Cook enjoys brief moment in spotlight Port Huron High grad lands bit By JIM WHYMER Times Herald DETROIT - Ron Cook was sitting in the bleachers behind home plate at Tiger Stadium when a youngster tossed him a racquetball. The lanky left-handed pitcher played a game of catch with the young boy as the crew set up another scene for actor-director Billy Crystal's HBO movie 61*. "I was having a good time playing catch," said Cook, a 1986 Port Huron High graduate who plays a member of the Minnesota Twins in the movie about the 1961 home run race between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris to beat Babe Ruth's record. "After a while, some of the movie people asked if they knew who I was playing catch with. "It was Mickey Mantle's 4-year-old grandson. I had no clue, but it was pretty part in HBO film "I I was just hoping for a shot to pitch. "I really expected to do more, but all the players probably thought the same thing. It was a neat experience and I'm glad I did it. It will be something I'll always remember." The shooting of the film began last Sunday and is scheduled to run through Thursday. As of Friday afternoon, however, the crew was running three or four days behind schedule. "It looks like they'll be staying on in Detroit a little bit longer than they expected," said Carl Kudla, a former Marine City resident who plays an umpire in 61*. The right look Cook reported to the stadium three days before the shooting for a uniform fit. Shortly after showing up at the stadium at 6 a.m. See COOK, 5C I MORE ON MOVIE, 5C UMPIRE GETS CALL Ron Cook amazing." Cook, a former minorleaguer for the Detroit Tigers, never had the opportunity to toe the rubber on the pitching mound at Tiger Stadium during the movie. His acting career lasted three days. Ron Cook He was hoping to pull uniform, maybe Baltimore Boston Red could see some the field. "I know I'm in but I probably be recognized," spotlight By PAUL WARNER, The Associated Press ACTION: Billy Crystal directs actors on Monday during filming of his movie 61* at Tiger Stadium. HBO Films held tryouts at Wayne State University for players in the movie. on another that of the Orioles or Sox, so he action on the movie, won't even Cook said.
