‘The ⁣Sandlot’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

‍ Updated May 26, 2025

The Sandlot, a beloved kids ⁣sports movie centered around a⁤ group of young baseball players in 1962, remains a classic. What happened to its cast? This article revisits⁢ the actors behind these memorable ⁤characters and explores their lives since the film’s release.

The film follows Scotty Smalls, who ⁤inadvertently uses⁤ a Babe Ruth-signed baseball, ⁢losing it over the fence⁣ into a‍ yard guarded by a large dog.⁣ The group’s efforts to ⁤retrieve the ball drive the plot, ‍filled ⁣with humor and nostalgia.

Art LaFleur (The Babe)

Art LaFleur, a veteran actor with roles dating back to 1978, portrayed Babe Ruth. Notably,he also appeared ‍in Field of Dreams as Chick ⁢Gandil and Mr.Baseball. LaFleur died in November 2021 at 78, following complications from Parkinson’s disease.

Tom Guiry (Scotty Smalls)

Tom Guiry, who played the lead character Scotty Smalls, ⁢was 12 during filming. The New ⁢Jersey ‍native continues to act, with a role in the 2021 film,‍ The Unforgivable. He has⁤ also appeared⁢ in television shows such as law and‍ Order and CSI Miami.

Mike Vitar‍ (Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez)

Mike Vitar, known as Benny “The Jet” Rodriguez in the movie, had a‍ brief ⁣acting career. He appeared in a few films ⁣after The Sandlot, including a ⁤cameo in The Sandlot 2 and D3:‍ The Mighty Ducks. Vitar ‍retired from ⁤acting in 1997 and became a firefighter in Torrance,California. His older brother,Pablo,who played the older Benny in The Sandlot⁤ 2,died in 2008.

patrick Renna (Hamilton ‘ham’ Porter)

Patrick Renna, famous for his comedic role as ‍Ham Porter, transitioned from acting to producing. He and ‍his wife have two children, with a⁢ third expected. Renna ‍maintains his connection to The Sandlot ⁣through‍ merchandise available on⁣ his website.⁤ He was cast in the film after his first-ever audition.

Chauncey Leopardi (Michael ‘Squints’ Palledorous)

Chauncey Leopardi, who played Squints, is remembered for his memorable scene with Wendy Peffercorn.Leopardi chose a different path, going ⁤into business and starting a family. While he has a longer film resume than Vitar, he is best known for his role as ⁤Squints.

Marley Shelton (Wendy Peffercorn)

Marley Shelton, who played Wendy peffercorn, continues to act.⁤ Her recent ⁢credits include ‍ Scream (2022) and the television ⁣series Tracker.Shelton has ⁢been married to Beau Flynn since 2001, and they have two children.

Denis Leary (Bill), who played Smalls’ ‍stepfather, has had a triumphant acting career, also working as a comedian.Karen Allen (Smalls’ mother), known for Raiders of‍ the Lost Ark, has also had a long ⁣career in film and television.

James Earl Jones (Mr. Mertle)

james Earl jones, a legendary actor with a distinctive voice, played Mr. Mertle. Jones, who died⁤ Sept. 9, 2024, at 93, had ⁤a career spanning decades. In The sandlot, he ⁣was the owner of “The Beast” and a former baseball player who knew⁢ Babe Ruth. Jones received numerous accolades, including an Oscar, Emmy Awards, and Tony Awards.

other cast members included Marty York (Alan ‘Yeah-Yeah’ McClennan), Brandon Quintin Adams (Kenny DeNunez), grant Gelt (Bertram Grover Weeks), Shane Obedzinski (Tommy ‘Repeat’ Timmons), and Victor DiMattia (Timmy Timmons).

Hercules, the dog known as “The Beast,” was portrayed by a mastiff named Gunner. The dog died 13 years after his birth.

In 2018,25 years after ⁣the film’s release,many of the cast members reunited in a YouTube segment.

What’s next

This look back at The Sandlot cast is the first in a series. Part ‍II will explore the cast of another⁤ classic kids sports movie, The Bad News Bears.