Michael Naccarelli looked to his left and right on Friday afternoon and took in the sights, observing the Pirates taking batting practice at PNC Park and soaking up the moment with his wife, Elizabeth, and their infant son, Felix.
The Pirates host plenty of people to throw out ceremonial first pitches throughout the course of a season.
Few — OK, probably none — have the story or strength to match that of Naccarelli, who was profiled this week in a beautiful story by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Noah Hiles.
Pittsburgh welcomed Naccarelli, who grew up about 15 minutes outside of the city and became hooked on the Pirates in the early 1990s, to throw out a ceremonial first pitch before Friday’s game.
The invite, extended before the story ran, served as a way for everyone to recognize Naccarelli’s incredible strength.
Even if Michael was still processing everything that came with a trip the ballpark unlike any he’s ever experienced.
“It’s overwhelming and surreal,” Naccarelli said. “I think with the article, the amount of people who reached out and showed their love and support, strangers or not, that really meant the world to me. It meant the world to my family.
“Being here, which is such a special place to me and my family, it’s beautiful. I’m excited.”
And nervous, Naccarelli admitted.
Watching the Pirates take batting practice with Elizabeth and Felix, Michael almost couldn’t believe what he was watching.
“You try to stay cool,” he said from the home dugout. “You try to enjoy yourself down here on the field and see Pirates players walking out for BP. You’re like, ‘Oh, this is the real deal.’ It’s fun to see.”
Given the challenges Naccarelli has experienced in his life, Pirates baseball has been an important refuge.
As Hiles reported, Naccarelli has anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, an incurable form of cancer. This was learned in January 2025, about three months after Michael was told he had thyroid cancer and that it had spread to his liver and bones.
Naccarelli's mother and two brothers also died because of cancer. In January 2021, Michael learned he tested positive for Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), a rare, inherited genetic condition increasing someone’s risk of developing multiple types of cancer.
Michael Naccarelli has been through a ton, but you'd never know it by his positive outlook, his sense of humor, how he talks about music and his record collection or watching Felix.
(Thankfully for Michael and Elizabeth, doctors were actually able to test embryos and identify ones without LFS, meaning the cycle of cancer in the Naccarelli family will finally stop.)
Through his battle with cancer, Pirates baseball has been a huge refuge for Michael Naccarelli, the ability to put serious thoughts elsewhere and disappear into the beauty of a baseball game.
"It’s been a huge escape," Naccarelli said. "It’s such a fun sport. I love baseball because it has a little bit of everything for everybody. It could be fast. It could be slow. It could be exciting. It could be more reserved and reflective.
“I think that’s what’s really peaceful about it. Whatever you want, it’s always there for you. That’s what I love about baseball. That’s what I’ve needed in my tougher times."
On Friday, Naccarelli walked confidently to the area in front of the mound, joined by Elizabeth and Felix, now 6 months old. He was joined by longtime friend and Pirates pregame/postgame host on 93.7 The Fan, Dan Zangrilli, and let it rip.
The strength Michael Naccarelli has shown through everything is nothing short of incredible.
He and Elizabeth are season-ticket holders. He and Elizabeth visited Spring Training in March. They’ve traveled to other ballparks, including Wrigley Field. Michaels follows the team passionately, riding the rollercoaster of every win and loss.
With the cruel inevitability presented by LFS, many might not have the courage to press on, to create whatever memories possible and savor every minute.
Naccarelli clearly does and nailed it on Friday with an outstanding first pitch. Meanwhile, he couldn't help but speak with appreciation for an organization (and sport) that has helped during the toughest of times.
"I’m just floored," Naccarelli said. "I’m over the moon about it. I didn’t expect it. This is huge. I never expected anything like this. I’m very humbled by it."
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.