102-year-old Gladys Holbrook to throw out first pitch at upcoming Brewers game

As a lifelong Brewers fan — their entire existence, not hers — 102-year-old Gladys Holbrook will soon live a dream shared by many baseball fans.

On May 31, Holbrook will throw out the first pitch prior to Milwaukee’s afternoon game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. 

Holbrook was selected this week after a friend submitted her name and information to the Brewers. After learning of her honor, she told Mike Anderson of WISN in Milwaukee that she was feeling a little nervous about it until the media started showing up to talk to her. Now, she’s a lot more nervous, but obviously still very excited to walk out in front a ballpark full of Brewers fans. 

“Well, I’m a little nervous about it, but I didn’t think anybody was going to make this much out of it. I just thought this would be some little simple thing,” Holbrook said.

“I never dreamed that. If I would have known that, I don’t think I would have slept last night,” Holbrook said.

No need to worry. We’re sure Gladys will be a big hit, just as 105-year-old Agnes McKee was throwing out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game at Petco Park last season. 

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With that said, there’s always some added pressure put on these first pitches, especially now that all of the bad ones end up going viral on social media, sometimes before the pitch even lands. There’s pressure, but we’re guessing Holbrook will approach it the same way she told Anderson she approaches her life and staying healthy.

“Well, you just keep breathing,” Holbrook said.

And that’s all there is to it.

In a separate interview with the Sheboygan Press, Holbrook talked of her Brewers fandom, her frustrations with the Brewers early season struggles and her hope for new manager Craig Counsell.

Believe us when we tell you, she’s as locked in as the callers who we’re sure frequently populate the postgame call-in shows in Milwaukee.

“I hope the manager will do something,” she said. “For awhile I thought I might have to manage them because I thought I could do a better job.”

We can’t doubt that sentiment or her passion one bit, and that’s just another reason why we can’t wait for Gladys Holbrook’s big day.

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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813