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'Wild Thing' Ricky Vaughn won't throw out first pitch to start World Series

"Wild Thing" won't get the call, despite a particularly heavy social media campaign.

By Doug G. Ware
Actor Charlie Sheen (a Cincinnati Reds fan at heart) arrives at the Clark Sports Center for the National Baseball Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies in Cooperstown, New York, in 2012. Sheen, who played Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn in the first two "Major League" films, offered to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to start the World Series in Cleveland on Tuesday. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Actor Charlie Sheen (a Cincinnati Reds fan at heart) arrives at the Clark Sports Center for the National Baseball Hall of Fame's induction ceremonies in Cooperstown, New York, in 2012. Sheen, who played Ricky "Wild Thing" Vaughn in the first two "Major League" films, offered to throw out the ceremonial first pitch to start the World Series in Cleveland on Tuesday. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

CLEVELAND, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Although he is one of the best-known pitchers in Cleveland Indians history, it looks like Ricky "The Wild Thing" Vaughn won't get to throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the World Series begins Tuesday.

Vaughn had an up-and-down career in Cleveland beginning in the late 1980s and lasting through the mid-1990s. He was recruited by the Indians as a standout from the hard-hitting California Penal League -- which is probably where he developed his signature pitch, "The Terminator," likely not out of a love for baseball, but to survive in the yard.

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Vaughn, quite a sensational figure at the time owing to his sleeveless dress and buzzsaw haircut, led Cleveland to the postseason in his rookie season and capped a memorable playoff run five years later. Between the bookends of his career, he was a sophisticated product pitchman, active in a children's charity and infamously struggled with ball control in the Indians pen before regaining his form.

In his Major League debut, Vaughn entered the game in relief and threw 12 straight balls to the New York Yankees -- his very first pro pitch about 8 feet wide of the plate. After walking the first three batters, a frustrated Vaughn finally found the strike zone with his next ball, but it was sent 30 rows into the bleachers for a grand slam.

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A now angry Vaughn beaned the next man up and was ejected from the game after an argument with the home plate umpire -- unsuccessfully arguing that the wild pitch was "right on top of the plate." He busted a light bulb on his way to the showers and has been an Indians folk hero ever since.

Also a pop culture icon, Vaughn later in his career offered opposing hitters an irresistible challenge -- get a piece of his triple-digit "Terminator" and they could rename the pitch. It's unclear whether any hitter ever made him him pay up on that pledge.

But now, he won't get the ultimate reward -- opening for his former team in their first World Series since 1997. The Indians are going for their first title since 1948.

Never heard of the guy? Well, maybe it's because he doesn't really exist. Rick Vaughn is Charlie Sheen's comedic character in the films Major League and Major League II.

"If called upon, I'd be honored," he tweeted Thursday.

Sheen, 51, had offered to throw out the first pitch, which generated a flurry of social media support for the idea -- but the actor's request has reportedly been denied by the Indians because they already have that duty filled by someone.

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We will have to wait until 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday to find out who.

However, it may be for the best -- if the Indians don't want that first pitch to end up in some fan's beer.

(Viewer discretion: Mild language)

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