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Tigers fans may not have had this year’s dominant season on their bingo card, but even fewer could have predicted the hilarious and bizarre scene that played out before Wednesday’s game.
Actor John C. Reilly, 60, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Comerica Park before Detroit played the Rays, but not without belting out an unexpected rendition of “Happy Birthday” to Jack White, the frontman of The White Stripes.
“Will you join me in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to my friend Jack White?” Reilly asked the 22,019 bewildered fans in attendance.
The “Step Brothers” and “Talladega Nights” star then went on to croon the lyrics to “Happy Birthday” as fans sang along.
White, who turned 50 on Wednesday, took it all in from the stands, looking on with a combination of amusement, embarrassment and shock.
As Reilly finished signing and exclaimed, “Play Ball!” the speakers began to blast Seven Nation Army, the White Stripes’ mega-hit that has turned into a stadium classic.
Born in Chicago, Reilly met White backstage at a White Stripes concert decades ago, and the pair hit it off after finding common ground over their Midwestern backgrounds and Catholic upbringings.
White, a Detroit native, is a lifelong Tigers fan.
In a follow-up interview on the Tigers’ broadcast, Reilly confirmed that White had no idea he would be serenaded — or that Reilly would even be at the game.
Reilly also noted that the Tigers jersey he wore to throw out the first pitch was the same one he donned in Kevin Costner’s 1999 film “For the Love of the Game,” in which Reilly played a Tigers catcher named Gus Sinski.
After he made his way up from the field, Reilly took in the game in White’s suite, alongside the rock star’s wife and mother.
The hysterical sing-a-long provided no good luck charm to the Tigers, though, who suffered a 7-3 loss despite having the best record in baseball (59-35).
