Oh baseball, you sweet, sweet elixir of national leisure.
It's not soccer, but it is still awesome and the Sounders have a great appreciation for the sport played primarily with your hands (You can't use your hands if you play for the Sounders...well, unless you are a goalkeeper...or if you're taking a throw-in. Anyway...)
Case in point this past Sunday. Following a fantastic road victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps FC the night before, Sounders FC Designated Player and true American hero Clint Dempsey took the mound at Safeco Field and threw out the first pitch at the Seattle Mariners game. Donning a studly white Mariners jersey with his name and number on the back, Deuce rocketed a perfect toss at actual pitcher Felix Hernandez to the applause of the 39,000 on hand. That kid Clint has talent and not just with his feet.
But was it the best Sounders first pitch at a Mariners game? Well, I'll leave that up to you to decide because if you read on in this post, you'll see all six of the club's attempts at a strike. Feel free to vote below and let us know your favorite.
1. Sigi Schmid - September 18, 2009
The first of the bunch, Sounders Head Coach Sigi Schmid put a pretty solid effort in. Straight down the middle and with a good, solid wind-up, Schmid did the Rave Green proud.A real gem at 4.5/5.
2. Fredy Montero - August 21, 2012
Hailing from Colombia, Fredy Montero is well versed in the ways of the baseball, but it didn't really show in his effort below. Releasing the ball a bit too high in his arc, his pitch sailed a bit, causing him to feel a little ashamed of what he had just done. It's ok, Fredy...we still love you. Not the best at 2/5.
3. Eddie Johnson - June 10, 2013
Eddie Johnson is a man of focus. He showed it with this pitch. Very cool, calm and collected in the lead up, Johnson delivered a slider of sorts that would have had most right-handed batters reaching. I'll give it a 3.5/5.
4. DeAndre Yedlin - July 11, 2014
What I like most about this pitch from DeAndre Yedlin is the speed in which he executed it. Walked up to the mound, looked at home plate for all of two seconds, started his wind-up and BOOM in there. No preparation, no dilly-dallying. Just action. Love DeAndre for that. Rating: 4/5
5. Clint Dempsey - May 17, 2015
Clint is a cool guy. Never too many highs, never too many lows. The pressure doesn't really get to our man. That showed here as Deuce displayed perfect mechanics with his pitch from the top of the mound to his buddy Felix. A very solid effort. Clocks in at a 4/5.
[UPDATE] 6. Kasey Keller - September 5, 2012
Thanks to @LikkitP for pointing out a very obvious omission from this fine piece of journalism. Sounders legend Kasey Keller threw a heater for a first pitch back in 2012, nearly a year after retiring. I'm giving this one a 5/5 because Kasey rules.
