Taking the mound for a recent baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies … Josh Olmsted.
No, Olmsted, President and Chief Executive Officer-Americas, is not moonlighting as a Major League baseball player. Rather, he was selected to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game at Chase Field.
Through its long-standing relationship with the Gallagher & Kennedy law firm, the company was offered the opportunity to have someone throw out the first pitch. Olmsted, a former college soccer player himself, represented his Freeport-McMoRan colleagues when he took the ball before the game. Olmsted’s pitch, which came in a tad high and inside, was unfortunately one of the only highlights of the night, as the Rockies defeated the Diamondbacks 6-5.
“It was a neat experience. The biggest worry was not embarrassing myself or the company,” Olmsted said with a chuckle. “Being on the field with my son (John) and getting the chance to share that was fun, and it was something I’ll remember for a long time.”
In the photos above, Olmsted takes aim at home plate then receives the souvenir baseball from Diamondbacks second baseman Buddy Kennedy, who caught the first pitch. Olmsted’s son, John, greets the umpire crew prior to the game.