This past Friday, Eri Yoshida of the Kobe 9 Cruise made history as the first female to play in the Japanese professional league - as a knuckleballer. She entered in relief in the ninth, walked the first batter she faced, then struck out the next.

MLB.com has more:

“I wasn’t thinking about anything other than just going out there and giving it my all,” Yoshida, who emulates Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield, was quoted as saying by AP. “I think this was a bad result, but the stadium is great and the fans were really cheering me on. I want to be able to pitch more innings and become a pitcher who can be relied upon.”

Yoshida, who started playing baseball while in the second grade, said she hopes to stick with the Cruise.

I imagine we’re still a ways away from seeing a woman enter the MLB, partially due to the fact the sport clings to tradition no other, partially due to the popularity of softball as a girly alternative to baseball. Take this asinine Nike commercial, for instance:

Source.

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Rangers owner Tom Hicks has asked former president George W. Bush to toss out the first pitch at the Rangers’ opening game on Monday, April 6, MLB.com reports. The last first pitch Bush threw was at the Nationals’ park in 2008, to a resounding chorus of boos from the majority of folks in the cheaper seats.

However, given Bush’s popularity in his home state, it may be the only place in the nation he’s likely to be cheered resoundingly.

Video from the Nats’ game:

Source.

Joe Blancato boos, bush, controversy, first pitch, mlb.com, rangers, youtube