In our continuing series of First Pitch showcases, we've accumulated a lot of shots of former MLB legends throwing out the first pitch. I like doing these ones because the original Topps First Pitch insert series' never had ex-MLB guys in there, and I wanted this to be an excuse not only to showcase Hall of Famers like Hawk over here, but some fringe guys that don't get enough credit. And there are a ton of those here:
For instance, here's another Cubs guy that doesn't get as much respect as Dawson: Kerry Wood. In the 90s, he was that guy that threw 20 strikeouts in a game in his rookie year. In the 2000s, he was the pitcher that was supposed to bring the Cubs to the World Series. In the 2010s, he was a loyal member of the struggling Cubs teams as their closer.
Now? He gets love from Cubs fans, but perhaps not the rest of the league. I doubt he'll get very many Hall of Fame votes, but he was a great player that respected the game. I'm glad he's still loved in Wrigley.
Moving now to the other side of Chicago...
This guy is a legend in two places: Chicago, where he came up, was a rookie sensation, and hit a ton of home runs; and Detroit, where he hit even more home runs, helped his team get to a World Series, and transitioned the team from the I-Rod/Da Meat Hook teams of the late 2000s into the Miggy/V-Mart/Scherzer teams of the early 2010s. He's a crucial piece in both teams, and threw out the first pitch in arguably the lesser of his two teams. At least they still love him there, after he jumped ship and played for a division rival.
Keeping with the trend of team heroes, Andy Van Slyke was a member of that playoff-bound 1992 Pirates squad, with Bobby Bonilla and Barry Bonds, and was a hit with the Bucs before the team dissolved. He didn't really have a career outside of Pittsburgh, and I'm sure he doesn't get cheers like he does in Pittsburgh, so at least he gets a warm welcome back here.
Onto a more well-known team hero, Gaylord Perry, who played everywhere but most specifically San Francisco, still gets applause for his HOF-caliber work in the Bay area, even if he's getting up there in age.
Some of these are no brainers: Rickey Henderson became an Oakland legend basically his first year in the bigs, and even if he didn't come back to the Bay area a few times, they'd still have worshipped him. He just shows up in a suit, soaks up the love from fans, who've basically named the stadium after him at this point, and throws the first pitch like the legend he is.
This one is a little frustrating: if the Montreal Expos still existed, Tim Raines would have a definitive place to throw out the first pitch every few years, but this one was done in Toronto, where Raines never played. Yes, there's the occasional carry-over of Montreal fans in Rogers Centre, but most of them just want their team back. And seeing Tim Raines wearing an Expos uniform...and getting cheers from a TORONTO crowd, might be a little infuriating for Expos fans. Still, at least he looks happy to be there.
...and then there's Spaceman.
Bill Lee, the single oddest baseball player of all time, played for Boston and Montreal, lives in Vermont, and threw out the first pitch in Tampa, wearing a throwback uniform for a team that didn't exist at the time they're throwing back to. Never change, Bill.
In all seriousness, Bill Lee is part of a campaign to help Cuban ballplayers play in the States, and Florida, and Tampa, have a nice Cuban population, so it sort of makes sense why he's throwing one out for Tampa. Plus...it's just great to see he's still alive, and happy.
That's enough Stars are Out miscellany for today. Next time I do one of these, expect some guys who've been in the movies.
Nice work!
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