Topps honors 92-year-old WWII vet’s first pitch for Mariners
Feb 22, 2017, 9:00 AM | Updated: 9:33 am
The Topps Company created a First Pitch insert card that featured 92-year-old veteran Burke Waldron. (Via Topps Company)
(Via Topps Company)
Burke Waldron, the 92-year-old who threw out the ceremonial first pitch before a Seattle Mariners game on Memorial Day, has been given the Topps treatment.
Waldron captured international headlines for the fun and exuberance he showed last year when throwing the ceremonial first pitch at Safeco Field. As part of the 2016 Topps Baseball Update Series, the company created a First Pitch insert card that featured the WWII veteran.
Topps Marketing Communications Manager Susan Lulgjuraj says that since then, fans all over the country have been sending the card to him to get signed.
“Not only does he write them back, but he often includes extra photos, cards or a letter with each package,” Lulgjuraj said. “As baseball fans found out how much he has enjoyed receiving the cards to sign, more and more fans have been sending him packages. It’s truly a wonderful moment as Mr. Waldron is honored and remembered for his service to the country.”
In the Youtube video below, a card collector named Aaron Burke gets emotional as he opens Waldron’s mailed response, which included an autographed side-by-side picture of Waldron in his military uniform from 1946.
“I have 800,000 cards right now and this by far one of my favorites,” Burke said. “By far, not even close.”
Waldron told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson in June of last year about how partaking in an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. led him to his fateful toss on the mound. And even though it has been 70 years since Waldron served, the emotion was evident in his voice.
As for the throw itself, Waldron said he hadn’t played baseball since his time in the military but he practiced throwing about a week ahead of time.
“Maybe the Mariners offer me the right kind of deal, I might take it,” he joked. “After it left my hand, I thought oh man I could have gone all the way but it was a good thing the catcher came up just a little bit to help me.”
Thank you Burke Waldron for your service & Thanks @topps for honoring him with #firstpitch! #ttmsuccess #ttmoftheday #autograph #navy 😀 pic.twitter.com/bZT9Hj6LSC
— Joe Dawg! (@garpike28) February 22, 2017
