Since 2005, we here at BlackFive have been applauding the efforts of Baseball players Americans like Barry Zito and Curt Schilling who have spent a lot of their time and resources on our wounded troops. Longtime B5 pal "Eggs" sends this story about a Marine who got to throw out the first pitch (with some greats at his side, including Barry Zito) at last night's world series game and what being at a ballpark or on the ballfield means to him: As part of Major League Baseball's association with the Welcome Back Veterans program, the first pitch for Thursday's World Series Game 2 was thrown out by Marine Corporal Nicholas Kimmel. Kimmel, a former high school baseball star at Moses Lake (Wash.) High School, lost both legs and his left arm in an explosion during his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. "It's not that I had any crazy PTSD or anything, but for me the Strikeouts for Troops is more of a way to get out in public and enjoy something that I enjoyed before – baseball – without having to worry about a bunch of people staring at me."... Corporal Kimmel stood on the mound with none other than (Korean War vet) Willie Mays! Go read the whole article. Here's video of Kimmel's awesome throw to start the second game of the world series! Your browser does not support iframes.
Read the complete post at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Blackfive/~3/pUb62CzvxMA/what-baseball-means-to-a-hero.html
Posted
Oct 26 2012, 02:16 AM
by
BLACKFIVE