Chicago White Sox fans arrived at Rate Field for Game 3 of the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians expecting a marquee name to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. What they got instead was actor Belmont Cameli, best known for playing a hockey player in the Amazon series “Off Campus.”
The White Sox entered the game with a 2-0 series lead after winning both games on the road in Cleveland. A win at home would have given the South Siders their first home playoff clincher since 1906.
Ahead of first pitch, speculation online pointed to a major Chicago figure taking the mound, with fans guessing former President Barack Obama, Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose, or Pope Leo XIV, who has been noted as a White Sox fan.
That speculation grew after MLB.com’s Scott Merkin posted on X that a “big name” would be throwing out the first pitch, adding, “No hints given, so have at it.”
Instead, the crowd got Cameli, who does have a local tie to the area as a Naperville, Illinois, native. Still, the mismatch between expectations and reality drew criticism online, including one post that read: “Are you telling me Sox fans thought the Pope of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church was throwing out the first pitch today and it was just a guy from one of the horny hockey shows?”
On the field, the White Sox jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Guardians responded with nine runs and held off Chicago’s offense the rest of the way, winning 9-3 to force a Game 4.
The White Sox will have another chance to select a ceremonial first pitch thrower for Game 4 on Thursday night.
