"Was that ... a ghost throwing the first pitch?" -- that's what some in the stands may have asked after watching a figure in a pinstriped White Sox jersey and matching face paint climb up to the mound to deliver a strike prior to Thursday night's Guardians vs. White Sox game at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Spoiler alert: No, it wasn't an actual ghost. But it was Ghost ... as in Tobias Forge, otherwise known by his stage name, Papa Emeritus IV, the usually cloaked and always mysterious protagonist/band leader of Swedish heavy metal/glam-pop/"theatrical rock" band Ghost.
Out on the "Impera" tour right now headlining arenas around the country, Papa Emeritus IV and his supporting band of "Nameless Ghouls" performed in Peoria, Ill., on Wednesday, providing a day off before the next tour stop (Friday in Green Bay, Wis.) and a perfect opportunity for a cameo at the ol' ballyard.
Credit to Forge and his team, because he was clearly feeling pretty pumped-up for this moment. He was maybe even smiling under all that makeup, the Ghost social media channels sharing a special baseball card mock-up to hype the appearance:
May I suggest another baseball card-worthy snapshot, this one from the actual diamond, after Forge confidently brought a baseball bat with him to the mound for a photo-op:
As exciting as this all probably was for Forge, it was perhaps an even bigger deal for Liam Hendriks, the White Sox All-Star closer, high-energy guy and noted fan of Ghost:
If a photo could talk, this one would definitely be singing "Dance Macabre."