www.BearGear.info

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Patrick Mannelly is so accurate as a long-snapper that he could probably turn the lights off in a room by snapping a football through his legs and flipping the switch 15 yards away. 

Put a baseball in his hands, however, and it’s a different story.

Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch alongside fellow Bears specialists Robbie Gould and Brad Maynard Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field, Mannelly airmailed the ball well over the catcher’s head.

“My job is to make Robbie and Brad look good, so I did my job,” Mannelly said.

The trio also sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch. But it was Mannelly’s wild pitch that garnered the most attention. 

It was even spot-shadowed on ESPN accompanied by criticism from NFL analyst Mark Schlereth, whose son, Daniel, is a pitcher in the Detroit Tigers organization.

“I was an all-star in little league, but it’s been a while,” Mannelly said.

The Bears long-snapper is married to the daughter of former major league pitcher Tommy John, whose 288 career victories are the most by any hurler not in the Hall of Fame.

“He told me not to throw it in the dirt and I didn’t throw it in the dirt,” Mannelly said.

Despite his errant toss, Mannelly enjoyed the experience, especially singing during the stretch.

“It was a blast,” said the Atlanta native. “As a kid I used to watch WGN all the time and see Harry Caray do it. Being able to do it was honor, and with Robbie and Brad it was kind of neat that the three of us were able to do it together.”