NEW YORK -- Mark Sanchez got his first applause at a New York area stadium -- Citi Field.
Two days after he was selected by the Jets with the fifth overall pick of the NFL draft, Sanchez threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Mets played the Florida Marlins on Monday night.
"I've seen a lot of, you know, public figures do things like that, mayors. This is pretty cool," Sanchez said. "It was a lobber, I played it pretty conservative. I was told that if I bounced it, I'd get booed right out of here."
Sanchez, a former high school pitcher and third baseman, said he'd been getting "the sideways glances" while making his way around the city.
He met some of the Mets players from California and warmed up in the batting cage next to the Mets clubhouse.
Sanchez even got to ride the No. 1 IRT train.
"I went on the subway and heard a guy. He's written some poetry and he was selling books. I heard some guys come on with guitars and started singing," Sanchez said. "A guy was asking for money for charities, so I got my fair share there, New York donations."
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
