Fairfield’s Walter Day to throw out first pitch at baseball game

FAIRFIELD — Fairfield resident and video game icon Walter Day will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a minor league baseball game this summer.

Day was invited to do the honors at a game July 6 in Appleton, Wisconsin, before the game between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Quad Cities River Bandits. The Timber Rattlers are celebrating “Video Game Night” and have invited video game legends to attend a ceremony.

Day said he learned about the team’s video game promotional night and got in touch with its entertainment director, Jacob Jirschele. As Jirshele learned about Day’s career as the founder of Twin Galaxies arcade in Ottumwa (famous for keeping track of high score records for numerous video games), Jirschele asked Day to be one of the featured participants of the evening. Day will be joined by other video game superstars such as the world record holders in games such as Donkey Kong and Galaga.

Day said this event was originally scheduled to occur in 2020, but the Timber Rattlers’ whole season was canceled due to the pandemic, just like every other minor league team.

“I’m very excited about this, and I’m honored by how much friendliness and support they have given about me bringing the things I do, like trading cards,” Day said.

Day said there will be tables set up for him and the other video game superstars to sign trading cards. The Timber Rattlers are donating expenses such as hotel rooms for him and the other guests.

“It’s a very nice arrangement,” Day said. “It tickles my fancy to no end.”

Day said that throwing out a first pitch at a baseball game was one of the things on his “bucket list.” He said he knows that the pandemic has forced teams to reduce the number of fans in attendance, but he hopes those restrictions will be gone by July so a packed house of 5,000 people can watch him throw out the first pitch.

Day has a backup plan in case the pandemic worsens and he is not allowed onto the field to throw out the pitch. He has made arrangements to be filmed throwing a pitch during a Fairfield High School baseball game May 27. The film of him pitching would then be played on the Jumbotron in Appleton before the Timber Rattlers’ game July 6.

“It’s pretty funny and quirky to think I’ll be on the Jumbotron,” Day said. “But deep down in my shoes, I’m absolutely certain I’ll be on that mound [in Appleton] throwing the ball. I’m pretty sure it’s going to happen.”