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Toss Brings Much More Than Cold Comfort
Toss Brings Much More Than Cold Comfort

Major League pitchers often complain that they can’t get a good grip on a baseball if the weather is too cold. San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove didn’t seem to mind, as he now holds the record for fastest pitch ever thrown in Antarctica – 86 miles per hour.

The effort was in support of the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). Musgrove sailed to Antarctica, the excursion organized to bring several CAF athletes to move beyond their limits in the most extreme environment on Earth, said Christy Fritts of CAF.

Musgrove fired the four-seamed fastball to teammate Sean Manaea. It was also Musgrove’s 30th birthday. And for the record, it’s summer in Antarctica so the temperature was slightly above freezing.

“I was inspired by Joe’s commitment to his community,” said Neill Drake, a friend of Musgrove and Polar Expedition Guide. “It’s been an absolute honor to be able to bring such an amazing group together and show them a part of the world that they might have thought would never be accessible to them.” 

Landis: Just Watch Me was released around the same time and features Landis Sims, a 16-year-old varsity baseball player who was born without hands and feet. The documentary film follows Landis for eight years and features Musgrove, who has become a role model and mentor for Landis. Musgrove invited Landis to embark on his journey to set a world record pitch in Antarctica and support athletes with physical challenges. 

“I’m constantly inspired by Landis Sims and the athletes from Challenged Athletes Foundation who overcome their challenges every day to achieve their goals,” said Musgrove. “Antarctica is one of the most remote and extreme destinations in the world. I can’t think of a better place to showcase pushing the limits of what’s possible.” 

An extensive permitting application process was necessary to ensure that Musgrove would be authorized to throw with his boots on the ice. The pitch needed to be authorized by the International Association of Antarctica Tourism Operators (IAATO), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other governing bodies to ensure the future conservation and preservation of the great white continent. 

The “Environmental Impact and Wildlife Risk Assessment” report took more than five months to complete. Working together with the Albatros Expeditions office, Drake and Musgrove submitted all the required paperwork and the physical copy of the permit was hand-carried from the Albatros office in Copenhagen to Antarctica just days before the pitch, said Fritts. 

Landis was included in the permit and given authorization to throw two pitches as well. Once Musgrove had set his record pitch, Landis had his turn. His first pitch was recorded at 43 mph. “You have got to get that to 44 for me, Landis,” said Musgrove from behind the home plate drawn into the snow (referring to his jersey number). Landis wound up and fired another pitch, hitting 44 mph.  

The pitch is pending recognition from Guinness World Records and the team onsite collected evidence for approval. 

The group participated in daily Zodiac landings, hiking in deep snow, kayaking through brash ice and the Polar Plunge, an icy jump into 30-degree waters. 

Musgrove auctioned his glove and the baseball, said Fritts, bringing in a combined $9,000.