Rob McElhenney leads American takeover of Wrexham game, which also stars Jimmy Kimmel, as owner’s beloved Philadelphia Phillies prepare for MLB London Series

Wrexham co-chairman Rob McElhenney brought his love of American sport to Wales by “baseballing” a match at the racecourse.

The Philadelphia national player has teamed up with Major League Baseball to show Wrexham fans what America’s favorite pastime is ahead of his beloved Philadelphia Phillies’ trip to the UK this year.

The Philles will face historic rivals the New York Mets in the 2024 edition of the MLB World Tour: London Series on June 8-9 at West Ham’s London Stadium – which undergoes a major transformation each year for the event.

This will be the third time MLB has hosted a regular season game in the capital, following the New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox in 2019 and the Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals in 2023.

It’s another chance for British baseball fans to get a taste of the game – literally, have you seen what’s on the menu? – a little closer to home, rather than flying over the United States.

And one person who seems very excited is Wrexham boss McElhenney, who, along with his team at More Better Industries, have invited a number of friends to join the MLB party at STōK Cae Ras.

American chat show host Jimmy Kimmel was seen in the stands in a video, jointly dubbed by MLB Network announcer Matt Vasgersian and Wrexham AFC commentator Mark Griffiths – as fans of the documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham” are well known.

Red Dragons manager Phil Parkinson and striker Ollie Palmer were also named stars, as was Wayne Jones, owner of the now famous pub ‘The Turf’.

Phillies legend Chase Utley also made an appearance, along with a few current MLB stars, Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper and Mets home run king – and Chelsea fan – Pete Alonso.

Fans of “Always Sunny in Philadelphia” know Utley’s name well: McElhenney’s character Mac wrote a famous letter to the World Series winner, and the two got along well in real life with numerous appearances at the Phillies’ Citizens Bank Park. stadium.

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Utley has now returned the favor and was seen at the racecourse earlier this season to watch his friend’s team, en route to a second successive promotion, with McElhenney and co-chairman Ryan Reynolds overseeing the club’s rise to the National League to Ligue 1.

McElhenney has certainly come a long way in his three years at the helm, admitting he had no idea about football before his decision to invest in a forgotten North Wales team, which also happens to be the third oldest professional football team in the country. the world.

“I knew absolutely nothing about football,” McElhenney said, expressing gratitude for the generosity shown to him by the Wrexham community.

And in return for Wrexham fans teaching him everything he knows about the beautiful game, the American owner thought he would bring a sport he loves to Wrexham.

“It has been a childhood dream to partner with Major League Baseball and share my love of America’s favorite pastime with the world,” he added.

Gone are the Welsh cakes and it’s time for hot dogs, served in traditional American style, right at your seat.

There may have been tension over what exactly the “pitch” was, and fans were photographed holding beers in the stands – which is definitely not allowed here – but, with celebrities in attendance and a weird mascot race at halftime, it all seemed like a lot of fun.

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The celebration of American sports will continue until 11 a.m. at London Stadium in June, where fans can experience the game, enjoy all of their seas’ classic food and drinks, and enjoy the party atmosphere of baseball’s return .

Ben Ladkin, Managing Director of MLB Europe, said: “Rob and his team at More Better understand true fandom and how universal stories born from the love of sports can translate across oceans and cultures.

“We can’t wait to see all different types of fans come together in June to experience the excitement of the games, and we look forward to continuing to tell these stories together in the future.”

The MLB World Tour: London Series takes place June 8-9, when the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies play a two-game series at London Stadium. Tickets are available now from Ticketmaster.