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David Ortiz rips off jersey, reveals ‘Girl Power’ shirt with Aly Raisman

By OlympicTalkApr 5, 2018, 6:52 PM EDT
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Seven Winter Olympians and Paralympians threw ceremonial first pitches at the Boston Red Sox home opener Thursday, but it’s what happened with a Summer Olympian moments later that created buzz.

Red Sox legend David Ortiz and six-time Olympic gymnastics medalist Aly Raisman took the field to yell “Play Ball!” at Fenway Park.

Before taking the mic, Ortiz ripped open his white jersey to reveal a black T-shirt with the words “GIRL POWER” in white.

Ortiz and Raisman have been friends since Raisman threw a ceremonial first pitch at an August 2012 Red Sox game following her first Olympics in London.

Raisman, a native of Needham, Mass., has attended a gala and golf tournament benefitting Ortiz’s children’s charity and a 2015 Christmas Eve gathering at Ortiz’s home.

Raisman threw another first pitch at an August 2016 Red Sox game, where Ortiz famously wore her medals.

The PyeongChang Olympians and Paralympians who threw first pitches Thursday were reportedly hockey players Kacey Bellamy, Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan and Amanda Pelkey, Nordic skiers Jake Adicoff and Dan Cnossen and luger Chris Mazdzer.

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VIDEO: U.S. curler throws first pitch to wrong catcher

U.S. curler throws first pitch to wrong catcher (video)

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By Nick ZaccardiApr 5, 2018, 5:33 PM EDT
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The U.S. men’s curling team had an inspiring run to gold in PyeongChang. Collectively, their ceremonial first pitches at the Minnesota Twins’ home opener on Thursday were not as impressive.

The five team members lined up in a row from right of the pitcher’s mound to its left. In order: alternate Joe Polo, skip John Shuster, vice skip Tyler George, second Matt Hamilton and lead John Landsteiner.

Polo was fine. He threw a strike. Now, for everyone else:

Shuster airmailed his, but it looked worse because his catcher had to duck out of the way of George’s errant throw that went to the wrong Twins player. Hamilton didn’t risk bodily harm, rolling his ball along the grass like a curling stone. Landsteiner threw a floater.

All team members are from Minnesota except Hamilton, who is from Wisconsin. Shuster attended Game 7 of the 1991 World Series.

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MORE: Top moments from Team USA’s run to curling gold

Chloe Kim throws first pitch at Dodgers game after churro bounty

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By OlympicTalkApr 2, 2018, 9:23 AM EDT
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The Los Angeles Dodgers figured Chloe Kim would be nervous, so they brought her two drawers of churros.

Kim, the 17-year-old halfpipe gold medalist, was one of a few PyeongChang Olympians to throw ceremonial first pitches as the Major League Baseball season opened in the last week.

“I’m nervous because I was never good at anything that involved a ball,” Kim said before taking the Dodger Stadium mound. “I would always get hit in the face. Like every time I play volleyball, get hit in the face. Pool, get my fingers jammed. So, I’m really nervous, but I think I’ll do OK because I’ve been throwing a lot for my dog [presumably mini Australian Shepherd Reese] when we play fetch.”

“I’ll probably turn into a meme after today … try to throw it, and then it slips out of my hand and hits me in the head.”

That didn’t happen. Kim bravely threw from the rubber rather than in front of the mound like many ceremonial throwers choose to do. The native of Torrance, Calif., made it to home plate on one bounce on Sunday.

Also on hand was legendary Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who guided the only U.S. Olympic champion baseball team in 2000.

Other PyeongChang Olympians to throw first pitches included ski slopestyle bronze medalist Nick Goepper at the Cincinnati Reds’ opener on Friday and hockey player Haley Skarupa at a Baltimore Orioles game on Saturday.

Here’s a previous look at some of the most memorable Olympian first pitches.

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