Jorge Posada, Tim Wakefield and Jason Varitek do the first pitch thing

By Apr 13, 2012, 3:30 PM EDT
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Today were the home openers for the Yankees and the Red Sox.  To kick things off, both teams had recently-retired icons of the franchise throwing out the first pitch.

First, Varitek and Wakefield, who emerged from what I will henceforth call the American Flag Monstah:

source: Getty Images

Then Posada, who looks a bit frosty up on top of the mountain, no?

source:

As someone who was already out of college and married when these guys began their careers — or in the case of Wakefield, enjoyed his greatest success — I feel really friggin’ old right now.

O’Day retires following 15 seasons for 6 major league teams

Associated PressJan 31, 2023, 12:30 AM EST
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ATLANTA (AP) Right-hander Darren O'Day, who posted a 4.15 ERA in 28 games with the Atlanta Braves in 2022, announced Monday he is retiring after 15 seasons for six teams in the major leagues.

O’Day said on his Twitter account “it’s finally time to hang ’em up.”

“The mental, physical and time demands have finally outweighed my love for the game,” O’Day said.

O’Day, 40, featured an unconventional sidearm delivery. He was 42-21 with a 2.59 ERA in 644 games, all in relief. He made his major league debut in 2008 with the Angels and pitched seven seasons, from 2012-18, for the Baltimore Orioles.

He posted a 4.43 ERA in 30 postseason games, including the 2010 World Series with the Texas Rangers.

O’Day also pitched for the New York Mets and New York Yankees. He pitched for the Braves in 2019-20 before returning for his second stint with the team last season. He became a free agent following the season.

He set a career high with six saves for Baltimore in 2015, when he was 6-2 with a 1.52 ERA and was an AL All-Star.