When Stephen Colbert threw out the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game earlier this month, he was hardly recognizable - but he still turned quite a few heads.
The "Late Show" host disguised himself as long-haired Wrigley Field hot dog vendor "Donny Franks" for a segment that aired Thursday night and featured a few familiar faces.
"Since I'm from South Carolina, I'm rooting for my home team, the Chicago Cubs. Now, if you have followed baseball for the last 108 years, you know that the Cubs have long struggled to make it to the post season," Colbert said.
"In fact, when I lived there, they were like that awkward dork you knew back in high school because it was a miracle if either of them made it to first base," he added.
"But now, the Cubbies have the best record in baseball," Colbert said to cheers from the audience. "And it's not just the talent on the field that's responsible for their success. It's also the good men and women in the stands: the ticket takers, the ushers, the vendors."
So Colbert headed to Wrigley Field to fill in for the day, and after a quick tutorial from veteran hot dog vendor Rocco Caputo, he became "Donny Franks," and that's when the fun began. [[393847321, C]]
"Donny" started his day by tossing hot dogs to outfielder Kyle Schwarber to warm up, then batting and running bases complete with his hot dog box strapped to his back.
Chicago Baseball
"You guys want some meat in your mouth?" Franks asked some unsuspecting fans, encouraging others to "take this dog down to intestine town. It's what it's made of."
"Here you go my man, Chicago owes you a lot," he told Anthony Rizzo as he handed the first baseman a hot dog in the dugout before requesting $6.50.
After stroking one Cubs fan's beard, and sipping another's beer before putting whipped cream on top of it, Franks was called over for a word with the boss.
"You've done a great job kid, but you're done man," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said to protests from Franks. "I know you've done a really nice job, but that's it. Thanks a lot, appreciate it. Cubs appreciate it," he added before taking a hot dog and sending Franks on his way.
Colbert, who attended Northwestern University and launched his career at Chicago's famous Second City theatre, is a noted Cubs fan and even tried to bring the team good luck in July. [[393846831, C]]
