The Sandlot: Where Are They Now?

Every now and again I find myself thinking about some of the movies from my childhood and how truly great they were.  Furthermore, I bring myself to think about how awesome some of the characters were in some of those films, which always inevitably leads me to same question, “where are they now?”

Today’s daydreaming session belonged to the 1993 hit “The Sandlot,” which is a sports film that transcends generations.  The story follows the tale of a young man by the name of Scottie Smalls who is new in town, but quickly progresses into one of the most compelling coming of age stories to date, right up there with the likes of “Stand By Me” and “Almost Famous.”  The film harnesses a kind of innocence that everyone experiences as a child, but gradually loses with age.  It highlights a time in one’s life when everything seems so simple, and all of the worries and troubles of the world can be washed away by doing something as simple as playing baseball.  The film encompasses values that everyone should strive to have in their lives: friendship, compassion, perseverance, honesty, and bravery.  “The Sandlot” remains on a very short list of films that I never grow tired of seeing, and brings great excitement on the rare occasion that I hear one of its quotes referenced or see one of its actors in another role. 

Two characters in particular seem to be branded into my memory, Scottie Smalls and Wendy Peffercorn.  Sure, there were other unbelievable characters in the film, but these are the two that led me to that very familiar, inevitable question: where are they now?

Tom Guiry.  Also known as the protagonist Scottie Smalls, Guiry plays the role of a young man new to the neighborhood whom sets out to find his way.  He brought a sense of shyness and beautiful awkwardness to the role that many kids could relate to.  His character had a strong desire to just be one of guys and fit in with the neighborhood kids, which led to tremendous predicaments.  Tom Guiry turned Scottie Smalls into a household name.  So, Where is he now?

For starters, he looks exactly the same.

Sure you can throw some adult clothes on him, but come on now -- one look and everyone knows that’s the face of Scottie Smalls.  Guiry is 31 and a father of three.  Since “The Sandlot” he has had roles in other box office hits such as Lassie (1994), Black Hawk Down (2001), and Mystic River (2003).  Most recently he’s made appearances in television shows such as “Law & Order” and “CSI: Miami.”  Unfortunately, he now works as a patient transporter at his local hospital to make ends meet.  However, something that I found to be awesome is that his friends all call him Smalls to this day, and he also hears “You’re killing me, Smalls” many times every day!

Favorite Scottie Smalls Scene:

        

Marley Shelton.  Also known as Wendy Peffercorn, Marley plays the role of a lifeguard at the local pool who draws the attention of the boys, “Squints” in particular. You know, as I think more about it, Wendy Peffercorn very well may have been my first love.  Squints stole my woman, and I’ll never forgive him for that. 

So, Where is she now?

She’s only gotten better looking with age, not just in my opinion, but she has also been in the ranks of the sexiest women in the world, according to Stuff Magazine.  Marley is now married and the mother of two children, while she still pushes onwards with her acting career.  Since “The Sandlot” she has acted in other noteworthy films such as Uptown Girls (2003) and A Perfect Getaway (2009.)  While she may never play as infamous of a role as Wendy Peffercorn, she will always remain a legend to millions of 90’s kids everyone and no one can take that away from her.

 Favorite Wendy Peffercorn Scene:

"Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends. Heroes get remembered but legends never die, follow your heart kid, and you'll never go wrong." - "The Babe" in "The Sandlot"

~ Michael P.

Sources:

The Huffington Post; Tom Guiry photo by Terry Thompson; IMDB.