Pete Crow-Armstrong, a rising star in Major League Baseball, has a unique childhood connection to the late actress Hayden Panettiere that has resurfaced following Panettiere's death at age 36. Crow-Armstrong's parents, Ashley Crow and Matthew John Armstrong, are both actors with extensive résumés in television and film, which led to unusual perks during his upbringing.
Ashley Crow, known for her role as Sandra Bennet on the NBC series "Heroes," was a co-star of Panettiere's on the show. In "Heroes," Ashley Crow played the adoptive mother of Panettiere's character, Claire Bennet. Due to this professional relationship, Panettiere occasionally babysat a young Pete Crow-Armstrong. He revealed this anecdote in an April 2022 interview with NBC Chicago, admitting he had a significant crush on the actress at the time.
"Yeah, I’d say she was probably the coolest one for me," Crow-Armstrong said. "I liked being around the older actors, and I liked being babysat by my mom’s co-stars and whatnot."
His father, Matthew John Armstrong, also had a recurring role on "Heroes" as Ted Sprague and has appeared in shows such as "House" and "The Young and the Restless."
Panettiere, who passed away on Sunday, spoke fondly of her time with the "Heroes" cast, including Ashley Crow. In a 2007 interview with FanBolt, Panettiere commented on the cast's dynamics, saying, "They all just have their own individual personalities, and it’s such a hoot when you get together."
Despite growing up in the Los Angeles area and being exposed to the entertainment industry from a young age, Crow-Armstrong developed into a baseball star. He was originally a first-round draft pick of the New York Mets but grew up a fan of the Chicago Cubs, the team he now plays for.
The 24-year-old outfielder is currently a prominent player in National League MVP discussions, with a .281 batting average, .379 on-base percentage, and .550 slugging percentage, along with 30 home runs, 78 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases as of Tuesday.
Crow-Armstrong has previously mentioned his appreciation for his mother's acting work, particularly the 1994 film "Little Big League," in which Ashley Crow played a significant role. He described it as a personal favorite movie, independent of his mother's involvement.