Throwing out the first pitch before any baseball game is a big deal. All eyes are locked-in on whether it will be thrown for a strike, or if it will turn in to a viral, laughable moment. But sometimes, the stakes are as high as can be for a ceremonial first pitch.
The first pitch that immediately comes to mind is former President George W. Bush’s first pitch following 9/11. Bush was tasked with the monumental task of throwing a strike ahead of Game 3 of the 2001 World Series at Yankee Stadium.
Bush famously grooved one right down the middle and the stadium erupted. While the stakes aren’t quite as high (in real life) for Monday night’s first pitch, the stakes are as high they can get for the NY Yankees.
Down two games to none to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who better to turn to, than one of the most clutch Yankees players of all time, DEREK JETER. There were seemingly many options for the Yankees for Monday night’s first pitch, but this feels like the overwhelmingly right choice. We’re assuming Jeter will groove a strike right down the middle, and we’d expect Yankee Stadium to erupt like it’s 2001 all over again.
