The ceremonial first pitch is a long-standing tradition in both MLB and MiLB, and the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers may have the best one of the season. ChipPurr Jones, a cat rescued and named by the team in late August, waddled onto the field ahead of Tuesday's game, winning over the hearts of the entire stadium as the feline "threw" the first pitch. Two staff members accompanied ChipPurr Jones, one with treats to lure the cat and the other with a baseball, as the kitten strolled to home plate to complete the assignment.
The Stripers held heir pet supply donation night on Tuesday, so it's only natural the internet sensation took center stage. ChiPurr Jones is adequately named after Atlanta Braves legend Chipper Jones, who never actually played for the Stripers but forever secured his legacy in the Braves' organization while putting together an illustrious career over 19 years in Georgia. Over the course of those 19 years, Jones accrued 85.3 bWAR, hitting 468 homers and tallying 1,623 RBIs.
He is an eight-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, World Series winner and MVP. While none of MLB's ceremonial first pitches this season are as cute as ChipPurr Jones' appearance Tuesday, several notable moments before the game caught the public eye over the course of the year — mostly for their poor efforts on the mound. Former New York Mets closer John Franco nearly threw a ball into the dugout with his ceremonial first pitch in May, and Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis also struggled with his effort earlier that month.
Not all of them were bad, though, as New York Knicks stars Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson both threw strikes after bringing home the Knicks' first NBA championship in over 50 years. Results aren't the only thing that matter, though, as the Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays celebrated Artemis II astronauts Victor Glover Jr. and Jeremy Hansen by having them throw their ceremonial first pitches on the same day following their mission. MLB's ceremonial first pitch is a timeless tradition, and celebrating key figures in this manner — whether they're human or not — will always be one of the reasons why baseball is so special.
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