Yes, folks, my ongoing chronicle of famous people throwing out the first pitch at baseball games continues with 2022. And through the first few months of the season, we've already got some nice ones.
Let's start out with one that pissed off Gerrit Cole. First home game of the Yankees' season, and who do they get to throw out the first pitch but legendary Yankee fan and Broadway headliner Billy Crystal. I feel like anytime they ask Billy to do it, he'll say yes, and he loves it. This particular time, the ceremony for him lasted a bit longer than Gerrit Cole was thinking, and Cole blamed Crystal for messing up his mojo and leading to a trickier start for him against the Sox. That's a good way to align yourself with the Yankee fans, Gerrit. 'IT'S ALL NATIONAL TREASURE BILLY CRYSTAL'S FAULT.'
A less problematic first pitch incident came in Cincinnati, still hyped from February, and still proud of their Bengals for making the Super Bowl. Joe Burrow had a fantastic NFL season, redeemed himself for a late injury during his rookie season, and made the Bengals a big deal for the first time in years. I think the Reds fans were happy to see him, and seeing as they've done other Bengals first pitches since this, they're still very happy with their season.
As promised by their preview ad for their name change, the Cleveland Guardians could, in fact, get Tom Hanks to throw out the first pitch at their opener. To paraphrase The Simpsons Movie, The Guardians had lost all their credibility, so now they're borrowing some of his. Hanks spent some formative years in Cleveland, and while he leans more towards Oakland as a football fan, he never forgot his loyalty to the Tribe. I'm glad he was not only able to lean into his movie star presence, but even throw in Wilson the volleyball. Happy he knows who he is.
One of the best first pitches you're gonna see this century came from Mariners legend Ichiro Suzuki, who couldn't do wrong in Seattle even if he retired in the middle of a season. Ichiro not only showed up to throw out the first pitch for their opener, but threw GENUINE HEAT on it. He's 48, clearly not hitting to MLB level anymore, but Ichiro has retained his rocket arm to this day, which is pretty awesome.
For the Sox's home opener, they got their MVP of the 90s and home run hitting giant [literally] Mo Vaughn, who brought his kid to throw out the first pitch. I'm glad people still cheer for Mo, despite his career drop-off after leaving Boston.
Similarly, Braves fans still cheer for Ron Gant for everything he did for them, despite his big years coming for Cincinnati and St. Louis. I feel like I'd have really appreciated Gant more if I'd grown up fully in the 90s. Solid hitter, played for all the red teams including the hometown one, well liked pretty much.
May didn't have a ton of good first pitches, though...Bill Burr is a pretty damn good one, I have to say. As good of a comedy presence Burr has been for the last decade or so, Burr has become even bigger in the past few years, and even more of a Boston icon. So I'm glad he can throw one out at Fenway and get applause.
Niche one for the road- Michelle Zauner is the lead singer of the indie pop band Japanese Breakfast, who I saw live a few years ago in Philly, where the band is from. That's right, Michelle is from Philly...which is why I was puzzled to see Michelle throw out the first pitch at a METS GAME. She jokingly tweeted afterwards that she was wearing Phanatic socks the whole time, but...still. Glad she's getting acclaim and fame right now, but...the Mets, Michelle?
Hopefully we get some cool ones in the next few months as well.
These are always fun!
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