Two South Jersey Sports Figures to Throw Out Phillies First Pitch

The Ceremonial First Pitch at Baseball games dates back to the late 1800s but was popularized by United States Presidents in the 20th Century.

In 1910, President William Taft was the first to throw out the ceremonial first pitch that symbolically became the "first pitch" the Major League Baseball season, a Presidential duty executed for the next 110 years by all except three Presidents (Jimmy Carter, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden).

But the version the of ceremonial first pitch that we see in the 21st Century dates back to 1988. Before Ronald Reagan, almost every President and celebrity would throw the ceremonial first pitch from the stands or standing in front of the mound. But President Reagan insisted that his final Presidential First Pitch would be done from the Pitcher's Mound.

This week, the Philadelphia Phillies will have two special men who are not politicians but their stories are more valuable to Philadelphia and South Jersey sports fans than any bureaucrat.

Phillies Honor South Jersey Family and Two-time Philadelphia Sports Champion on Tuesday Night

In a press release from the Philadelphia Phillies, the organization has announced that two men will throw out the Ceremonial First Pitch before the first game of their home series versus National League East Divisional Rivals, the Atlanta Braves.

Guy Gaudreau will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch as the symbolic start for an important week for many people in South Jersey. The inaugural Gaudreau Family 5K Run/Walk & Family Day will be Saturday, May 31st. The fundraising event is being held to honor the memory of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who were killed after being struck by a drunk driver on August 29th, 2024.

The Gaudreau Family 5K Run/Walk will take place at Washington Lake Park and will raise money that will be used to build a playground for children with disabilities at Archbishop Damiano School. The Phillies are having Guy Gaudreau on hand to throw out the first pitch to bring more awareness to this event honoring the memory of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau.

Before their untimely deaths, both men were NHL Hockey players, and some consider "Johnny Hockey" one of the greatest hockey players to ever come out of New Jersey.

Joining Guy Gaudreau on Tuesday Night will be two-time Super Bowl Champion Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman. From 2016 to 2025, Roseman has been the man overseeing the construction of three Eagles teams that have reached the Super Bowl and is the only Eagles executive to ever win two Championships in the last 60 years.

Johnny Gaudreau made out list of the greatest and most accomplished athletes to ever come from the state of New Jersey: