Sports

Houston Astros Coach Throws Out First Pitch Months After Nearly Dying

(Photo credit: screenshot/Instagram ESPN)

Font Size:

Monday was a big night for the Houston Astros, but it was an even bigger night for their former first base coach Rich Dauer.

Just a few months ago Dauer nearly died. On Monday night he was welcomed back by his team on their first home game since winning the World Series and he delivered the first pitch.

A post shared by espn (@espn) on

A few days after the Astros won the World Series, while the entire team was parading through the city of Houston, Dauer collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery that ended up saving his life, Sports Illustrated reports. The night before the big parade, the 65-year-old coach slipped and hit his head, unknowingly causing a subdural hematoma and severe bleeding on his brain.

On Monday when he took the mound to throw the ceremonial first pitch, Dauer’s emotions came pouring out.

“If it wasn’t for my wife and family, some amazing doctors and the grace of God, I wouldn’t be here right now,” he said prior to taking the field.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch received the first pitch from Dauer at home plate and met him at the mound afterwards where they shared a long embrace. The rest of the World Series team then joined in welcoming back their first base coach before the game began.