If heaven were a place on Earth, it would be a night like Friday, August 26, 2022, at the corner of Edgar and Dave. It would be the knowledge that the next three days were full of events celebrating the career of a global sensation who for 14 different seasons called Safeco Field home. It would be the absolute heart-pumping, armpit-sweating, pile of fresh-chopped-garlic-for-some-garlic-fries nerves that Iris Skinner will be feeling as she takes the mound to deliver the ceremonial first pitch of Ichiro Hall of Fame Weekend.

What’s the Deal With the Ceremonial First Pitch?

Kalli Rutherford, marketing coordinator for the Seattle Mariners recently shed some light on the process for picking who throws out the first pitch and why Skinner was the perfect choice to kick off the festive weekend.