TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — NASA astronaut Kjell Lindgren and Chinese Professional Baseball League President Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) threw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday at the New York Mets' 22nd Taiwan Day celebration, the longest-running Taiwan-themed event in Major League Baseball.
Thousands of Taiwanese fans, many wearing Team Taiwan jerseys, filled Citi Field for the final game of the Mets' three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, per CNA. Lindgren took the mound wearing a blue NASA flight suit and a Mets cap, while Tsai wore a Team Taiwan jersey and carried a plush doll of the CPBL mascot Ohgau, the black dog.
Lindgren said he was excited to participate in Taiwan Day and celebrate the ties between Taiwan and the US.
Tsai said one of baseball's greatest qualities is that people can leave the worries of everyday life outside the ballpark. More importantly, he said, Taiwan Day gives the world a chance to see Taiwan.
Tsai said Taiwan and the US could bond not only through their shared commitment to democracy, but also through a shared love of "America's pastime." He added that he had discussed potential cooperation between Taiwanese professional baseball and MLB, including the possibility of holding MLB exhibition games in Taiwan.
DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen (沈伯洋), a member of the delegation, said he was pleased to attend the event, noting that Taiwan Day has continued for more than two decades. He added that he would be cheering for the Mets.
Before the game, Tsai and DPP lawmakers Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤), Shen, Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜), and Wang Ting-yu (王定宇) met members of the Taiwanese community at a nearby shopping mall. Taiwan Day is an annual event organized by the Taiwanese Junior Chamber of Commerce of New York, the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of New York, and the New Jersey Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce.
