Dirk Nowitzki miraculously avoids first pitch blunder

Dallas Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki visited the Texas Rangers on Wednesday to throw out the first pitch before a game against the Orioles, and the 7-footer fortunately avoided joining 50 Cent and Bruce Willis in the bad first pitch Hall of Fame.

Before taking the field, Dirk practiced his pitching skills in a cage – and tossed a ball into the side netting.

His skills at the plate weren’t much better. Nowitzki managed to get solid contact on the ball in batting practice, but his form wasn’t exactly ideal.

With the pressure on, however, Nowitzki rose to the occasion. From the top of the mound, Dirk fired in a pitch that was on target and didn’t put any cameramen in danger.