Fat Joe Performs at World Series Game 3 & Baseball Fans Have Some Thoughts

Like Ice Cube was for the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two, New York Yankees fans were hoping that Fat Joe would serve as a good luck charm for the team heading into game three of the 2024 World Series on Monday (Oct. 28).

Joey Crack took the field in a pair of signature brown Timberland boots to warm up the 40,000-plus fans at Yankee Stadium. Rocking a Yankees letterman jacket and a matching NYY x Terror Squad fitted cap, the Bronx native tweaked some of the lyrics to his hits to go with the baseball theme and rep for his hometown squad. Joe kicked off the set with his “Lean Back” anthem before moving into Ja Rule’s “New York” and closing out with “All the Way Up.”

As he performed, Fat Joe headed to the pitcher’s mound — which had to give the grounds crew members a collective heart attack — where he named some Yankee legends after Derek Jeter threw out the honorary first pitch to have the fans ready to roar for game three.

“Even when Fat Joe came out, the body language from the fans was like, ‘Damn!’ I was like, ‘What’s going on here?’ Are we in a funeral already?” MLB Fox Sports analyst and former Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz said.

Many fans seemed to be perplexed by the performance, as many remained seated. Others roasted Joe and the Yankees on social media. “Fat Joe opening up for the Yankees might be one of the worst things I’ve ever witnessed,” one person tweeted.

Another chimed in: “I’m not a hater, BUT Fat Joe opening up for the Yankees might be one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. I think they got him on SALE 50% OFF.”

Even diehard Yankees fan Desus Nice was displeased, tweeting, “good morning to everyone except fat Joe and his trump sneakers!”

Some wondered why they couldn’t get fellow New York rappers such as Jay-Z or 50 Cent to pull up. Hov previously performed “Empire State of Mind” at Yankee Stadium ahead of game two of the 2009 World Series, which is the last time NYY appeared in the Fall Classic.

But it wasn’t all bad news for the rapper. Some fans chimed in to show their support on social media. “We won no matter the outcome as far as I’m concerned @fatjoe,” one fan wrote on Instagram over a photo of the performer on the field.

“BIG Bronx showed up!” another added over a snap of Big Joe performing, adding a “100” and fist-bump emojis.

Unfortunately, Joe’s performance wasn’t able to help power the Yankees to a win, as the team now faces a 0-3 deficit to the Dodgers. The Yankees’ bats largely went quiet into the night with Monday night bringing on a 4-2 defeat.

Fat Joe and the NYY will look to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Dodgers on Tuesday evening (Oct. 29) in game four. No performances are scheduled for pre-game.

Watch Fat Joe’s performance below.