Athlete and TMA volunteer Vance Robinson started VRob’s “First Pitch” for Myositis Awareness campaign in 2016 to bring attention to the rare and debilitating forms of myositis. The 2025 baseball season is the 9th year of his campaign.
2025 #MyositisFirstPitchCampaign
VRob and TMA have set a goal for 2025 to throw 31 First Pitches, one for each of the 31 days in May! Can you pitch in? Fill out our volunteer interest form! When you have a game booked, we’ll ship you a package of First Pitch T-shirts and wristbands. VRob and TMA also welcome donations to the First Pitch fundraiser.
Organize a First Pitch in Your Town
A First Pitch can be delivered at any baseball game! Explore your neighborhood or city and think about coordinating a First Pitch with:
- Little League or youth leagues
- High school baseball
- Community leagues
- College baseball
- Major League Baseball (MLB); MLB affiliates: Rookie, Single-A, High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A; and MLB spring training facilities.
2025 First Pitches
- January 12, 2025, Gloves for Cuba, Playa Largo, Cuba
- February 8, 2025, Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA
- February 27, 2025, College of the Sequoias, Visalia, CA
- March 20, 2025, Templeton High School (softball), Templeton, CA
- March 22, 2025, Westmont College, Westmont, CA
- March 25, 2025, Reeds Spring High School, Reeds Spring, MO
- March 25, 2025, Templeton High School (baseball), Templeton, CA
- April 4, 2025, Westmont College, Montecito, CA
- April 5, 2025, Duke University, Chapel Hill, NC
- April 5, 2025, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA
- April 8, 2025, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, CA
- April 12, 2025, Dos Pueblos High School, Goleta, CA
- April 25, 2025, Monroe High School, Monroe, WA
- April 25, 2025, Fresno State University, Fresno, CA
- April 25, 2025, San Marcos High School, Santa Barbara, CA
- April 30, 2025, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
- May 3, 2025, Utah Tech University, St. George, UT
- May 3, 2025, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA
- May 4, 2025, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI
- May 6, 2025, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
- May 6, 2025, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
- May 7, 2025, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
- May 10, 2025, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
- May 15, 2025, Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
- May 15, 2025, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
- May 25, 2025, Minnesota Twins MLB, Minneapolis, MN
- May 29, 2025, St. Lucie Mets MiLB, Port St. Lucie, FL
- May 30, 2025, Columbia Fireflies MiLB, Columbia, SC
- June 3, 2025, St. Paul Saints MiLB, St. Paul, MN
In 2025, the campaign made its global debut when Vance’s friend Drew Ponce
threw the first pitch at the nonprofit Gloves for Cuba baseball game
Donate, Share, and Learn More
Donate to VRob’s #MyositisFirstPitchCampaign.
Follow Vance on Instagram @vrobb805 to stay up-to-date about VRob’s First Pitch. Show your support by sharing with #MyositisAwareness #MyositisFirstPitchCampaign.
Check out this 2019 video which shares more why Vance started First Pitch and his journey with inclusion body myositis (IBM).
Suggested Announcer Script
This below script is provided as a starting point for myositis advocates to use in ceremonial first pitches. Customize your script as you wish, but keep it short!
“Fans, at this time, please direct your attention to the pitcher’s mound for today’s ceremonial first pitch. The month of May is Myositis Awareness Month. Myositis is a rare condition that causes inflammation and muscle loss throughout the body. Vance Robinson started VRob’s ‘First Pitch’ Myositis Awareness Campaign to bring attention to this disease. The 2025 baseball season is the 9th year of his campaign, and although Robinson can no longer physically throw a ball, friends and family throw out first pitches at many games across the nation, on his behalf. Please welcome _______ as s/he throws out today’s first pitch. To learn more about myositis, check out www.myositis.org/firstpitch.”
Questions? Need help organizing a First Pitch? Please contact TMA: tma@myositis.org and Vance: vrob805@gmail.com.