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Aug

2008

Blind Guy Throws Out First Pitch At Phillies Game

Posted by meech.one at 1:10 pm ET 14 Comments

As you most likely saw many-a-time, throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game can easily turn into an extremely embarrassing moment for the thrower. Even the most athletic of guys often step on the pitchers mound and their arm immediately turns to mush and they end up tossing a sissy-like pitch in the general vicinity of the catcher. The results are then uploaded to YouTube and that person becomes an internet laughing-stock forever – just ask Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory. It’s a no-win situation, really; either you throw what resembles a strike and no one cares, or you’re ridiculed for your girly shit-throw.

The following is the rare exception: Thomas Earle*, a Phillies fan who also happens to be legally blind, won a Fan Appreciation contest to toss out the first pitch yesterday. Minus the most important sense needed to pitch, he drops a beautiful curveball into the awaiting glove of Brett Myers for a strike.

Adam Eaton should be taking notes.

Continuing our Olympic theme for the day, watch THEEE WORST first pitch EVAR in animated .gif form, after the jump…

Carl Lewis, Seattle, 2003:

14 Comments on “Blind Guy Throws Out First Pitch At Phillies Game”

Chamomiles Davis Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
He could probably hit off of Eaton, as well.
Matt P Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Luckily, he didn’t have to see the game that followed.

/ducks
Chamomiles Davis Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Q: Why couldn’t Hellen Keller drive?
A: Because she was a woman.

/runs, hides
SD Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Looks like Carl Lewis throws as well as he sings.
Chamomiles Davis Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
SD,

It’s as if the entire upper half of his body was completely useless to him.
How do you spell retard? Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
“What if someone was legally blind? What if someone was illegally blind? When did blindness become a legal issue? Was their someone on Capital Hill going ‘Forget about gun control, we’ve got bogus blind people to deal with. With their fake dogs and their rubber pencils… they’re making a mockery of our blind populous.’”
/Jim Gaffigan’d
Kevin Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Carl Lewis’ pitch probably set the RBI program back at least 10 years.
Gigi Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Q: Why did Hellen Keller’s dog kill itself?

on second thought…maybe we shouldn’t go down this road
JMS Says:
August 8th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Pfffft, legally blind.

I’m legally blind. It just means I can’t see 2 1/2 feet in front of me (seriously, it sucks) without corrective lenses.
Phils Phan Says:
August 9th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
The Hellen Keller variant is much, much more socially acceptable than the Ray Charles variant, however.
Nonviolent Jay Says:
August 10th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Worst ever could go to Mariah Carey. Although she made it look good, or at least slutty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5p8jXfiwj8&feature=related
Thomas Earle Says:
August 11th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Hi Guys:

Thanks for posting the vidoestream of me throwing out the first pitch at the Phillies game on August 7th at Citizens Bank Park. Apparently the live broadcast was incorrrect, my name is Thomas Earle, not Henry Bloom. I am the CEO of Liberty Resources a Center for Independent Living for kids and adults with disabilities living in the Philadlephia area. The stadium announcers got my introduction right but the TV announcers got me mixed up with Henry, Maybe you can edit your web description to notate my correct name.

I had a blast and I am so glad I threw a strike. Go Phils!
meech.one Says:
August 11th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Hey! I thought you were blind!

Corrected, Mr. Earle. Good job out there.
Thomas Earle Says:
August 11th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Hi Guys:

I am legally blind from Retinitis Pigmentosa (progressive tunnel vision due degeneration of the retina).

Thanks for the compliments,

T