BASEBALL COMEDY BENEFIT

            What was billed as a “steroid-free” comedy benefit launched the 2005 Baseball Reliquary season in uproarious style on Tuesday, March 29, at the Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles, California. Organizers assured those attending that all proceeds from ticket sales went to support the nonprofit programs of the Baseball Reliquary and that not a single penny went to support the research of, or services provided by, the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO).
            A star-studded roster of comedians who have distinguished themselves for years in stand-up, television, radio, film, and theater stepped up to the microphone and took their swings at the grand old game and all that ails it. With test results of urinalysis samples in hand [organizers guaranteed they were steroid-free, but wouldn’t reveal what other substances were found], those performing baseball-related routines, anecdotes, and impersonations included Fred Willard, Jack Riley, George Wendt, Greg Proops, John Caponera, Dom Irrera, John Mendoza, Andy Kindler, Wayne Federman, Paul Willson, Tom Tully, and members of Off the Wall, Los Angeles’ longest-running improv collective. All photos courtesy of Larry Goren.