There’s no tradition in sports quite like the ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball game, especially when it’s bad.
That was certainly the case Thursday night at Yankee Stadium.
ESPN personality Stephen A . Smith was tasked with throwing out the first pitch prior to the New York Yankees-Toronto Blue Jays game, and he had mentioned on First Take that he had one goal: throw a better first pitch than former President Barack Obama’s strike prior to the 2009 MLB All-Star Game.
Stephen A is throwing out the first pitch at tonight's Yankee game. Says he'll throw from the mound and his goal is throw a better first pitch than Barack Obama.
With that form, we shall see. pic.twitter.com/Z8Waah8pkr
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 21, 2023
Unfortunately for Smith, he didn’t have quite the same level of success.
Smith’s pitch bounced once before reaching the plate, barely making it to the dirt.
Here it is… Stephen A. Smith throws out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium: pic.twitter.com/EuWlyND5RL
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 21, 2023
In fairness to Smith, a pitcher’s mound is 60 feet, 6 inches away from home plate. It looks much longer once you’re standing on the mound than it does on TV.
Naturally, there were plenty of reactions across social media.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter compared Smith’s first pitch to 50 Cent’s infamously bad effort at Citi Field prior to a New York Mets game in 2014.
Stephen A. Smith’s first pitch at Yankees Stadium might rival 50 Cent’s first pitch at Citi Field:
📹 @YESNetwork pic.twitter.com/BVa7CH2ESq
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 21, 2023
Denver radio host Vic Lombardi wondered, “How is it so many people in my business can’t throw a ball?”
How is it so many people in my business can’t throw a ball? https://t.co/JmImTL3mDn
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) September 21, 2023
Another user agreed with Lombardi, saying, “I’ve always found it funny when people who talk about sports for a living are incredibly unathletic.”
I’ve always found it funny when people who talk about sports for a living are incredibly unathletic. https://t.co/TiOlZEIBIZ
— Charlie Henderson (@charhende) September 21, 2023
Another user was willing to give Smith some benefit of the doubt, saying, “I played baseball growing up (poorly) for a long time and I think I can still throw a baseball reasonably well, but the idea of going to the mound and throwing a first pitch in front of the crowd would terrify me. I have zero doubt I’d airmail it over the backstop.”
I played baseball growing up (poorly) for a long time, and I think I can still throw a baseball reasonably well, but the idea of going to the mound and throwing a first pitch in front of the crowd would terrify me. I have zero doubt I'd airmail it over the backstop. https://t.co/C6yLmzwM1P
— Adam Gretz (@AGretz) September 21, 2023
