It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Rob McElhenney finally got his chance to play catch with Chase Utley. The Major League Baseball star played for the Philadelphia Phillies for 13 seasons before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is currently heading into its fourteenth season, set to air in late 2019 or early 2020.
During the fifth season of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Mac (McElhenney) and the gang found themselves in hot water for their actions during Game 5 of the 2008 World Series. The episode, titled “The World Series Defense,” also featured the reading of Mac’s love letter to Phillies’ second baseman Chase Utley. The letter revealed Mac’s admiration of Utley, especially his hair, and also shared his hope that one day the two could have a catch. The MLB player later starred in a cameo appearance during the sixth season, but Mac notably missed out on his chance to have his catch during the episode.
McElhenney, creator and star of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, finally had his onscreen dream come true during Utley’s official retirement night as a member of the Phillies. During the retirement ceremony before the game on June 21, Utley threw out the first pitch to a surprise guest. The guest was McElhenney, as revealed by a video shared by the Phillies. The moment perfectly honored one of It’s Always Sunny’s most popular episodes.
A decade after the famous letter, Utley and Mac finally had their catch. Many Phillies fans are also viewers of the hit FX series, so the crowd went understandably wild. Fellow It’s Always Sunny star, and wife of McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, was also at the ceremony, and received a warm ovation from the fans in attendance. McElhenney’s customized “Mac” Phillies jersey was also a nice touch. But the way they amped up the crowd and embraced after the throw truly made the moment unforgettable.
McElhenney is a long-time friend of the Utley family. He grew up in the city of Philadelphia, and remained a Phillies fan even after he left the city to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Their friendship grew as Mac’s obsession with Utley became a long-running gag on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The two were together when the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018. They even posted a video together celebrating the big win. As those in attendance for the game can attest, Mac’s dream of playing catch with Chase Utley finally coming true was a hilarious, yet wonderful, moment to be part of.
Next: What To Expect From It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia Season 14
Source: Phillies/Twitter
