Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Video: BaBa Booey Strikes Out With Mets' First Pitch
By
Jen Chung
Published May 11, 2009
Modified May 28, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published May 11, 2009
Modified May 28, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
In case you misssed seeing Howard Stern producer Gary Dell'Abate throwing the first pitch of the Mets-Pirates game Saturday, thanks to YouTube, you can see it again. And again. And again.
The Daily News' Bill Price writes on his Bitter Bill blog: "Gary Dell’Abate (we all know him as Baba Booey) from the Howard Stern show delivered what has to be the most embarrassing ceremonial first pitch in baseball history Saturday. He had been talking for weeks on the Stern show about doing this, and Saturday he finally got his shot... While it's pretty bad, he may actually be better than Perez and Green combined. If you look closely, you can see Stern sidekick Artie Lange - a Met hater - to the far left during the pitch."
Newsday's Adam Abramson writes on Newsday's Pet Rock blog: "This pitch just makes me cringe. I watched it live about 15 times. As someone who pitched for 10 years, he should have called me and not a sports psychologist, as he claims. The key is to put zip on the ball, Gary. And throw over the top. I really can't decide what it looked like -- maybe a boomerang throw? But I've never thrown a boomerang. It just looks horrible...Continuing to pile on, it's one of the most unathletic things I've ever seen from a grown man."
The Baseball News Digest's Mike Silva opines, "I still think the highlight of yesterday’s 10-1 Mets win over the Pirates was Gary Dell’Abate aka Baba-Booey” first pitch. I have seen some lousy ceremonial first pitches, but never one that hit the umpire."
That said, Dell'Abate was throwing out the first pitch to promote awareness about autism.
Tagged
Baba Boey
baseball
ceremonial pitch
first pitch
Gary Dell'Abate
mets
sports
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NJ early voting begins Saturday. Here's everything you need to know.
Our 2026 New Jersey voter’s guide for this year’s midterm elections.
By
Mike Hayes
Published Oct 23, 2026 at 11:01 a.m. ET
Countdown clocks are coming to an NYC bus stop near you
New York City bus service isn't exactly reliable, but new digital countdown clocks will give riders a better sense of how long they have to wait.
By
Stephen Nessen
News
Countdown clocks are coming to an NYC bus stop near you
New York City bus service isn't exactly reliable, but new digital countdown clocks will give riders a better sense of how long they have to wait.
By
Stephen Nessen
Are NJ schools unconstitutionally segregated? It's back to the courts to decide.
By
Colleen O'Dea
Early Addition: New Jersey considering a ban on chewing gum because of microplastics
By
James Ramsay
Queens mother charged with murdering her son after failed suicide attempt, NYPD says
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .