Erdemir Warner crouched behind home plate preparing to catch the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day for Malibu Little League. But this was no ordinary first pitch. The wideeyed 12-year-old was about to catch a ball thrown from one of baseball’s greatest-ever players.
With chants of “Barry, Barry, Barry” drifting across the Majors diamond at Bluffs Park last Saturday morning, former major league star and current home run king Barry Bonds threw out the first pitch to Warner, who couldn’t believe what had happened.
“Like it’s incredible that he threw that to me. I was so flabbergasted,” Warner said. “It was just the greatest moment. It means everything.”
When Warner, who plays for the Major Dodgers, was told by MLL President Steve Ciniglio that he would be catching the first pitch from Barry Bonds, Warner bought a brand new baseball for $20. In front of more than 300 MLL kids and their parents, Warner caught the ball flawlessly as the 2013 season officially got underway.
As for the cost of the ball now?
“Probably $300. Or even priceless. I’m not going to sell it,” Warner said as he proudly showed off the baseball to his teammates and friends.
Bonds played 22 seasons in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He holds the career and single-season records for home runs with 762 and 73, respectively, although allegations of steroid use followed him later in his career. Bonds also won seven most valuable player awards, eight Gold Gloves and made 14 All-Star appearances.
On Saturday he came to Malibu to support his godson, Riley Banvard, who was playing little league for the very first time. To no one’s surprise, the 11-yearold Banvard wore number 25 with “Giants” emblazoned across his chest.
“I haven’t seen [an opening day] in a while. I’m here for my little godson. It’s nice to come here in this beautiful weather,” Bonds said. “Opening Day is always going to be exciting. When I go back and think about it, that’s the one day I looked forward to. It’s the first day with everyone getting together. You have your first game; you get your first hit. It’s great. For the kids it’s awesome.”
Bonds was kind and generous with his time, offering to take photos with each of the 20 MLL teams. He also threw out the first pitch for MLL softball to Moorea Morrison.
“I was nervous. I really didn’t know if I was going to drop it. I thought it was really cool,” said Morrison, who caught Bonds’ underhand throw cleanly. “He’s one of my favorite baseball players.”
After the opening ceremony, Bonds sat and watched his godson play as the AAA Giants rallied from an 8-1 deficit to defeat the AAA Indians, 11-9. In true Bonds fashion, Banvard walked twice, just as his godfather did a major-league record 2,558 times. Bonds stayed the entire time and greeted the players after the game. “To me, he is the greatest player of all time. For him to come out and throw out the first pitch in my boys’ little league is special,” said Royce Clayton, a former teammate of Bonds on the Giants from 1993-95 whose two sons and two daughters play MLL. “It’s a special moment that I’m sure the boys will always look back and remember. Myself as well.”
Malibu Mayor Lou La Monte sat alongside longtime MLL fan Doug O’Brien during the ceremony. The two gentlemen have witnessed many Opening Days since MLL began in 1955. “Opening Day is one of the most exciting days in Malibu. I’ve been coming to Opening Day here for 18 years. This is a magical place and this is a magic day,” LaMonte said. “I thought it was terrific. The kids’ faces lighted up.”
“I love it. I think it’s very important to see these people come back who were a part of baseball history,” added O’Brien, who was instrumental in bringing MLL to its current location at the Bluffs in the early 1980s. “It’s wonderful to see the kids having a good time.”
