Maureen Meeks Jason Spevack as Ben in 1980 Jack Kehler as Al Waterman (also the narrator) Lenny Clarke as Uncle Carl Ione Skye as Molly Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Lana KaDee Strickland as Robin Marissa Jaret Winokur as Sarah Evan Helmuth as Troy Zen Gesner as Steve Jackie Burroughs as Mrs. Warren Stephen King as Himself Kris Williams as Herself Steve Levy as Himself Willie Garson as Kevin Armando Riesco as Gerard Brett Murphy as Ryan Andrew Wilson as Grant Wade / Patrick Lyons Several Boston Red Sox personnel make appearances in the film, including: players Johnny Damon, Trot Nixon, Jason Varitek and Jim Rice, and announcers Joe Castiglione, Don Orsillo and Dennis Eckersley. Production The original plot had assumed the Red Sox would lose in the playoffs. However, the Red Sox stunned the baseball world when they won four straight games to win the 2004 ALCS against the rival Yankees (becoming the first MLB team to win a seven-game series after losing the first three games) and subsequent World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals to break the "Curse of the Bambino". Thus, the ending had to be rewritten. On the day of Game 4, with the Red Sox on the verge of a sweep, The Farrellys decided to bring Barrymore, Fallon, and a film crew to St. Louis hours before the first pitch – and Barrymore and Fallon attended the game at Busch Stadium in character. When the Red Sox made the final out to secure a 3–0 win over the Cardinals that broke the Curse, Fox cameras on the live broadcast caught Barrymore and Fallon, as Lindsey and Ben, running onto the field and kissing to celebrate. The film, with its updated ending, was also screened at Fenway Park the following August on a screen in center field. Originally, Shawn Levy, who was a huge fan of Nick Hornby's works for years, was attached to direct, with Gwyneth Paltrow playing Lindsey. However, Paltrow found the script mediocre and turned down the role. Brian Robbins replaced Levy, but he quit the project as well. After Drew Barrymore replaced Paltrow and Jimmy Fallon joined the cast, Jay Russell, P. J. Hogan, Luke Greenfield, and Mira Nair were all rumored candidates to direct until the studios hired the Farrelly brothers to take the helm for the film. Reception Critical response On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds an approval rating 65%