Kevin James, one of the Mets’ biggest celebrity fans, turned back the clock to 2007 in an attempt to pump up the crowd at Citi Field on Tuesday night.
The actor and comedian was on hand to throw out the first pitch when the Mets fell to the Orioles, 9-5, in the second game of a three-game series.
When he was handed the microphone to initiate the start of the game with the traditional “play ball,” James made a callback to his viral moment at the Daytona 500 in 2007.
“God bless our troops, God bless America,” James said on Tuesday in Queens. “God bless the New York Mets, and, gentlemen, let’s play ball!”
The crowd at the Mets’ ballpark gave the “King of Queens” star a loud cheer as he finished.
James was referencing the famed “Gentleman, start your engines” at the Daytona 500 while promoting his then-upcoming film, “I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry.”
The moment has stood the test of time for over 17 years, with the meme still standing strong over 10 years later and gaining notoriety on both Instagram and TikTok as a sound effect users can deploy on their videos.
James’ Mets fandom is well documented, and the actor has worn it proudly, going as far as to name his daughter Shea in honor of the team’s former home.
“Say what you want about my movies, my career, my weight, have fun,” James told WOR Radio in 2016, according to MLB.com. “Three things are undeniable: my faith, my family and my loyalty to the Mets.”
While James tried his best to ignite the team to a win, the Mets couldn’t muster the energy in what ended up in a tough loss.
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