Although this moment happened back in May, it deserves to be highlighted and celebrated.
Calvin “Goose” Monroe—drag racer and Georgia Air National Guard recruiter—stepped off the dragstrip and onto the mound at Coolray Field for a special Military Appreciation Day first pitch. Monroe was working a recruitment weekend with the Guard when the opportunity came up. “They asked which of us wanted to do the first pitch,” he said. “Since I played baseball as a kid and I’m a big Braves fan, I said I’d love to.”
The experience exceeded his expectations. “Dude, it was awesome,” Monroe said. “Acuña Jr. was there too. Never thought it would happen to me.”
The Gwinnett Stripers honored military members throughout the game:
