Eli Manning threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Yankees’ series finale against the Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon, celebrating his bobblehead day in the Bronx, where the Yanks were helping honor the 100th anniversary of New York Giants football.
Manning threw from the rubber and heard plenty of cheers when he emerged from the dugout, and afterwards, told Suzyn Waldman and Justin Shackil in the WFAN broadcast booth that if he was going to miss the strike zone, he wanted to miss high.
“I got a little nervous when I got out here. I asked if I could throw a few, so I went into the bullpen in the dugout,” Manning said. “They were all coming in a little high when I was warming up, but I didn’t want to overcorrect. I couldn’t miss down low.
“I was trying to go high heat, and it might have gone a little high on me…didn’t one-hop it, so that was the ultimate goal.”
Manning accomplished that goal, as he didn’t bounce the first pitch, and felt the love from the fans in attendance who supported the two-time Super Bowl champ in his illustrious 16 years with the Giants.
“It’s one thing you miss about playing, it’s the cheers and the crowd and running out to your home team,” Manning said. “This felt like a home game for me.”
Manning also got to see Aaron Judge, and while the two have met multiple times already, Manning still can’t help but marvel at the size of the Yankee slugger.
“Every time I see him, I just forget how big he is,” Manning said. “I see a big tight end every time I look at him.”
Listen to Manning’s full spot in the broadcast booth right here.