Doug Glanville, don't quit your day job

At the Buzz, we love to see Penn alumni succeed. Former Quaker Doug Glanville has done just that. After four years as an engineer/baseball player at Penn, Glanville went on to be a career .277 hitting outfielder in the major leagues, spending most of his time in the pros with the Chicago Cubs and hometown Phillies. Since his retirement he's gone into writing, penning a book and writing for the New York Times and ESPN.

Not bad.

This, however, is bad. Glanville was invited to throw out the first pitch at a Cubs game this week. Politicians, actors, young children, Miss America contestants, athletes who play sports other than baseball — we don't ever expect much out of them when they toss the ceremonial pitch. But when former ballplayers return to stadiums at which they spent several years of their careers — whether position players or pitchers themselves — we expect, if not a strike, a quality toss. Glanville delivered no such thing.

As you can see, the man who once recorded double-digit outfield assists in three separate seasons definitely missed the cutoff on this throw:

Nonetheless, we still love Doug Glanville (Sidenote: he has always been more than gracious in doing interviews for the DP, and we are very appreciative).

Paul Cusick, if you are reading: take note.

UPDATE: Penn Athletics media maven Chas Dorman has informed me that Glanville, in fact, toed the rubber back when he wore the Red and Blue. His line from a game, March 12, 1990: 1 IP, 4 AB, 1R, 1ER, 1H, 1 SO, 1 BB, 2 LOB. Penn beat Husson College 15-6, and Glanville struck out the first batter he faced, induced a ground ball and a flyout. So his ERA would have been 9.00.

Endnote: While we're on the subject of ceremonial first pitches:

and

(h/t to Dave Dobkin)