Cameron. She played Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray Live! The show also starred Martin Short who had an uncredited role acting alongside Kevin Bacon in The Big Picture.
Link 2) Actress Shirley MacLaine was born in Richmond and she was in Rumor Has It… with Jennifer Aniston. She was in Picture Perfect with Kevin Bacon.
Trenton Thunder
Link 1) Yankees great Derek Jeter rehabbed with the Trenton Thunder in 2011 playing in two games. He had a cameo in the movie The Other Guys with Mark Wahlberg who was in Patriots Day with Kevin Bacon.
Link 2) Actress Roxanne Hart was born in Trenton and went on to star in the movie Working Girl with Jennifer Aniston who was in Picture Perfect with Kevin Bacon.
Link 3) Actress Amy Locane is also from Trenton. She starred in Prefontaine with Jared Leto. Leta starred in The Thin Red Line with Sean Penn. Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon were both in Mystic River.
Wright Beyond The Bleachers 