Sorry, Pete: Sandy Koufax throws All-Star first pitch to Johnny Bench
CINCINNATI — Whether it was Ted Williams in Boston or George Brett in Kansas City, It has become an annual All-Star tradition for a legendary player from the host franchise to deliver the ceremonial first pitch.
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Major League Baseball, however, tipped that formula on its side Tuesday night as Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax threw the first pitch to crouching Reds legend Johnny Bench behind home plate.
It went for — what else? — a strike.
The Hall of Fame battery provided a cool end to what was a lengthy pregame ceremony. Baseball announced its “Franchise Four” — the best quartet from all 30 teams — before welcoming Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan and Barry Larkin onto the field to represent the home team. After the introduction of this year’s All-Stars, MLB announced that Bench and Koufax had been selected along with Henry Aaron and Willie Mays as the four “greatest living ballplayers.” (Wondering how baseball settled on those four? They beat out Barry Bonds, Pedro Martinez, Tom Seaver and Rickey Henderson in an online vote.)
Not only was the pitch still somewhat relevant — Koufax did pitch collegiately at the University of Cincinnati — it saved baseball from the possible bad optics of having Pete Rose throw out the first pitch and get a sole moment in the limelight as has been custom.
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Kevin Kaduk is a writer for Yahoo Sports.. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KevinKaduk
