May the Sports Be With You!

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
May 4, 2016

May the Sports Be With You!

Star Wars character Darth Vader walks onto the field before a baseball game against the Houston Astros on "Star Wars Night" at the ballpark Friday, June 19, 2015, in Seattle.

The Charlotte Hornets mascot dresses up as a Star Wars character in the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Charlotte Hornets and the Toronto Raptors in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015. The Hornets won 109-99 in overtime.

Courtney Wilson of Frisco wears a Star Wars character helmet as she holds up a sign showing her support of the Dallas Stars before a first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series game against the Anaheim Ducks, Monday, April 21, 2014, in Dallas.

Star Wars character Chewbacca throws a ceremonial first pitch at the beginning of a baseball game with the Cincinnati Reds and the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, May 4, 2014, in Cincinnati.

The umpire crew, lead by Doug Eddings, walks onto the field as they are flanked by people dressed as stormtroopers from the "Star Wars" films on Star Wars Day at Chase Field prior to a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, July 20, 2014, in Phoenix.

Author and television personality Brad Meltzer, left, plays with Miami Marlins mascot Billy the Marlin after throwing out a ceremonial first pitch during Star Wars Night at Marlins Park stadium before the start of a baseball game between the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, in Miami.

Darth Maul appears before an NBA basketball game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons to celebrate Star Wars night, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015 in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Philadelphia Phillies first base coach Juan Samuel talks with Stormtroopers during pre-game Star Wars Night festivities before the start of a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies Friday, July 3, 2015, in Atlanta.

A young Chicago White Sox fan wears a Yoda mask on "Star Wars Night" during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field on August 29, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois.

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez poses with Star Wars character Chewbacca during batting practice before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, May 2, 2014, in Cincinnati.

Carter Gamblin, left, 6, and Lauren Gamblin, 4, both from Arlington, Va., pose with Star Wars characters on Star Wars day before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park, Sunday, July 19, 2015, in Washington.

Re-enactors dressed as storms troopers and other characters get high-fives from fans during Star Wars Day at Chase Field prior to a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, July 20, 2014, in Phoenix.

A young fan is dressed as the Yoda character on Star Wars Day at Chase Field prior to a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, July 20, 2014, in Phoenix.

Pitcher Jason Grilli #39 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a picture with R2-D2 during pre-game Star Wars Night festivities before the game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Turner Field on July 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Darth Vader pretends to put a choking spell on Homer the Brave during Star Wars Night festivities before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on July 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.

A Sunderland fan dressed as a Star Wars Strormtrooper poses prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Sunderland and Swansea City at Stadium of Light on May 11, 2014 in Sunderland, England.

A Pittsburgh Pirates fans shows support for Star Wars Night before the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park on August 19, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

'Star Wars' themed fans mingle the concourse in honor of 'Star Wars' night before the MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on July 18, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Jeremy Guthrie #11 of the Kansas City Royals poses with Star Wars characters on Star Wars Day prior to the game against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium on August 9, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Star Wars character Darth Vader, left, prior to a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Monday, May 4, 2015.

A fan dressed as a Storm Trooper from the movie Star Wars looks on prior to Game One of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium on October 21, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Pitcher Hector Santiago #53 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim poses with R2-D2 on Star Wars Night before the game against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 20, 2015 in Anaheim, California.

A Florida Gators fan holds a sign depicting Chris Walker of the Florida Gators as a Star Wars Jeti character before the game against the Missouri Tigers at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on February 04, 2014 in Gainesville, Florida.

Darth Vader and a Storm Trooper pose for a photo during Star Wars night prior to an NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Florida Panthers at Canadian Tire Centre on March 29, 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

A Star Wars Storm Trooper stands with fans during a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Aug. 14, 2015.

Keil Matisz #46 of the Ohio Machine looks to pass against Kimener Terry #16 of the Denver Outlaws during the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on May 4, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. The teams wore Star Wars themed jerseys in honor of "May-The-4th-Be-With-You day."

The Denver Outlaws take the field as a member of the Rebel Alliance cheers them on before a game against the Ohio Machine at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on May 4, 2014 in Denver, Colorado. The teams wore Star Wars themed jerseys in honor of "May-The-4th-Be-With-You day."

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) watches the Washington Nationals mascots the "Racing President," race as they are dressed up as Star Wars characters on Star Wars day during a baseball game at Nationals Park, Sunday, July 19, 2015, in Washington.

A Villanova Wildcats fan dressed as Star Wars character Darth Vader cheers in the second half during the NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal against the Oklahoma Sooners at NRG Stadium on April 2, 2016 in Houston, Texas.

The scoreboard displays the pitching matchup between Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Zack Greinke and Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer on Star Wars Day before a baseball game at Nationals Park, Sunday, July 19, 2015, in Washington

A St. Louis Blues fan dons a Stormtrooper helmet Star Wars Night for a game between the St. Louis Blues and the Winnipeg Jets on March 10, 2015 at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images

Stormtroopers and other characters from the Star Wars franchise were at Fenway Park for a "May the 4th be With You" event before a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays on May 4, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Darth Vader chokes Arizona Diamondbacks legend Mark Grace in honor of 'Star Wars' night during a break the MLB game against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on July 18, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Members of the UNLV Rebels marching band perform dressed in "Star Wars" costumes before the team's game against the Boise State Broncos at Sam Boyd Stadium on October 31, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 55-27.

