If you grew up in the nineties, you probably spent at least one summer trying to throw a baseball with a "high-stink" delivery. We all remember Henry Rowengartner. He was the kid with the "funky butt-lovin'" arm who accidentally became the Chicago Cubs' secret weapon after a freak accident at a Little League game. Honestly, looking back at 1993, Rookie of the Year wasn't just another sports movie; it was a fever dream for every kid who ever sat in the bleachers at Wrigley Field.
But the cast of Rookie of the Year wasn't just a bunch of random faces. It was a weirdly perfect blend of child stars, comedy legends, and serious Chicago theater actors who somehow made a movie about a 12-year-old in the MLB feel grounded. Sorta.
Fast forward to 2026. Where did they actually go? Some of them stayed in the spotlight, while others took some pretty wild left turns into indie music or reality TV. Let's get into what really happened to the people who brought those "hot ice" vibes to the big screen.
Thomas Ian Nicholas: More Than Just a Fastball
Thomas Ian Nicholas was only 12 when he suited up as Henry. He had that perfect "middle school kid" look—the voice crack, the messy hair, the genuine excitement. Most people think he just vanished after he retired the number one jersey, but that’s not even close to the truth.
Nicholas actually became a bit of a cult icon for a totally different generation. In 1999, he played Kevin Myers in American Pie. Yeah, the guy who played the kid pitcher grew up to be one of the anchors of the biggest R-rated teen comedy franchise in history.
He didn't stop there. He's been incredibly active behind the camera. By 2026, he’s carved out a massive niche as an indie filmmaker and producer. He starred in and produced the gritty 2021 thriller Adverse alongside Mickey Rourke. But here is the kicker: he is also a serious musician. His group, the Thomas Nicholas Band, has been touring for years. He actually released several albums and even had a song on the American Reunion soundtrack. He’s essentially turned into this multifaceted artist who spends as much time with a guitar as he does with a script.
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Gary Busey as Chet "Rocket" Steadman
Then there’s Gary Busey. Man, what a performance. Before he became the internet's favorite eccentric uncle, Busey was the "heart and soul" of this film as the aging veteran, Chet Steadman.
He played the "over-the-hill" pitcher with a level of grit that actually felt real. You could feel his shoulder clicking every time he threw. Since 1993, Busey’s life has been... a lot. He’s had a long, public journey following a traumatic brain injury from a motorcycle accident in the late eighties, which many fans believe contributed to his later, more erratic public persona.
In the years following the film, he jumped into reality TV—appearing on everything from Celebrity Apprentice to Celebrity Big Brother. He even had a bizarrely hilarious show called Gary Busey: Pet Judge. Despite the memes, Busey remains one of those actors whose early work (like The Buddy Holly Story) reminds you just how much raw talent the man has.
The Director and the Comedy Legends
You might have forgotten that Daniel Stern didn't just play the eccentric pitching coach Phil Brickma; he actually directed the whole movie. This was his feature-film directorial debut.
Stern was already a massive star because of Home Alone and City Slickers, but he brought a specific kind of slapstick energy to Rookie of the Year that made the "Brickma-isms" legendary. Whether he was getting stuck between two industrial doors or teaching Henry "the floater," Stern was the comedic engine of the film.
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In 2026, Stern is still a powerhouse, though he’s moved into more prestigious TV work, including directing episodes of the acclaimed series Manhattan. He also spent years as the narrator (the voice of adult Kevin Arnold) on The Wonder Years, a role that remains one of the most iconic "unseen" performances in television history.
The Uncredited MVP: John Candy
We have to talk about John Candy. His role as Cliff Murdoch, the Cubs’ radio announcer, was uncredited, but he stole every single scene he was in. Candy was a close friend of Daniel Stern, and he basically did the movie as a favor.
Sadly, Rookie of the Year was one of the last times we saw Candy’s genius on screen before his passing in 1994. His "Garden of Eden" speech about Wrigley Field still brings a tear to the eye of Cubs fans everywhere. He brought a warmth to the cast of Rookie of the Year that nobody else could have provided.
Amy Morton: The Chicago Connection
One of the most impressive things about the cast of Rookie of the Year is Amy Morton, who played Henry’s mom, Mary.
At the time, she was a staple of the Chicago theater scene. While many child-star "moms" in movies disappear into obscurity, Morton did the opposite. She became a Broadway titan. She’s been nominated for two Tony Awards (for August: Osage County and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?).
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If you don't watch theater, you definitely know her from TV. She has been a main cast member on Chicago P.D. for years, playing the tough-as-nails Sergeant Trudy Platt. It’s a wild 180-degree turn from the sweet, protective mom we saw at Wrigley Field.
The Supporting Players: Where Are They?
- Dan Hedaya (Larry "Fish" Fisher): The quintessential movie villain. Hedaya has stayed busy for decades, appearing in Clueless, The Usual Suspects, and countless TV guest spots.
- Neil Flynn (Stan Okie): Before he was the Janitor on Scrubs or the dad on The Middle, Flynn was a Cubs first baseman in this movie. He’s now one of the most recognizable character actors in Hollywood.
- W. Earl Brown (Billy Frick): The bullpen catcher. He went on to play Dan Dority in Deadwood and has a huge career as a writer and musician.
- Ian Gomez (Odd Bellman): You probably recognize him from Cougar Town or My Big Fat Greek Wedding. He had a tiny role here, but his career exploded later.
Why This Cast Still Matters in 2026
The reason the cast of Rookie of the Year stays in our collective memory isn't just nostalgia. It’s because the movie captured a very specific moment in baseball history. This was before the 2016 World Series win—back when the Cubs were the "loveable losers."
The film didn't feel like a corporate product. It felt like a love letter to Chicago. Seeing the actors show up at Cubs games 30 years later (Thomas Ian Nicholas is a regular at Wrigley) proves that the bond between the cast and the fans is actually real.
Most people get it wrong when they think these actors just "aged out" of Hollywood. In reality, they populated some of the most important shows of the 2000s and 2010s. From Deadwood to Chicago P.D., the DNA of this 1993 kids' movie is all over modern television.
Your Next Step for the Nostalgia Trip
If you want to see how much these actors have changed, your best bet is to check out Amy Morton in Chicago P.D. or track down Thomas Ian Nicholas’s latest music on Spotify. It’s a trip to hear "Henry Rowengartner" singing alt-rock. You can also look for the 30th-anniversary retrospective interviews where the cast discusses the "hot ice" scene—which, by the way, was mostly improvised by Daniel Stern. Keep an eye on the Cubs' promotional schedule too; Nicholas often returns to throw out the first pitch, and thankfully, his arm is usually in much better shape than it was at the end of the movie.