Patrick Dempsey at the Red Sox Game

Journalist: We are delighted to have Patrick Dempsey with us. This man from Maine who of course all fans know from stage and screen but not only that, he threw out the first pitch tonight. With everything you’ve done in Hollywood, you know winning an Emmy, you’ve been a Golden Globe nominee, a lot of great stuff in films, of course a legendary TV series; how did that compare going out there and throwing out the first pitch?

Patrick: I don’t think I’ve been that nervous in a long time. It was a true…You know just all the flood of memories of your childhood, coming down here and watching the games and then to be out there on the mat throwing out the first pitch was a very special moment.

Journalist: Not only that, you got a chance to go out to the Monster before the game and what everybody does, you know you grabbed a Sharpie and you signed it.

Patrick: Yes, I did. I had that opportunity. The two guys at the back there working and you just see the history. It’s so beautiful. This is such a great place to see a ball game. It’s so special. And then the Green Monster and the history behind that is really quite fascinating too.

Journalist: So, I noticed you were wearing number 27.

Patrick: Yes, Carl Fisk.

Journalist: Is that why?

Patrick: That’s right. I remember the night he hit that home run and then the next day going to school and reenacting that over and over again. And I was catcher in little league and he was my hero.

Journalist: 1975 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Patrick: Yeah.

Journalist: And most Red Sox fans will tell you the World Series was actually won that night even though it wasn’t.

Patrick: That’s right. For a lot of us it was until a few years ago.

Journalist: I’m glad you said you were nervous to throw out the first pitch because I was lucky enough to do it in 2021, the post season. I played the World Series, I played in big games, I’ve never been more nervous in my entire life than when I had to throw the first pitch here at Fenway Park.

Patrick: There’s no time to get into it, right? You just got to get up and go.

Journalist: No! You’re like “Don’t screw this up!”

Patrick: Yeah, at least I got three or four bounces so I’ve been skipping a lot of rocks.

Journalist: [commenting the game] Well there’s the bat off the strike out of Bobby Dalbec. [addressing Patrick] And not only a big sports fan, obviously a celebrated actor but you’re a car guy.

Patrick: Yeah!

Journalist: And a race car driver and you own vintage automobiles too, right?

Patrick: Yes, I do! Tomorrow I’m going to Spain, I’ve got a two-day test in Barcelona. We got a new programme that we’re putting together this year, doing some endurance racing so that’s nice. I just love it, the sense of camaraderie. You know it’s like being part of a club, I’d imagine it’s the same thing. You know, you have a team, the camaraderie and the fellowship and then the personal challenge: how good can you be? How fast can you go? All that. And then the mental aspect too I think is extraordinary.

Journalist: A little more fun side of it: car collection, right? What’s your favourite car you have in your collection?

Patrick: Oh, I think the first car that I bought was a 1963 356 cabriolet Porsche. I still have that car today. I bought it after a movie I did. My first big film was Can’t Buy Me Love, I pretty much spent my entire pay check on that car but I still have it.

Journalist: What did you pay for it?

Patrick: It was under 10 grand.

Journalist: Under 10 grand?

Patrick: It was under 10 grand which was a lot of money for me at that time but now it’s held its value very well.

Journalist: I’ll bet, I’ll bet.

Patrick: I collect a number of the older cars.

Journalist: [commenting the game] Valdez batting with one out and the base is empty as we chat with Patrick Dempsey. [addressing Patrick] And you’ve done something too, is this…

Patrick: [commenting the game] Oh here we go, we got to get this one? He chucked it, you got that. Oh so close.

Journalist: [commenting the game] Can’t quite dive for that one.

Patrick: [commenting the game] No, no. That would be a little bit of a hit.

Journalist: [addressing Patrick] Talk about the Dempsey Center a little bit, the creation of that and why.

Patrick: Yeah absolutely. So the Dempsey Center was inspired by my mother’s battle with ovarian cancer and what we do there is we treat people who have been impacted by cancer. We don’t treat the disease, we treat the person holistically. Wrap-around care. And… [about the game] strike there fortunately. [about the Center] And all the services that we provide are counselling, acupuncture, reiki, yoga, nutrition and at no cost to the clients; also the care-givers and children as well. And that was inspired by mom’s journey, she had over 12 re-occurrences. She was diagnosed in 97 and unfortunately passed away in 2014.

Journalist: And the Dempsey Challenge, the annual run/walk/ride experience to benefit that Center… [about the game] This one popped up into right backing out Hoerner and Tauchman coming in and that will be out number three. [addressing Patrick] That was too quick. I imagine you’ve got rounds to make so thanks so much for being with us.

Patrick: Yeah thank you. And if you want to support the Center, the Challenge is September 21st and that’s a way for us to raise money and also to get people active. You know, the best way to stay mentally healthy also physically: get out. So we do walk; we do a run and we do a ride. So I invite you all to come up to the beautiful state of Maine and help us support this great cause.

Journalist: Yeah, you don’t have to twist our arm. Thank you.

Patrick: Alright thank you gentlemen. Thanks for having me up here today.

Journalist: Patrick Dempsey joining us in the booth.