A Tabernacle resident preceded Atlanta Braves’ pitcher Greg Maddox on the mound during game five of the World Series between the Braves and Houston Astros.
Richard Feltoon, a township resident of 20 years, threw a pitch during that Nov. 1 game, an opportunity that was actually a gift from a longtime friend in New England who also got the pitching opportunity.
Feltoon reminisced about the game, starting when he arrived at Atlanta’s Truist Park. In the seconds before he walked onto the field, he was joined by a representative of Major League Baseball (MLB) who accompanied him to the mound.
Feltoon was familiar with the throw because he played baseball as a kid — as a pitcher.
“I knew I had to do a wind up, so I did practice a little bit,” he acknowledged.
“I felt pretty confident,” Feltoon added. “It didn’t hit me till a little bit after what really just happened. It was more the after than before,”
Feltoon is also involved in sports through his ownership of Toon’s Station Inc., a mail-order business he started in 1995. Products include Oyos, the patches that players from various sports wear on their jerseys. He’s also a collector of items featuring Gumby, the animated clay character.
Feltoon has long been involved in sports as a coach and umpire, the latter at games throughout Burlington County and for travel teams. He also officiates girls softball games at local high schools, including Shawnee, Lenape and Delran.
Looking back on his World Series pitch, Feltoon noted one of the special moments of the day came after the game, when he was greeted by people who shared his excitement and, in one case, featured a familiar connection.
“The people next to me had two daughters that play softball in the same organization that I umpire for … ” he recalled. “It was funny sitting next to softball people.”
