World Series: Who threw out the first pitch for Game 3?

A member of MLB royalty will be casting out the first pitch in Game 3 of the 2021 World Series hosted in Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. 

First pitches offer an opportunity to honor those who mean something to the sport of baseball.

For Game 3 of the World Series, the Atlanta Braves honored a local hero who spent decades defining the game.

In this meaningful moment, the Braves have chosen to honor the legacy of Hank Aaron, the legendary right fielder who spent over two decades with the Braves organization. Before Aaron could see the Braves make a historic playoff run, he passed away on Jan. 22, 2021 at the age of 86.

MLB.com detailed how the Braves will be honoring Hammerin’ Hank during a pregame ceremony.

“Major League Baseball and the Braves prepared a two-minute, 30-second video tribute to Aaron to be shown on the Truist Park scoreboard and on the FOX broadcast, followed by an on-field recognition of his widow, Billye Aaron, and his children, Hank Jr., Gaile, Dorinda and Lary.”

Game 3 will be the first World Series game in 22 years and the first hosted at the newly-constructed Truist Park, so ensuring this historic moment maintains some of Aaron’s legacy is fitting for the proud Atlanta team.

World Series Game 3 first pitch

Aaron’s son, Hank Jr., has been selected to throw the first pitch to honor his father’s legacy.

The Truist Park field has honored the elder Hank Aaron all season, as Aaron’s jersey number 44 has been etched in the field for the entire year.

Aaron influenced Brian Snitker, the manager for the Atlanta Braves, as a young manager in the MLB.

“I would assume he helped mold both of us, Dusty as a young player and me as a young manager/coach,” Snitker said Thursday. “He was very instrumental, I know, in both our careers because I know both of us just loved the man to death for what he did for us.”

Aaron’s impact isn’t just seen in Atlanta’s organization. Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker maintained that Aaron’s legacy is seen on both sides of the plate.

“Hank’s footprints are all over this series,” Baker said.

It was Aaron who encouraged a young Baker to sign with the Braves as an outfielder in 1967.

“Going over the conversations we would have had, we probably wouldn’t have much about baseball,” Baker said Thursday. “First thing he asks, he asks me about my mother… Like I said, he promised my mom when I was 18 years old.”

Both Baker and Snitker are striving to win their first World Series championship. Both continue to feel the presence of Hank Aaron in their lives.

“I think about him all the time, especially in a series like this,” Baker said. “I feel his presence, especially him and my dad.”

Baker still keeps in touch with Aaron’s family, calling Hank Aaron Jr. the day before Aaron Jr. threw an emotional first pitch for Atlanta.