Patrick Renna on Growing Up, Baseball & The Sandlot Legacy

Patrick Renna The Sandlot fans know as Ham Porter, but there’s much more to his story. Patrick Renna joins The Slide Podcast to talk about The Sandlot, his new series Dugout Dads, youth baseball, fatherhood, acting and what it’s like carrying the legacy of one of the most beloved baseball movies of all time. Thirty years after The Sandlot became a baseball classic, Patrick Renna joins The Slide Podcast to talk about growing up, becoming a dad, coaching youth baseball and bringing some familiar faces back together for his new project, Dugout Dads. Patrick takes Coach Aaron, Mike Check Mariah and Coach Nate Weber behind the scenes of creating Dugout Dads and explains why he wanted to make something new instead of simply creating a sequel to The Sandlot. The conversation gets real about youth sports, baseball parents, pressure, competition and why kids should play because they love the game—not because adults are trying to turn them into the next superstar. Patrick also shares advice for young athletes and aspiring actors about rejection, preparation, work ethic and learning from failure. He talks about the influence of Kobe Bryant, his experience working with Paulie Shore on Son in Law, James Earl Jones, the lasting impact of The Sandlot and what it’s like seeing multiple generations grow up with a movie he helped create. And, of course, The Slide had to ask the important questions—including Patrick’s favorite cereal and what walk-up song he’d choose with the bases loaded. It’s a nostalgic, funny and surprisingly heartfelt conversation about baseball, movies, parenting and why sometimes the best thing you can do is just play.