Brent Burns #88 of the San Jose Sharks competes in the Honda NHL Breakaway Challenge during 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skill Competition at Bridgestone Arena on January 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Chris Macht of Gilberts, Illinois, stands in front of Wrigley Field while dressed as Star Wars character Bobba Fett before Game Four of the National League Divisional Series between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals on October 13, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois.

Benny, the mascot of the Chicago Bulls, dresses as a "Star Wars" character during a game between the Bulls and the Detroit Pistons at the United Center on December 18, 2015 in Chicago, Illinois.

Interim manager Pat Murphy #24 of the San Diego Padres, right, smiles as fans dressed as Star Wars characters leave the field before a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park September 26, 2015 in San Diego, California. The fans were on the field as part of Star Wars Night.

Fans dressed as Star Wars characters stand on the field as Arizona Diamondbacks players leave the dugout before a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park September 26, 2015 in San Diego, California. The fans were on the field as part of Star Wars Night.

Darth Vader shakes hands with referee Derrick Stafford after delivering the game ball before an NBA basketball game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons in celebration of Star Wars night, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015 in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Cincinnati Reds mascot Rosie Red waves to a Star Wars character on the field before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park on May 15, 2015 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Brook Lopez #11 of the Brooklyn Nets poses for a photo with Star Wars characters during a game between the Orlando Magic and the Brooklyn Nets on December 14, 2015 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

The New Jersey Devil greets the New Jersey Devils team for the game against the Detroit Red Wings on 'Star Wars' night at the Prudential Center on December 11, 2015 in Newark, New Jersey.

A costumed Darth Vader, of the Star Wars saga, points to fans as he walks by Seattle Mariners' Logan Morrison, right, after the character threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Sept. 5, 2014, in Arlington, Texas.

A person dressed as Darth Vader, center, of the Star Wars saga, reaches out for the Texas Rangers team mascot Captain, right, as costumed storm troopers stand by before a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners, Friday, Sept. 5, 2014, in Arlington, Texas.

The Star Wars character Chewbacca yells out, in Wookie language, "play ball" before a baseball game against the Houston Astros on "Star Wars Night" at the ballpark Friday, June 19, 2015, in Seattle.

A man dressed up as Darth Vader of Stars War film walks on the pitch prior to start the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Villarreal CF at Vicente Calderon Stadium on April 5, 2014 in Madrid, Spain.

Darth Vader and Stormtroopers stand attended for the national anthem in honor of 'Star Wars' night before the MLB game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field on July 18, 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Stormtroopers and Darth Vader (left) pause for the national anthem during Star Wars Night festivities before the game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field on July 3, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Washington Nationals' Bryce Harper, second from right, and Tanner Roark, right, stand with Darth Vader, left, and a Stormtrooper in costume during the national anthem on Star Wars Day before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park, Sunday, July 19, 2015, in Washington.

Stormtroopers stand behind Philadelphia Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin (45), third base coach John Mizerock (12) and first base coach Juan Samuel (8) during the singing of the national anthem during pre-game Star Wars Night festivities before the start of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Friday, July 3, 2015, in Atlanta.

The Detroit Tigers celebrate Star Wars night prior to the start of the game against the Kansas City Royals on September 19, 2015 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan.

A person dressed at Darth Vader of the Star Wars saga, throws out the ceremonial first pitch as costumed storm troopers stand by the mound before a baseball game between the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers, Friday, Sept. 5, 2014, in Arlington, Texas.

Cincinnati Reds mascot Mr. Red greets children on the field during "Star Wars Night" before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, May 15, 2015, in Cincinnati. The Giants won 10-2.

Cincinnati Reds mascot Mr. Red, right, meets Star Wars character Darth Vader prior to a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Friday, May 2, 2014, in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati Reds' Todd Frazier, front right, jokes with a person dressed as Darth Vader during "Star Wars Night" at Great American Ballpark before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, May 15, 2015, in Cincinnati.

The Seattle Mariners' mascot Mariner Moose, left, greets Star Wars characters before a baseball game against the Houston Astros on "Star Wars Night" at the ballpark Friday, June 19, 2015, in Seattle.

A person dressed in costumed as Star Wars character, Darth Vader, holds up a sign that reads, "Go Suns", during a time out in the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, in Dallas.

Washington Nationals mascots Screech and Little Screech wear Star Wards costumes as Luke Skywalker and Yoda, on Star Wars day before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Nationals Park, Sunday, July 19, 2015, in Washington.

A person dressed as "Star Wars" character Darth Vader waits for the first pitch during "Star Wars Night" before a baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, May 15, 2015, in Cincinnati.

May the Sports Be With You!

May the Sports Be With You!

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