#Trump to throw out first pitch at Yankee Stadium Aug. 15

President Trump on Thursday announced he will throw the opening pitch at Yankee Stadium on August 15.

Trump told reporters at a White House coronavirus task force briefing that he was asked to throw the pitch by his friend Randy Levine, president of the New York Yankees.

The president made the announcement as he hosted Yankees Hall of Fame relief pitcher Mariano Rivera at the White House.

“They say, ‘How’s the crowd gonna be?’ And you know, it’s like you don’t have a crowd, there was no such thing it’s gonna be interesting,” Trump said.

The president also gave journalists a briefing on Rivera’s nickname “Sandman.”

“Mariano Rivera you know he’s the Sandman right?” Trump said. “My wife said, ‘Darling, why do they call him the Sandman? I said, you know, they play the song. He just puts the batters to sleep and that’s exactly what happened. So, having Mariano here is a great honor.”

Trump said he and the Baseball Hall of Fame honoree would greet little league baseball players after the press briefing.

The president hosted the Yankees legend as White House coronavirus task force member Anthony Fauci prepared to throw out the opening day pitch around 7 p.m. as the Yankees challenge the Nationals in DC.

Trump introduced Rivera as he pushed for schools to reopen in the fall.

“I have a very very special person who loves children who’s I think one of the greatest athletes of all time,” Trump said. “A lot of people say the greatest pitcher of all time, known as a relief pitcher could have been whatever he wanted. He is the greatest reliever of all time by far substantially more saves than anybody else.”

Trump awarded Rivera the Medal of Freedom in 2019.

“He got the Presidential Medal of Freedom recently,” Trump reminded reporters. “I’m reading off these stats. I knew he was the best I knew he was great but I didn’t know it was almost double anybody else. But he’s a man who loves children, has children, loves children, works hard with children. We’re going to go outside and be with some little leaguers.”