105-year-old resident throws first pitch at baseball game

Fairwinds‒Ivey Ranch Retirement Community in Oceanside, Calif., was planning an outing to a San Diego Padres game for residents, so staff member Sheila Alston, a sales advocate at the Leisure Care community, contacted representatives of the baseball team to see whether they would be interested in having resident Agnes McKee throw out the first pitch.

“From there, it just exploded,” Agnes’ daughter, Jane, told MLB.com. On July 20, four days after her 105th birthday, Agnes became the oldest person to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at a Padres baseball game.

The former Indiana, Ohio and Arizona resident has lived at Fairwinds‒Ivey Ranch for 12 years, according to the baseball organization. When she found out she would be throwing out the first pitch, she spent months stretching and practicing overhand and underhand lobs with staff members, supplementing her regular schedule of activities including art, bridge, bingo and dancing.

The Padres gave her a jersey with the number 105 on the back, and the fans at the ballpark cheered her for her efforts. Those fans included fellow residents from the retirement community, and additional residents watched the game from Fairwinds–Ivey Ranch, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Bud Black congratulates 105-year old Agnes McKee after an amazing ceremonial first pitch today #SDMilitary pic.twitter.com/WXb7L0EK07

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 20, 2014

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