A story of baseball, rock ‘n’ roll, and inclusion that hit everyone right in the feels.
Sunday, May 18, 2025. PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh. Pearl Jam’s about to rip into Even Flow, but Eddie Vedder grabs the mic… and not to sing. The crowd goes quiet. Then Eddie starts telling a story…
But first, let’s rewind a bit.
WHAT’S CASEY’S CLUBHOUSE?
Casey’s Clubhouse is a nonprofit based in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, founded by the Major Sean Casey, 12-year Major League Baseball first baseman and MLB Network Broadcaster. The goal? To build a place where every kid gets to play ball, no matter their abilities.
At the heart of it all is the Clubhouse Field – a fully accessible, adaptive baseball field that’s more than just a place to play. It’s a spot where kids, families, and volunteers come together to cheer each other on, make friends, and just have fun.
Driven by Sean’s passion and a crew of amazing supporters, Casey’s Clubhouse keeps growing – creating a game-day experience that’s all about inclusion, confidence, and joy.
You can follow Casey’s Clubhouse on Instagram and Facebook.
EDDIE VEDDER DROPS BY CASEY’S
On Saturday, May 17 – between two epic shows in Pittsburgh – Eddie decided to spend his day a little differently. He rolled up to Casey’s Clubhouse with Sean Casey, grabbed a seat in the stands, and just soaked it all in.
And man, he fell in love with the place. The energy, the smiles, the pure kindness. But what really got him? The voice booming from the announcer’s booth.
That voice belonged to Andy. A young announcer with a passion that grabbed Eddie’s attention immediately. He was sharp, real, and full of heart.
During Sunday’s show, right before Even Flow, Eddie steps up and says: “There’s a baseball field down in the South Hills, built for some really special kids. I was there yesterday – it was the best damn way to spend a day off. The kids were amazing. The parents were glowing. But what blew me away… was the announcer. A kid named Andy. He was incredible. Pittsburgh, you gotta meet this guy.”
And boom – Sean Casey brings Andy out on stage.
Andy grabs the mic, beams, and hits the crowd with: “HELLO PITTSBURGH! NOW ANNOUNCING EVEN FLOOOOW!”
The arena erupts.
Later that night, two-time Super Bowl champ Brett Keisel came up and asked Andy for a pic. Dude didn’t just have his moment—he earned it. With talent, charm, and a heart so big it caught Eddie Vedder right in the soul.
WANNA SUPPORT CASEY’S TOO?
Eddie’s been backing them for years—with donations and by auctioning off special gear to raise funds. If you wanna chip in and be part of something beautiful, you can do it.
Every little bit helps. For real.
AND SPEAKING OF BASEBALL…
That same Saturday, May 17, Olivia Vedder, Eddie’s daughter, threw the first pitch at the inaugural Vedder Cup between the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres.
It was a symbolic moment kicking off a friendly rivalry between Eddie’s two favorite teams. Seattle showed up big: 6-1 over the Padres, with a homer from Randy Arozarena and a killer game by pitcher Bryan Woo.
Olivia, nervous but confident, repped the Vedder fam like a pro. Because baseball – just like music – speaks one universal language: passion.
Born in Reggio Emilia in 1980. He created pearljamonline.it in 2001 and wrote the first edition of “Pearl Jam Evolution” in 2009 along with his wife Daria. Since 2022, he is behind 2 podcasts: “Pearl Jam dalla A alla Z” and “Fuori Orario Not Another Podcast”. He has collaborated with Barracuda Style, HvsR, Rolling Stone, Rockol and Il Fatto Quotidiano. He continues relentlessly to try to find “beautiful melodies that say terrible things”.
Favorite song: Present Tense
Favorite album: No Code
Favorite bands/artists other than PJ: Tom Waits, Soundgarden, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., The Murder Capital, Dead Kennedys, Mark Lanegan, Cat Power, R.E.M.