More than 2,000 fans helped set a new record at the Kansas City Royals season home opener on Sunday by lining up to complete the longest first pitch in baseball history. To kick off the Royals’ opening day World Series rematch against the New York Mets, a ball was tossed over nine miles through the streets of Kansas City all the way from Union Station to Kauffman Stadium, reports KSHB. To participate in the Relay the Way event, fans donated to Kansas City’s MLB Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City, raising $100,000 for the organization.
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The pitch took four hours to complete, with 10 seconds allotted to each person to catch and throw the ball without dropping it. Participants said they enjoyed the sense of camaraderie that was present throughout the day. “It was just fun visiting with other Royals fans here,” Pam Hahn told KSHB. “We are all just one big family, and it was just fun visiting with everybody in line.”
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Write to Megan McCluskey at megan.mccluskey@time.com