Last Updated: October 15th, 2026 by Matthew Brown
The first pitch is such a unique tradition in sports. I know every other sport has its version of a pregame ceremonial first action, but there's something about the first pitch that requires real skill to complete.
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That being said, some of the most memorable first pitches are ones that go awry. Let's take a gander at them.
12. Mary Ruich’s 2019 White Sox First Pitch—Direct Hit on the Team Photographer
Mary Ruich, a fan and stadium employee, wanted to fire a successful first pitch with all the eyes on her. Unfortunately, her pitch seemed to be too focused on one set of eyes as the ball went straight towards the lens of a camera.
I hope the equipment was okay, but it still could be a memorable dent for that photographer to look at.
11. Carly Rae Jepsen’s Epic Bouncer Heard ‘Round the Ballpark
Carly Rae Jepsen was as well-known as anybody thanks to her hit song "Call Me Maybe". That did not help her throwing ability, as Jepsen had an absolute classic of a first-pitch blunder.
Saying that the ball hit the dirt is different from the way baseball fans are usually accustomed to a ball hitting the dirt. Instead of by home plate, ball hit the dirt on the mound, which is kind of impressive when you think about it.
10. 50 Cent’s Wildly Wide Throw—Somewhere Near Queens
50 Cent is one of the coolest rappers of all time, but he unfortunately is one of the funniest first-pitch throwers of all time too. I feel like he put a lot behind his pitch, and you have to give him credit for trying to give it some extra velocity. But as the legendary movie quote goes, it was "juuuuust a bit outside."
9. Michael Jordan Throwing An Air Ball
Basketball players have been a pretty common option to throw first pitches. Michael Jordan was a pretty unique one compared to the rest. He actually tried his hand at professional baseball, playing in the minor leagues for a year.
Clearly, he didn't have any reps on the mound, as his pitch sailed like he was still playing the outfield. Maybe it's because he was doing it at Wrigley Field with the Cubs after having played with the White Sox previously.
8. Jordan Leandre’s First Pitch Hits The Wrong Target
This is one of my favorites. It was a heartwarming moment to see a beneficiary of the Jimmy Fund, which helps kids with cancer, throw a first pitch 10 years after he did it the first time.
Unluckily for a photographer, Leandre's added strength in those 10 years gave the ball enough flight to hit him below the belt. The thing about that is that the photographer still has a whole game to work on after that.
7. Taylor Lewan’s “Worst Day” Whiff in St. Louis
Taylor Lewan is a lovable former offensive lineman that you can see in media today. Unfortunately, he probably won't forget his first pitch in St. Louis.
Lewan probably isn't even used to throwing a football, much less a baseball. So, seeing his throw go way wide isn't much of a surprise. The push-ups he did in frustration were impressive, though.
6. Conor McGregor Shows Why He Is Better as a Fighter
While in Chicago, Conor McGregor got the chance to throw a first pitch at legendary Wrigley Field. He saw his opportunity go awry; as you can see, the ball in the picture above is well away from the mascot.
McGregor is probably more used to close quarters as one of the greatest combat sports athletes of all time, not throwing a ball from over 60 feet away.
5. Astros Girl’s One-Hop Wonder Captivates Houston
We go back to another normal fan with this pitch. I just love how mascots can add to these moments with their humor. In this case, the Astros' mascot, Orbit, took to consoling the fan instead of making fun of her.
The pitch looked like you could build a whole new batter's box as an attachment to reach where it landed.
4. Miss Texas’ Sparkling Crown and a Not-So-Sparkling Throw
Miss America is a national pageant that has seen many of its representatives across the country take the mound over the years. Miss Texas joined that list and had a unique idea to get the ball to the plate, but it might have added a little too much difficulty.
She wanted to showcase her ballet skills and underhand toss her first pitch. The ballet was great, but the pitch was not.
3. Tiffany Stratton’s Viral Miss at the Mets Game
As the most recent entry on this list, WWE Superstar Tiffany Stratton toed the rubber ahead of a Mets game and tried her hand at this tough task.
She is one of the most athletic women's professional wrestlers of her generation, but couldn't find the strike zone with her pitch. Hopefully she gets another chance in the future.
2. Baba Booey Hits The Umpire
The famous executive producer of the Howard Stern Show, Gary Dell'Abate, ended up shocking the fans in the stands. That is only appropriate, as he represented the most famous shock-jock in radio.
In the picture above, you can see the home plate umpire way off to the side. That's where the ball ended up, and that umpire might have been a little more cranky than usual while calling balls and strikes.
1. Megan Thee Stallion’s Houston Heat and Hip-Hop Flair on the Mound
We go back to Houston to highlight one of the most popular hip-hop artists of this generation. Megan Thee Stallion looked great, but her pitch didn't.
Of the examples here, I do think that this is the closest one to the plate, so I wouldn't be too ashamed if I were her. Orbit didn't have to give a consoling hug for this one, at least.
