On Friday, Stan Lee threw out the first pitch before the Washington Nationals took on the Philadelphia Phillies. The game was rain delayed during the first inning for over 2 hours. The Nationals went on to come from behind and beat the Phillies 8-4 after a home run by Ryan Zimmerman.
Before heading a bit north for Baltimore Comic-Con this weekend, comic book legend Stan Lee will be throwing out the ceremonial first ball August 19th before the Nationals home game against the Phillies. Talking to Comic Riffs, Lee said:
Hope I’ll be able to reach the catcher when I toss the ball. Is it okay to roll it?
But the appearance isn’t tied to the weekend’s convention, just a 45 minute drive north from Washington, DC. Instead it’s to kick off the East coast literacy campaign for the Stan Lee Foundation. The foundation is teaming up with local comic book shops to donate comic books to the areas kids. The foundation’s goal is to help fight illiteracy in children, something comic books are playing a big part in more and more.
Lee sees illiterate and semi-literate children as handicapped in a world that’s ever more interconnected and one where you need every skill you can get. Further Lee went on to say:
As one who has dealt with reading and writing all my life, I wish every young person could experience the satisfaction that comes with the ability to read, enjoy and benefit from the written word.
So, who wants to go see a comic book legend throw out a baseball?
