How John and Patrick McEnroe are helping to remove racial, social and economic barriers to success through tennis

John McEnroe is as New York as New York gets, so it was fitting that on Monday night, not far from his childhood home in Queens, the seven-time Grand Slam champion threw out the first pitch before the Yankees-Mets game at Citi Field.

The iconic tennis player, wearing No. 31—no doubt in tribute to legendary Met Mike Piazza, who was recently inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame—tipped his cap to the fans in Flushing and threw a left-handed bullet to the catcher.

It was one of the best ceremonial first pitches you’ll ever see.

Advertising

Would you expect anything less from the uber-competitive former world No. 1?

John wasn’t the only McEnroe to throw out the first pitch at a Mets game this season. In late June, younger brother Patrick took the ball before New York’s game against the Kansas City Royals.

Advertising

We hear this @PatrickMcEnroe #Mets opening pitch clocked in at around 95 mph. Thanks for hosting, @Mets! pic.twitter.com/QpC6ugjHGi
— New York Empire (@nyempiretennis) June 23, 2016

Ouch! In the dirt. Not Pat’s finest sporting moment.

The Yankees went on to beat the Mets, 6-5, in the Subway Series opener. With the Mets up 5-3 in the eighth inning, the Yankees plated two runs to tie the game before winning in extra innings. Maybe manager Terry Collins should have brought the elder McEnroe in to pitch the 10th.

Advertising