During Marian Catholic Night ahead of a Chicago White Sox vs. Kansas City Royals game back during the 2018 season, a nun from the local area high school was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Sister Mary Jo Sobieck's first pitch was so impressive, that she became a national sensation, receiving her own Topps baseball card and bobblehead, while also being nominated for an ESPY Award for "Best Viral Sports Moment."
Getting a little fancy out there.
Sister Mary Jo Sobieck throws out the first pitch for the White Sox. (via: @Cut4) pic.twitter.com/o7rFmeH523
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) August 19, 2018
Just recently, ESPN posted a throwback tribute video, and this has led to those reminiscing on the nun's epic throw from the mound. As many probably already know, the throws that are most notably well known usually only come when the honorary guest messes up by tossing a wild first pitch.
With this in mind, in this case, the nun did it in such legendary fashion, bouncing the ball off her arm before firing in a perfect strike, that it went viral.
𝑀e𝑚o𝑟a𝑏l𝑒 𝑀o𝑚e𝑛t𝑠
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Sister Mary Jo Sobieck throwing out the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game (2018)But first, she executes a perfect bicep bounce… 😲 ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/RW9EYJLS0a
— ZZZ (@AskMeLaterOn) April 20, 2024
Sobieck grew up in Minnesota across the street from a baseball field where she and her siblings would go and play ball.
"When I was a kid, my dream was to be a professional athlete or to be in the Olympics," Sister Mary Jo stated. "Sports fueled my everything. It was my fire. I remember when I felt the calling to religious life, it was like, I didn't think that I could be passionate about anything more than sports."
The Theology teacher/baseball pitcher went on to correlate sports with the faith community, as she says it's all about unity and working together.
"It shapes character and it inspires greatness and it pulls out your potential to be something more," The nun, with God-given talent to play baseball, said. "All of that is religious life, too. Your religious life is a team, and we push one another to be strong in virtue and character, and we work together to do something good for the human family."
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