That’s a hell of a pitch.
To mark the Cyclones’ opening day on June 20, an oversized baseball will be loaded onto a truck at Borough Hall and given a police escort as it makes its way through the streets of Brooklyn in time to be thrown out to Keyspan Park.
The Cyclones are calling it the “longest first pitch ever.” The ball will travel 24 miles, past 114 delis, 45 pizzerias and 247 traffic lights, the team said.
The race will begin at 2:15 at Borough Hall, where Borough President Markowitz will lead fans in a chorus of “Take me out to the ballgame.”
From there, the ball will enjoy the borough’s sites, including Grand Army Plaza, Green-Wood Cemetery, the Cyclone and even Peggy O’Neill’s bar, a legendary post-game watering hole.
The real first pitch — the one that counts against the Staten Island Yankees — is 7:10.
This is the Cyclones’ sixth season in the Class A New York–Penn League. Last season marked the first time the Clones failed to make the playoffs.
June 10, 2006 issue
