Photo By Master Sgt. Mark Bell | Sgt. Ryan Barger, who is originally from Grand Rapids, Mich., and now a training...... read more read more
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BALTIMORE, Md. – Thousands of Baltimore Orioles fans were standing on their feet cheering as Army Reserve Sgt. Ryan Barger stood in front of the pitcher’s mound to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Orioles Park on April 23 during a Major League Baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
With his wife, Andi, cheering him on from the grandstands just above the home-team dugout, Barger admitted he was nervous about the pitch.
“I haven’t thrown a baseball since high school,” Barger said as he gripped the baseball while waiting to take center stage at Camden Yards to commemorate the 105th Army Reserve Birthday. “It would be embarrassing to miss this pitch -- and my wife would not let me forget it if I did.”
Barger, who is originally from Grand Rapids, Mich., is now a training noncommissioned officer with the 423rd Military Police Company in Shoreham, N.Y.
Those nerves seemed to disappear as Orioles pitcher Darren O'Day walked out of the dugout to talk to Barger and Brig. Gen. Tammy Smith, Director for Army Reserve Human Capital Core Enterprise, who was his escort for the day’s events.
After several minutes of getting to know one another, O’Day, Barger and Smith took to the field as Lt. Gen. Jeffery Talley, the 32nd Chief of Army Reserve and 7th Commanding General, United States Army Reserve Command, greeted fans from the jumbo screen.
“Play Ball!” Talley said in a pre-recorded message to the fans.
As the announcer began to introduce Barger to the home crowd, several Orioles and Blue Jays players came out of their dugouts to honor Barger who was wounded while deployed to Afghanistan recently.
“This is such an honor to be recognized not only for my achievements for my service to my country, but to stand here today and represent all Army Reserve soldiers on our 105th birthday,” said Barger.
Married in 2012 after his deployment, his wife and step son stood with friends as they cheered him on; she was in near tears watching her husband be honored by so many.
“I am so proud of him and all he has done for his country and his family,” she said. “He really is proud to serve to serve in the Army Reserve, and we are so proud of him today and every day.”
With O'Day crouched behind home plate and the Oriole Bird, the team’s official mascot, taking the helm as the home plate umpire, Barger stood nearly 90 feet away as the cheers exponentially got louder.
Taking one last look down the lane, like taking aim during weapons qualification, Barger released his throw with no turning back.
What seemed like minutes to Barger only took a few seconds.
“Smack!”
The sound of the ball landing in O’Day’s glove sent a roar through the stadium and arms straight up in the air from his wife.
O’Day quickly ran out to Barger, gave him back the prized possession, and took a few photos with Smith and The Oriole Bird.
“I was scared there for a moment,” he said after his pitch. “I knew I could do it, but with all the pressure you just never know. I am just glad it didn’t hit the dirt. It wasn’t a strike but it was there.”
Unknown to Barger, a little boy stood in the first row and saluted Barger as he walked back. The boy’s dad quickly changed the boy’s salute hand from the left to the right and rubbed the top of his head.
“Like every day, today is a good day to be in the Army Reserve,” said Barger.
| Date Taken: | 04.23.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 05.02.2013 13:56 |
| Story ID: | 106223 |
| Location: | BALTIMORE, MD, US |
| Hometown: | GRAND RAPIDS, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 225 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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