Famed Comedian Joe List Suits Up for the Freebirds

MARYSVILLE, CA — Comedian and actor Joe List signed a contract to play for the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds of the Pioneer Baseball League at historic Bryant Field in Marysville, CA on Tuesday night.

By the end of the game, which the Freebirds won 12-7 over the visiting Boise Hawks, List had raced a giant chicken around the warning track, struck out on three fastballs down the middle, gotten tossed from the game for arguing with home plate ump Tony Prater, and was unceremoniously released following the game by Freebirds manager Frank Gonzalez. 

List began his day by taking batting practice (squaring up on several pitches), shagging fly balls (actually making a few catches) — and settled in for a night that turned into one long comedy bit.

List's official at-bat as a professional player came with a wink built in. After an introduction that leaned on his résumé — the Netflix specials, Comedy Central, The Tonight Show — he stepped into the box against a Boise pitcher who, after a glance toward the dugout, threw three straight 80 mile an hour fastballs down the middle. 

List took the first pitch for a strike, swung through the next two, and went back to the dugout with a hangdog slump of the shoulders.

List then coached first base for several innings and fired t-shirts from a cannon everywhere but into the stands. 

His argument over Prater's balls and strikes calls was short lived, given the team's full ABS system that provides a computerized strike zone call on every pitch. List persisted in his argument nonetheless, claiming that Prater hadn't made a single bad call, and the fans wanted some controversy. 

List was ejected, dumped a bucket of baseballs onto the field in front of the home dugout, then thinking better of it, apologized to Prater before cleaning up every ball himself. 

Through all of it, a sizable number of List fans seated near the home dugout wore List's merch and cheered for him throughout the game.

In the clubhouse following the game, Freebirds' Manager Frank Gonzales gathered the players, thanked List for coming, and called it "the toughest job a manager has" before telling him the team would have to release him. List, playing it all the way, broke down in tears.

List is one of stand-up's most recognizable working comedians, known for his dry, observational style. He has released several comedy specials, appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and co-hosts the Tuesdays with Stories podcast with fellow comedian Mark Normand.

"Joe List was a pro — well, up until I released him," Gonzales said. "Great guy, he was funny, and he was actually OK in BP. Glad he came and did it."

List said of the experience, "It was a dream come true, but I shouldn't have taken that first pitch.  I would have gone deep if I'd taken a swing at it."