As the musical guest on Saturday Night Live last weekend, pop star Billie Eilish performed two hit songs and starred in a comedy sketch with host Kate McKinnon.
She also found herself as the talk of the baseball world when she wore a No. 44 Jake Peavy White Sox jersey in the closing SNL segment when the cast waved goodbye to the audience.
Peavy, the 42-year-old former pitcher, was starstruck—and a bit perplexed—at one of the world’s most popular artists donning his jersey.
"My phone started going crazy when it aired on the East Coast and that went on into the night," Peavy told MLB.com’s Matt Monagan in a recent interview. "I don't know the last time something got that much traction in my phone with text messages."
Billie Eilish wore a Jake Peavy White Sox jersey on Saturday Night Live 👀 pic.twitter.com/begjMaB9wi
— Cut4 (@Cut4) December 17, 2023
The jersey choice is interesting. Eilish grew up in Los Angeles, not Chicago, and has been spotted at several Dodgers games over the years—not Guaranteed Rate Field.
Peavy, a three-time All-Star who pitched for five years in a White Sox jersey, wasn’t sure why Eilish wore the jersey but loved the choice.
"Your guess is as good as mine," Peavy said when asked why Eilish wore that version. "But that black and white is as good looking a jersey that's ever been made. I pitched in that jersey most of the time."
Peavy won two World Series titles over his 15-year career and was named the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner. But now, he has something extra to brag about beyond his career on the diamond.
