KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When the Kansas City Royals moved on to the World Series on Wednesday, superfan Paul Rudd was there to celebrate with the rest of Kansas City.
The 45-year-old actor was born in New Jersey but grew up in a suburb of Kansas City and is one of the team’s true blue celebrity supporters. He was in Kansas City for the American League Championship Series game on Wednesday night, when the Royals beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-1 to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1985.
Rocking a new baseball cap in support of his team, a hoarse and clearly thrilled Rudd told he’s had faith the Royals could come this far.
“I know for the last several years, every year, all of us Royals fans we have the same hope. … When we went on that win streak this summer, it was like, this could legitimately happen,” he said to reporters on the field after the game. “I’ve lost my voice, but I’ve lost my voice at just about every game since the Wild Card. (Tonight’s win) was amazing. This entire town feels it.”
Rudd praised the fans for their loyalty.
“Kansas City is the best sports town in the country,” he said. “I’m biased, but I’ve been in a lot of towns, and Kansas City supports their teams. They never, ever stop.”
Rudd said he’s had friends who’ve visited Kansas City and attended sporting events at Kauffman and Arrowhead — and they always say it’s a good experience.
“They’ve all said, ‘Your fans are so nice.’ And I think people here like to hear that,’ he said.
Rudd said he lives in New York and is surrounded by Yankees and Mets fans — who are now rooting for the Royals.
“They’re all total Royals fans right now,” he said. “I’m getting texts and emails. You know what it is? This is an amazing story. Even if you don’t like baseball, this is one of those things where … it’s just great to watch.”
Once the celebration dies down, Rudd’s going to have to head back to work. He’s filming the upcoming Marvel movie “Ant-Man” and got permission to leave the set to catch the third and fourth games of theALCS before making his way back on Thursday.He’s hoping he’ll get to sneak away for another game when his Royals face the winner of the San Francisco Giants-St. Louis Cardinals series.
CNN contributed to this report.
