How a small gesture from Jake Mangum turned into a big thing for one Pittsburgh family (and parents everywhere)

ARLINGTON -- When Nellie Hestin finally finished screaming with excitement from her family’s seats along the third-base line Sunday at PNC Park, she figured that was it, her husband and their two kids getting a souvenir baseball and creating a lasting memory for the Franklin Park family.

You’ve probably seen by now, the moment hasn’t exactly ended.

SportsNet Pittsburgh footage of Edward Hestin, 9, catching the throw from Jake Mangum and handing it to his 7-year-old Elle has gone viral, the Hestin siblings becoming a national story for the incredible amount of cuteness and compassion on display.

While Nellie saw the moment unfold from afar, she did not envision the attention that followed after Chris took the kids to one of their favorite spots in left field, to see a player who has almost become like another family member.

“It’s like an out-of-body experience,” Nellie said over the phone on Tuesday. “It’s hard to believe.”

“It definitely was not on our bingo card when we woke up Sunday morning and went to the game," Chris added.

Maybe not. But due to the awareness of Mangum and what he did at PirateFest back in January, the Hestin kids created an idyllic baseball moment to top them all, the perfect gesture of kindness and something that’ll warm the heart of every parent.

Not to mention the person who started it.

“A small gesture like throwing a ball to someone becoming a national news story, it’s crazy,” Mangum said. “There’s a lot of good in the world. There’s also hate out there. But I promise it doesn’t take too much to look and find a lot of good.”

Pirates chairman Bob Nutting saw the same moment unfolded and invited the Hestins to a game at PNC Park. They'll attend April 29, a game Edward and Elle are talking about because they'll get to meet Mangum, watch batting practice and more.

"We get to be in a luxury suite," Edward said, "which I'm really excited about."

Chris Hestin said he started getting texts from a few dads of the kids on Edward’s baseball team within minutes. Since the moment took off, the Hestins have been flattered -- and made emotional, frankly -- by what everyone has been saying about their kids.

Edward and Elle, meanwhile, have received plenty of attention at school -- and deservedly so. But it was also just a moment showcasing their relationship, how they genuinely care about one another.

“I think the best part of the entire thing was probably the hug,” Edward said.

“My brother knows how much I like Jake Mangum, and I was really hoping he would give the ball to me if he caught it,” Elle said. “It was so amazing because [Mangum] is the nicest player on the Pirates.”

And a good friend of Elle’s, it turns out.

‘Incredible role model’

The viral moment actually started with what Mangum did at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, when Elle Hestin wanted to get her baseball card signed. Elle and Edward have gotten into collecting cards. She happened to get one of Mangum in a Rays uniform.

The next thing Nellie and Chris knew, Elle and Jake were having an entire conversation, the player peppering the young fan with questions.

“He might be the nicest person on the planet,” Nellie said. “They just had this really lovely moment.”

A few hours later, the Hestins noticed Mangum was doing a question-and-answer session on stage with Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown. Elle insisted on sitting in the front row. She even turned the tables and asked Mangum a question.

Before she did, though, Mangum made her day. Again.

“He was talking about how nice it’s been meeting people, then he stops himself mid-sentence and goes, ‘Oh, hey Elle. How are you?” Nellie said. “She was done. That was it.”

As the obsession with Mangum started, Elle knew she wanted a Mangum jersey for Easter, though the Hestins had trouble finding one. So, they ordered a plain jersey and had it customized themselves.

Elle also began memorizing the lyrics to Mangum’s walk-up song, “Your Love” by The Outfield.

“She’ll ask us every day if he’s starting,” Nellie said. “If she hears his walk-up song, she’ll come running into the room. She knows all the words. It’s a little weird hearing a 7-year-old singing ‘Your Love.’ But she’s very into it.”

So are the Hestins, obviously.

In large part because of what they’ve learned about Mangum: how he grinded through the Minor Leagues and debuted last season at age 29, how he’s one who started the Pirates’ cone obsession, how he really is unfailingly nice and welcoming, every bit of it genuine.

“He worked so hard to get to where he is and make the Majors as late as he did,” Nellie said. “Having kids who play baseball and softball, he runs out every play. The grit he shows every play is huge. And he’s so nice to his teammates, too.

“What an incredible role model for kids.”

‘I’m gonna cry’

The Hestins’ day started with Chris driving from Dayton, Ohio, after judging the Percussion World Championships, in Dayton, Ohio. He actually met Nellie, Elle and Edward at PNC Park.

It ended with an Instagram message from Mangum and another that really made Nellie emotional. But let’s do one at a time.

Mangum, befitting of his personality, responded as soon as he saw the video going viral.

“When [Mangum] messaged me, I screamed,” Nellie said “Elle started crying. It was bedlam in our house.”

But then Nellie got another message from Jake’s mom, Stacy. That led to an emotional conversation between the two moms and almost assuredly a friendship.

“We’ve been in touch about our respective kids and how incredible this has been,” Nellie said. “It’s been very special for me sharing it with a baseball mom. I’m at the early years of that, so it’s a special layer for me personally.”

Life for Edward and Elle has definitely been different -- but also fun. It’s been the talk of school. It’ll surely come up at the field.

There have also been waves of people noticing: those who saw it live, then others who saw it but didn’t realize it was Elle and Edward. Even their dentist was posting about it on social media, Nellie said.

No matter who says something, the Hestins have been blown away by the support, how nice everyone has been, how it was captured by SportsNet Pittsburgh -- Chris wants to meet members of the production team to thank them -- and the message it sends to parents and siblings.

This is how it’s done.

“Having been born and raised in Pittsburgh, that’s the way people around here are,” Chris said. “That’s the way baseball families are. … And just the pride parents have in their kids, I think it brought a lot of people a lot of joy.”

Now, it will bring the Hestins more joy of their own.

When they arrive at PNC Park on April 29, they’ll get to formally meet Mangum -- and probably a few of his buddies. Nellie and Chris will accompany their kids, filled with pride. And the whole group will watch with Nutting from a suite.

One that better have plenty of tissues.

“I can’t count how many times I’m gonna cry. I’m setting the over/under at 5 1/2,” Nellie said before Chris joked that it would be smart to bet the over.

“But anyone who has kids understands. When you find an activity that you all enjoy, that’s outdoors, that’s active, that everyone can participate in, you grab on with both hands.

“For us, that’s baseball. I can’t even wrap my mind around how much fun [April 29] will be. It’s going to be the best day of our kids’ lives.”

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.