At Boston's Fenway Park, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay serves up
By Kaki Olsen
![Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox Toronto Blue Jays v Boston Red Sox](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_6517,h_3665,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/512/01j1aj6z9q0q1cgpnkn9.jpg)
Major League Baseball has a long-standing history of inviting public figures to throw out the first ball of a game. In the Mets-Phillies London series this June, actors Matthew Broderick and Rob McElhenny kicked off the two games. Broderick is currently playing on the West End in Neil Simon's Plaza Suite, while McElhenny co-owns the Welsh soccer club Wrexham AFC with fellow actor Ryan Reynolds. They have ties to both teams, but are involved in the culture of the place where they threw out the first pitch.
On June 25, it was time for Britain to return the favor. The Boston Red Sox were to face off against the Toronto Blue Jays for a home game after playing the Canadian team on their home field last week. Gordon Ramsay Burger has been a part of the Beantown foodscape for some time now and had even served burgers to Boston firefighters earlier in the day, but the man behind it all appeared in a Ramsay jersey and with a spring in his step as he walked to the pitcher's mound.
The crowd was already in a state of high excitement, especially after the unique experience of hearing both "O Canada" and "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the national anthems. The normal cheers and shouts of attendees in the stands truly ramped up as the announcer welcomed the chef to the field.
"Gordon, put some mustard on it!" came the encouragement over the loudspeaker. The American slang for giving it extra effort was a witty way to cheer on someone known for his attention to seasonings.
And Gordon did just that, firing a ball high and to the right across the plate before exchanging a back-slapping hug with his catcher and trotting off past Wally, the team mascot and friendly green monster.
The game was full of ups and downs as the Red Sox made a promising start, but couldn't overcome the seven-run inning accomplished by the Blue Jays. But Gordon Ramsay's effort certainly spiced things up for everyone at the game.
Next. Gordon Ramsay to be joined by Lisa Vanderpump on Food Stars. Gordon Ramsay to be joined by Lisa Vanderpump on Food Stars. dark