Video Ricky Cobb CELEBRATES Lee Elia’s Legendary 1983 Cubs Rant (43 Years Later) | The Ricky Cobb Show
Reminiscing about one of the most unrestrained (and indelible) moments in baseball lore—Lee Elia’s 1983 Cubs outburst—four decades and three years later. Ricky Cobb dissects it, revels in the pandemonium, and adds his own humorous take to an angry speech that inexplicably improves with time.
As an admirer of ceremonial first pitches, I presumed I had witnessed every individual and item tossed out as a preliminary pitch.
Athletes, musicians, film stars, officials, Grimace from McDonald’s (who could also be considered a McDonaldland dignitary), Hello Kitty, and the Rizzler have all delivered first pitches in recent times. Even when I was a child, I myself threw out the first pitch at a minor league baseball game, appearing alongside the elderly mascot from Ollie’s Bargain Outlet.
This is a true account.
However, up until today, I had never seen an actual, live small mammal throw out the first pitch… in a manner of speaking.
Punxsutawney Phil performed first pitch duties on Friday in Pittsburgh, though he did so through a representative, owing to the circumstances… (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Pirates hosted the nation’s — no, the globe’s foremost rodent meteorologist, Punxsutawney Phil, at PNC Field to handle the ceremonial first pitch before their Friday matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Firstly, I doubt I’ve ever seen Phil outside of February 2nd, when some gentlemen in formal headwear awaken him far too early to ascertain if he spots his shadow, despite the fact that they could simply look down and observe their own shadows to achieve the identical outcome.
But there he was, at the conclusion of April, longing to be back in his burrow consuming… whatever sustenance groundhogs typically favor.
Groundhog Club handler A.J. Dereume cradles Punxsutawney Phil atop Gobbler’s Knob during the 137th Groundhog Day ceremony on February 2, 2023, in Punxsutawney, Pa. (Barry Reeger/AP)
Naturally, Phil would have encountered difficulties throwing a pitch himself — and it’s highly improbable he would have managed to get it over the plate without a bounce — so one of the individuals wearing a top hat retrieved the ball and presented it to him.
Phil appeared to bestow his groundhog approval, and then the top-hatted gentleman — whom I surmise participated in baseball at a minimum at the junior college level based on his throwing technique — lobbed a pitch across home plate on Phil’s behalf.
A representative for Punxsutawney Phil receives a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform on Friday at PNC Park. (Photo by Christopher Denver/MLB Photos via Getty Image)
This observation led me to ponder: are we on the cusp of a new trend in first pitches, the surrogate?
Indeed, a rodent is incapable of executing a first pitch, but what would prevent someone from adopting this strategy?
First pitches can be a source of considerable embarrassment if they don’t go well, just ask Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. He has yet to recover from that experience.
So why not enlist a substitute and spare yourself the potential awkwardness, much like our friend Phil did?
Certainly, you might face some ridicule for opting out of the challenge, but at least you will avoid appearing on highlight reels indefinitely.
Isn’t that right, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson?!