made a delightfully on brand appearance at a baseball game on Friday night, opting to deliver the ceremonial first pitch with a very special guest in attendance.
Appearing at the Cleveland Guardians’ home opening game of the season against the San Francisco Giants, he was decked out in a personalised shirt – naturally.
The Hollywood star and long-time fan, who was from ’s live action Pinocchio remake, took to the pitch with Larry Doby Jr, actor and son of legendary player Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League.
However, they were not alone as Hanks also brought along his famous Cast Away co-star Wilson, the volleyball which kept his character Chuck Noland company on the deserted island in Robert Zemeckis’ 2000 survival drama.
As the 65-year-old was announced and strolled onto the pitch, Wilson was formally introduced to the crowd too, with the actor holding up his co-star for the spectators, showing off the ‘C’ he also had emblazoned on him (on the opposite side of Wilson’s handprint face) for the team he was supporting.
Hanks then placed him carefully on the mound as he readied himself to throw the first ball to Doby, but it appeared Wilson (and by extension, Hanks) was in the mood for a little tomfoolery as he started rolling away.
With everyone ticked as the Saving Private Ryan star darted to recapture Wilson and return him to the spot, they were then amusingly confused when Wilson rolled off the mound in the same direction again, perfectly upstaging Hanks.
The skit then revealed itself when Wilson made a big loop back around to the other side of Hanks and rocked backwards and forwards deliberately before rolling across the path as Hanks made his pitch.
‘This has got to be staged! Wilson’s got a mind of his own,’ joked the commentators as the crowd laughed along.
‘Maybe it’s remote controlled,’ posed one, with his colleague answering: ‘It’s got to be.’
However, the producer and News of the World star was still able to make a clean throw despite Wilson’s uncooperative behaviour, formally kicking off the match.
Hanks also recently apologised to Connor Ratliff after his over his ‘dead eyes’.
He appeared on the actor’s podcast – also called Dead Eyes – where he said he ‘took full responsibility’ as the director, despite not remembering it happening.
