MLB.com reports that Friday night was Pearl Jam Night at Safeco Field, in honor of the grunge band’s upcoming concert in August benefiting local homelessness charities. It was a great evening for Mariners fans: a 3-1 win over the White Sox, postgame fireworks, and ceremonial first pitches thrown by PJ’s Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready.
For their first pitch, Vedder and McCready took the mound dressed for the occaison — not in Mariners jerseys, but McCready wore a ringer T-shirt with an old-school Mariners logo on it, while Vedder opted for a Seattle batting helmet. Mariners legend John Olerud used to play on the field with a batting helmet as well for protection after suffering an aneurysm in college.
The Mariners presented a check for $54,380 to Pearl Jam’s charity organization The Vitalogy Foundation, raised through a special online only ticket offer.
“The Home Shows” on Aug. 8 and 10 at Safeco Field will be the band’s first hometown appearance in five years.
But it’s more than just a concert. Pearl Jam is bringing nearly 100,000 fans together to spotlight efforts across Seattle and King County to address the issue of homelessness.
“Seattle is our hometown,” said band member Stone Gossard. “When there are challenges here, we want to be part of the solution. It’s heartening so many organizations and individuals coming together to do the same. It’s going to take all of us.”
Proud to not only play host to a couple of the best the music world has ever seen—but also join them in the fight against homelessness.
Thank you to @PearlJam's Eddie Vedder and @MikeMcCreadyPJ for joining us tonight. pic.twitter.com/ubhCVG9wb8
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) July 21, 2018
