https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/15/bb/13/15bb1380214fc8e664f102716a0ae917.jpg

"Sudden Sam” McDowell. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_McDowell)

I'll never understand why "Sam Malone" (Ted Danson) was considered to be such a hunk. Personally, he did absolutely nothing for me, and I considered his looks to be average at best.... actually maybe a C - ...... I never saw him as anything special.

As Diane would say ;"Tosh! What twaddle!" The creators have said Sam was to be an ex-football player, until Ted Danson was cast, and then he was changed to a baseball player because of Ted's build. The action photo behind the bar was of ex-Red Sox pitcher Jim Lonborg. When converting the character to a baseball player and specifically a reliever, they were somewhat loosely inspired by allegedly "flaky" ex-Red Sox and Expos lefty, Bill Lee, the "Spaceman." But he is not really based on any 1 perosn.