< Back to front page Text size – +

A comedic moment for Ryan Dempster in Boston

Print | Comments () Posted by Peter Abraham, Globe Staff February 27, 2013 09:14 AM

Tweet
E-mail

By Peter Abraham, Globe Staff

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Ryan Dempster had one of the most memorable performances of his career in Boston — but it had nothing to do with baseball.

On June 11, 2001, Dempster was in Boston with the Marlins for an interleague series and decided to stop by the old Comedy Connection with his father and a few teammates.

"It was Father's Day weekend and my dad and I liked comedy, so we were at this club and when there was an opportunity to go on stage, I took it," Dempster said. "They didn't boo me, so that was good."

Dempster said he had some jokes prepared for the occasion and he told a few funny stories. He does a great Harry Carey impersonation.

"I was terrified but I didn't do too bad," he said.

Would Dempster ever try comedy once he's done playing?

"That's a hard job. I'm a baseball player," he said. "But that night was fun."

Dempster pitched the next day and lost, by the way. Comedy is not pretty, as Steve Martin once said.