8/29/09 - A's vs Angels - Jon Wilhite 1st Pitch - 1 Ball

This homestand in Anaheim was filled with emotional moments, none of which that were bigger than when Jon Wilhite stepped onto the Angels Stadium mound to throw out last nights ceremonial 1st pitch.

Jon was the lone survivor of the accident that killed Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and their friends Courtney Stewart and Henry Pearson.

Tonights game was also the 6th game I attended this week. The great thing is that I went to 6 games this week and for tickets to all 6 games it only cost me was $8. That was thanks to a very nice lady that gave us tickets to Tuesday nights game and also thanks to the great support and generosity of the Angels and their VP of communications Tim Mead. Tim was nice enough to get us tickets for last nights game as well as a game earlier in the year to help support Baseballs 4 MADD!

Now onto my day at the ballpark. I made it to Angels Stadium by 4:05, just as the gates were opening. I went into the ticket office to pick up the tickets from Tim. A lady in the office took my ID and about 5 minutes later came back and said they couldn't find the tickets .......... WHAT???? Precious BP time is ticking away and now I have to wait in the office for the tickets. Well, about 15 minutes went by and finally I had the tickets. Then I got to the gate with the tickets and the first one didn't scan and said it was no good! UGH! Back to the office. They fixed it and finally I was headed into the stadium.

I went out to right field since the A's were now taking batting practice. Jack Cust, Ryan Sweeney and all the other A's lefties only managed to hit about 10 balls into the seats. I did have a play on one but a guy jumped in front of me and I never saw the ball once he jumped up. It hit the heal of my glove and fell back on the field. I was afraid now that I would get shut out!

BP came to an end and I had a goose egg. Would this be the first time in my life I got a goose egg on back to back days? I was determined to get a ball so I headed over to the bullpens in left field. There were 3 balls sitting in the Angels bullpen and just 1 in the A's bullpen. When some of the Angels players and coaches came into their bullpen they tossed the balls all over the place but not towards me. Then it was time for the A's to make their way into the bullpen.

A's catcher, and college teammate of Jon Wilhite, Kurt Suzuki was the 1st A's player to make his way into the Bullpen. As Kurt walked past the ball on the bench I asked him if it was possible to get the ball. He looked back and motioned towards another A's player to toss him the ball. That player tossed him the ball and then he tossed it over the wall to me. How awesome was that, on the night that Jon Wilhite was going to throw out the first pitch I got a ball from his friend and college teammate.

After Kurt tossed me the ball I walked down near where he was getting ready to warm up the starting pitcher. Since he was right by the fence I thought I would thank him for the ball and let him know what I was doing for MADD.

I told him that the ball he just threw me helped raise money for MADD through Baseballs 4 MADD. I told him that I had caught almost 5000 baseballs at professional baseball games and that every ball I caught this year would help raise money for MADD. I mentioned that I had started doing this right after the accident and that I felt it was my way to help out after the accident which was only a mile from my house. He said,  "Thanks, thanks alot, that's really cool!" That made my entire night and the entire season worth the effort that I have put into Baseballs 4 MADD.

Unfortunately I did not get to meet Jon or even talk to him or anyone else that was there for the ceremony. I know that time will come and for now I just hope that they know that there are a lot of people that feel he is a true miracle. He is someone and something that we can believe in and gives us hope in everything good or bad in life. He has shown us that having the will to live and a never give up attitude can go a long way! God Bless you Jon!

The ball from Kurt was the only ball I would get tonight but it is a ball that I will hold onto! In fact I hope that in the near future I can get both Jon and Kurt to sign the ball!

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