The Sandlot’s Patrick Renna Wrote a Book for Kids That Combines 'Lessons in Life with Lessons in Baseball' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Patrick Renna and his new children’s book.Photo:Jaden Osmon; Courtesy Penguin Random House

Jaden Osmon; Courtesy Penguin Random House

Patrick Rennahas advice to share from the pitch.

More than three decades after the actor made his silver screen debut in the coming-of-age comedyThe Sandlotin 1993, he’s passing on his wisdom to the next generation of young baseball players with his debut children’s book,A Little Slugger’s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball and Life, out on Feb. 25.

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE ahead of its release, Renna, 45, opens up about the inspiration behind his foray into writing.

“First of all, for sure having kids — because reading books and finding the right books and the messages and things like that are really important with younger kids and all the way into the double digits and early teens,” says the star, whoshares two young childrenwith his wife Jasmin. But as for the book’s topic, Renna says he was pulling from his own “love of baseball” and his acting start playing a young baseball player in the ’90s.

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The cast of ‘The Sandlot’ in 1993.20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

“Combining lessons in life with lessons in baseball was a lot of fun to do,” says Renna. “It’s amazing how similar it is to life and how, if you have a good head on your shoulders or you have a good outlook on sports, that can transfer over into life.”

Still, when he was approached about writing a children’s book, the former child star tells PEOPLE, he was “a little hesitant at the beginning.”

“My first instinct was, ‘I’m not a writer. No, I’m sorry,’ ” reveals Renna, adding that has a hard time imagining himself breaking into new fields before he “dives into it.”

“I’m really glad I did it and working with him and that team was amazing,” he continues, referencing the book’s eventual publisher.

A Little Slugger’s Guide to the Unwritten Rules of Baseball and Life.Courtesy Penguin Random House

Courtesy Penguin Random House

And while writing wasn’t the most natural for the actor and producer, he does have some experience imparting baseball knowledge on his young ones. On Instagram, he’s shared several moments ofThe Sandlotwith his young son Flynn Maxwell: showing himhow to make s’mores,how to handle a black eye(with a slab of steak!) androcking matching jerseyson the pitch.

“I call myself like a C-plus, B-minus dad,” says Renna with a laugh. “I’m not the worst, but I got some learning to do — that’s for sure.”

source: people.com