Major League Baseball and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment today announced plans to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Sandlot through a unique partnership that includes festivities at MLB ballparks and supported events all season long. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment releases "The Sandlot" -- 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray on March 27 to commemorate the significant milestone.
In this beloved family-favorite movie, it's the early 1960s and fifth-grader Scotty Smalls (Tom Guiry) has just moved into town with his folks (Karen Allen and Denis Leary). Kids call him a dork -- he can't even throw a baseball! But that changes when the leader of the neighborhood team recruits him to play on the nearby sandlot field. It's the beginning of a magical summer of baseball, wild adventures, first kisses and fearsome confrontations with the dreaded beast and its owner. With the game of baseball playing such a pivotal part of the story, it is a natural fit for MLB to celebrate the film's anniversary through events and screenings at its ballparks.
Elements of the collaboration include The Sandlot-themed games at ballparks across the country, screenings of the film around MLB-supported events, co-branded merchandise available for purchase online and at retail stores, giveaways of The Sandlot - 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray™, and The Sandlot-inspired PLAY BALL t-shirts that will be worn by players while taking batting practice during each Club's official PLAY BALL WEEKEND activation this season. PLAY BALL WEEKEND features a variety of youth engagement activities and was designed by MLB to celebrate youth baseball & softball participation in communities throughout the country and in Canada. Also at select Club themed nights and MLB events, the film's director, David Mickey Evans, and members of the original cast will attend and participate in pregame activities. All Clubs hosting a themed game are working with Boys & Girls Club of America to benefit local Club affiliates.
Currently, more than 20 MLB Clubs have designated themed games dedicated to "The Sandlot" and its 25th anniversary with more teams expected to add dates in the coming weeks. More details on themed night dates, activities and single-game ticket purchase information are available at MLB.com/thesandlot.
The special 25th Anniversary collector's edition Blu-ray of The Sandlot available on March 27 from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment includes a set of 10 custom Topps® baseball cards -- featuring Scotty Smalls, Benny "The Jet" and the rest of the ragtag roster -- created exclusively for this release. The major-league treatment continues with an all-new booklet filled with behind-the-scenes photos from the film director's personal archive and an all-new, full-color poster.
Fox Consumer Products has collaborated with several licensees to commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Sandlot. Fans can find products ranging from Tervis tumblers to New Era baseball caps at select retailers, MLB team stores and on MLBshop.com and an all-new collection of exclusive Sandlot merchandise was just released on Shop.FoxMovies.com. The collection includes a wide selection of apparel and never-before-seen products.