Myron Noodleman

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Crowned in 2004, Myron Noodleman a.k.a. Rick Hader stakes his claim as the fifth Clown Prince of Baseball, following Arlie Latham, Al Schacht, Jackie Price, and Max Patkin.

Myron's persona is reminiscent of the nerdy Jerry Lewis characters of the 1960s: he can be manic and disruptive one moment, and patiently pantomimic the next. Between innings he performs sketches that involve players, umpires, groundskeepers and sometimes fans. One of his signature skits titled "Dueling Signals" is performed to music with a player or coach. It starts with Myron flashing a baseball coach's signal and is answered by his skit partner. The signals keep coming faster and faster until there is nothing left to do but break into some contemporary dance moves mixed with a little do-as-I-do. When each routine is over, Myron goes into the stands and moves among the fans providing impromptu comedy. He will fearlessly help himself to a spectator's seat, refreshments, and even girlfriend.

Myron Noodleman is the invention of Rick Hader (brother of screenwriter Matt Hader), a former high school math teacher at Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. When he showed up at a school football game in the late 80s dressed in full nerd regalia, he proved to be both talented and fearless as he performed before his students and teaching peers. After a few more trials he hired an agent and attended the Baseball Winter Meetings in Dallas (1994) the road to royalty had begun. He honed his act through years of touring. Every summer he has performed at over 60 to 70 baseball parks across North America. He has been the celebrity attraction to numerous Nerd Nite promotions.

In November 2004 Myron Noodleman was bestowed the title Clown Prince of Baseball by baseball administrator Roland Hemond in a ceremony at the Mike Veeck Promotional Seminar at Hilton Head, South Carolina. Hemond, now Executive Advisor to the General Manager of the Chicago White Sox, once served as GM for the late Bill Veeck (Mike's dad). Bill Veeck was the one to place the title on the previous and best known Clown Prince of Baseball, Max Patkin. Baseball's Hall of Fame has yet to recognize Noodleman as heir to the Max Patkin legacy, though as of 2006 no rival claimant has disputed the title.

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