4 Philly sports legends to throw out Game 3 first pitches

November 1st, 2022

This story was written before Game 3 of the World Series was rescheduled from Monday to Tuesday night due to inclement weather.

The stars will be out in Philadelphia for Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night.

With the Phillies and Astros heading to Citizens Bank Park and the series tied 1-1, the home team will be able to draw inspiration from some of the city’s most celebrated champions across the sports landscape.

Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, Basketball Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Hockey Hall of Famer Bernie Parent and Eagles Super Bowl champion Brandon Graham will all be tossing ceremonial first pitches ahead of Game 3.

Schmidt, a three-time National League MVP Award winner who is generally regarded as the greatest player in Phillies history, knows a thing or two about bringing a World Series title to the City of Brotherly Love. He was the World Series MVP when the Phillies claimed the franchise’s first title in 1980, slashing .381/.462/.714 with two homers, seven RBIs and a 1.176 OPS.

Erving, who helped popularize dunking in pro basketball, guided the 76ers as they nearly swept all three rounds of the playoffs, losing only one game in the Conference Finals, en route to the 1983 NBA championship.

Parent, widely regarded as one of the greatest goaltenders of all time, twice earned the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP while the Flyers won consecutive Stanley Cup trophies in 1973-74 and 1974-75.

And Graham was the Eagles’ sacks leader as they upset the defending-champion Patriots to win Super Bowl LII in 2018, the franchise’s first NFL title since 1960.

With all that star power in the building, a rowdy Citizens Bank Park -- where the Phillies have been undefeated this postseason -- will surely be even more electric than it has been all October long.