Notre Dame appearances at MLB ballparks through the years
This is an exciting week for Notre Dame. Not everyone can say they’ve been at MLB’s two oldest ballparks during the same week, but this year’s Irish will be able to make that claim. They’ll face Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Tuesday before meeting Boston College at Fenway Park on Friday. The best part for us at Fighting Irish Wire is that we’ve been credentialed for both games, so we’ll be reporting the action directly from these historic venues.
With these two games taking place during the final week of the regular season, we thought it would be nice to take a look back at Notre Dame figures making appearances at MLB ballparks over the years. We’re not talking about when the football team has played games there or former Irish players who have made the big leagues. We’re talking about when figures have made appearances on behalf of the university. If you have a really good memory, maybe you can recall at least one of these:
Digger Phelps at Wrigley Field, 2022
Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Digger Phelps at Wrigley Field, 2021
Jul 24, 2021; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Former University of Notre Dame Mens basketball coach Digger Phelps throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Digger Phelps at Wrigley Field, 2019
Aug 22, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Former Notre Dame men’s basketball coach Digger Phelps throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field. Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Pat Connaughton at Miller Park, 2019
May 1, 2019; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Pat Connaughton throws a ceremonial first pitch beforea game between the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies at Miller Park. Connaughton previously played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish baseball and men’s basketball teams. He was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB Draft. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Jessica Shepard at Guaranteed Rate Field, 2018
CHICAGO, IL – JULY 13: Notre Dame basketball player Jessica Shepard throws a ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Kansas City Royals on July 13, 2018 at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
Mike Brey at Wrigley Field, 2018
Jun 9, 2018; Chicago, IL, USA; Notre Dame basketball head coach Mike Brey throws out a ceremonial first pitch prior to a game between the Chicago Cubs and the at Wrigley Field. Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Brian Kelly at Wrigley Field, 2015
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 22: Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly throws out the first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 22, 2015 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
Mike Brey at Wrigley Field, 2015
Jun 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Notre Dame men’s basketball coach Mike Brey throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Digger Phelps at Wrigley Field, 2013
Aug 17, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Former Notre Dame mens basketball coach Digger Phelps throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a game between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Rudy Ruettiger at Camden Yards, 2012
September 13, 2012; Baltimore, MD, USA; Notre Dame former football player Rudy Ruettiger throws out the first pitch before a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Digger Phelps at Wrigley Field, 2011
May 28, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; ESPN college basketball analyst and former Notre Dame mens basketball coach Digger Phelps throws out the ceremonial first pitch prior to a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Brady Quinn at Wrigley Field, 2007
Apr 15, 2007; Chicago, IL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback (10) Brady Quinn throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL. The Reds defeated the Cubs 1-0. Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Tom Zbikowski at Wrigley Field, 2006
CHICAGO – JULY 16: Notre Dame football player Tom Zbikowski throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Chicago Cubs take on the New York Mets on July 16, 2006 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
