Redford Throws First Pitch For Cubs' Home Opener
Updated 04/1/11 - 2:38 p.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Screen legend Robert Redford threw out the opening pitch for the Cubs home opener Friday afternoon – after playing an April Fool's joke on pitcher Kerry Wood, who was his catcher for the ceremonial pitch.
Redford got some good-natured laughs from the Wrigley Field crowd when the lefty switched the ball to his right hand during his windup and faked a toss with his left hand, causing Wood to look around in confusion for a couple seconds.
Smiling, Redford switched the ball back to his left hand and made a high toss to home plate and Wood reached up to make a standing catch.
It was just the kind of throw Redford was hoping for.
"If I throw a smoker, my arm's gonna go with it," Redford said before his toss. "I just try to get it to the plate."
Redford said he's visited Chicago many times, but he hadn't been to Wrigley Field in 40 years before Friday's game. Even so, he said it's one of his favorite stadiums.
"I'm a Wrigley Field fan, I am. It's just one of the greatest stadiums," Redford said. "I think there are two great stadiums in America: Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. Wrigley's a great stadium and, you know what I feel about Wrigley is that it represents Chicago."
"When you think of Wrigley Field, you think Chicago. It's a pretty great field," he added. "When you put together the energy of the people here who love their city and put them in a stadium, I mean it's, like, atomic. It's great. I feel honored to be here, I really do."
As CBS 2's Steve Bartelstein reports, Cubs owners the Ricketts family produced Redford's new movie, "The Conspirator." Redford directed the movie, which stars Robin Wright and James McAvoy and tells the story of Mary Surratt, the only woman co-conspirator charged in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
Redford is also on the cover of the new edition of Michigan Avenue Magazine.
Redford joined the Ricketts family at the River East Arts Center, 435 E. Illinois St. (formerly North Pier) for a screening of the film. And the icon says he loves Chicago.
"I think it's probably the best American city. I'm not saying that because I'm here, I've felt that for a long, long time," Redford said.
Redford starred in the 1984 film "The Natural," in which he played a fictional, rising Cubs star named Roy Hobbs. He said he wanted to film part of the movie at Wrigley Field, but couldn't because the stadium didn't have lights yet.
Wrigley wouldn't get lights until four years after the film was made.
