Taylor Lewan
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Plenty of people have choked under pressure after getting the chance to throw out the first pitch at an MLB game. You don’t want to be a member of that club, but Taylor Lewan became the latest person to join it thanks to what transpired when he took to the mound at a Cardinals game on Thursday.
Baseball teams have been tapping notable names to throw out a ceremonial first pitch since the end of the 19th century, and they usually delivered it from the stands until Ronald Reagan ushered in a new tradition by trotting out to the mound at an Orioles game in 1988.
That introduced a new twist into the equation, as you were no longer able to simply hurl the ball in the general direction of the diamond.
Most fans expect anyone who’s tapped for the honor to toe the rubber, but even if you chicken out and step a bit closer to the plate, you’re setting yourself up to be mocked if you miss the strike zone or hit the dirt before it gets to whoever’s catching.
Now, I’d personally argue 50 Cent is responsible for what is widely considered the worst ceremonial pitch of all time thanks to what transpired when the Queens native got the nod at a Mets game in 2014.
He has some stiff competition thanks to the likes of Carly Rae Jepsen and Snoop Dogg, but all of them get a bit of a pass because they didn’t make a name for themselves on the back of their physical prowess.
That cannot be said for some of the professional athletes who’ve managed to embarrass themselves a bit; you just know Michael Jordan still rues the pitch he threw out at a Cubs game in 1998, and John Wall was another NBA player who also left a lot to be desired.
That brings us to Taylor Lewan, the retired tackle who spent nine years with the Titans but is arguably best known for co-hosting the Bussin With the Boys podcast alongside Will Compton.
The Cardinals recruited Lewan to throw out the ceremonial pitch ahead of the second leg of their doubleheader with the Royals on Thursday and, well, it’s safe to say he should probably stick to football.
Oh no @TaylorLewan77 pic.twitter.com/iuRU1btCiV
— Bussin’ With The Boys (@BussinWTB) June 6, 2025
Lewan managed to have some fun at his own expense, and while he may have crashed and burned in fairly spectacular fashion, he can take some solace in knowing he was able to avoid drilling someone in the family jewels with his errant toss.