Bridgewater, New Jersey – Steve Schirripa has made a living entertaining and captivating audiences for a few decades now. You probably know him most prominently on-screen as Bobby Baccalieri, one of the premiere figures in the acclaimed HBO drama series “The Sopranos,” or Anthony Abetemarco on “Blue Bloods.” When the camera is turned off though, the long-time Yankees fan isn’t all glitz and glamor like some may expect, he is just like most fans in the ballpark on a given night.
You can catch him at Madison Square Garden or Yankee Stadium rooting for his favorite teams, but Schirripa is scheduled to cross another sporting venue off his list. The Brooklyn-native is going to make his first ever visit to TD Bank Ballpark as part of the lantern for Sopranos Night on June 1 when the Patriots host the Bowie Baysox at 6:35 P.M.
“A June night of baseball excited me,” said Schirripa. “Not that many things excite me anymore, but that excites me. We’re going to eat good, too. So, what the x*%# is wrong with that!?”
Spoken like a true New Jersey icon, Schirripa will host a now sold-out VIP Meet and Greet with fans in the SK Club prior to the start of the game. After indulging in themed food specials like Karen’s Last Ziti and Schirripa’s Special Sandwich, he will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before making his way to the concourse to take photos and sign autographs with a few lucky fans.
“I’m a big baseball fan,” admitted Schirripa, who at one time owned season tickets to the minor league affiliate in Las Vegas during his time living there in the early-80’s. “I’m just a baseball fan, whether it be little league or college, when Marc [Russinoff] called me, I was happy to do it, and excited. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Schirripa, along with Michael Imperioli, who played the character of Christopher Moltisanti on “The Sopranos,” started the Talking Sopranos podcast back in 2020 and it became a hit sensation, especially among a new and younger generation of fans. Schirripa believes new age media like podcasts and streaming services have extended the reach of the show that has catapulted its popularity to unfathomable levels. He enjoys connecting with fans and enlightening them on anything they may want to know from a behind-the-scenes perspective.
“I started in 1999 and I had no idea – nobody had any idea and if they told you they did, they’re lying,” said Schirripa in regard to the show’s popularity. “The show has picked up a lot of steam because there is a new generation of people watching it. You’ve got kids who were too young to watch it the first time around – there’s probably more people watching ‘The Sopranos’ now because of streaming all over the world than they did back then when only 11-million people had HBO.”
Fans in attendance on June 1 will also have the opportunity to meet Schirripa’s viral-sensation Weiner dog, Willie.
“I think he [Willie] is more popular,” Schirripa said. “We just started making these little videos of him eating and there’s not a day I walked in New York City that people don’t ask, ‘where is the dog, where is Willie?’ He has struck a chord, somehow. He eats everything in sight, from Soppressata, to hero sandwiches to potato chips. He likes to chase the ball – he’s a fetcher, so he’ll be running around in the outfield.”
