Celebrities may be the most common people chosen to toss out the Baltimore Orioles? ceremonial first pitch, but fans headed for a day at the ballpark may want to loosen up those pitching arms, too.
Being picked to throw out the first pitch isn?t an exact science, according to Spiro Alafassos, communications director for the Orioles.
“In some cases it?s in a contract,” Alafassos said. “If we don?t have a first pitch, sometimes we?ll send staff out to walk around the concourse and find a kid dressed in Orioles gear to throw out the first pitch.”
Anne Arundel County Executive Janet Owens threw out the first pitch at Thursday night?s home game against the Texas Rangers.
But unlike some ceremonial pitchers, a spokesperson said Owens wasn?t planning to put too much time into practicing.
“She?s a left-hander who usually gets it somewhere close to the plate,” said spokesman Matt Diehl. “And unlike ?The West Wing,? there will be no practicing in the hallways.” Owens has thrown out the first pitch almost every year of her eight-year tenure as county executive, according to Franklin Chaney, acting director of recreation and parks for Anne Arundel County.
The opportunity has come annually on Anne Arundel County Night at Camden Yards. Chaney said the county purchases 700 to 1,000 tickets for county employees and their families for county night.
Winners of the county?s spring softball and baseball leagues, as well as participants in some summer camp programs also receive tickets to an Orioles game during the season. “The Orioles do it because we sent a lot of camps to the game,” Chaney said.
“And it?s fun for our people.”
Besides corporate sponsors and local leaders, the ceremonial first pitch is often offered to visiting VIPs or celebrities who just happen to be in town or who are promoting a cause. Some first-pitch privileges are linked to ticket sales.
Television celebrities Martin Sheen and Geena Davis both threw out the first pitch in previous years while filming their respective White House dramas.
Others who have received the honor include comedian Chris Rock, actor Owen Wilson, local skating champ Kimmie Meissner, talk-show hostLarry King, several soldiers back from Iraq and a couple of members of the band Good Charlotte, said Kristen Schultz, director of special events for the Orioles.
The Good Charlotte members got it by special request, saying it was a lifelong dream, Schultz said.
