Paul O’Neill had many fond memories of the World Series during his big league career.

His performance on Tuesday night probably won’t be one of them.

O’Neill had the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 4 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. As a five-time champion – once with the Cincinnati Reds and four times with the Yankees – O’Neill was an easy choice to represent the team as it sought to avoid elimination.

The 61-year-old former right fielder took the mound with AJ Burnett seated behind home plate. He then airmailed the ball over Burnett’s head.

O’Neill’s first throw was so brutal that he asked to do it again. On his second try, O’Neill threw him into the dirt.

O’Neill was a five-time All-Star between 1985 and 2001. He retired after accumulating 2,105 hits, 281 home runs, 1,269 RBIs, a .288 batting average, an .833 OPS and a WAR of 38.9 during his career.

Naturally, fans and pundits alike were shocked by O’Neill’s performance. It was also seen as a bad omen for the Yankees, who had already entered Tuesday’s series down 3-0.

Despite the tone O’Neill set before the first pitch, the Yankees defeated the Dodgers 11-4. That forced a Game 5 return to the Bronx on Wednesday.

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