Jason Collins spent time last season with the Boston Celtics (and he might be back next season) before he came out in a now famous Sports Illustrated story.  Last night Collins helped the Red Sox celebrate Pride Night by throwing out the first pitch to Manager John Farrell.  It should be noted that managers rarely do this.

The Boston Globe ran this story from the Associate Press

The 7-foot center was greeted with a nice applause when the PA announcer read the opening of the SI article: ‘‘I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.’’

Wearing a Red Sox jersey with the No. 98 on the back, Collins threw out the first pitch to Red Sox manager John Farrell.

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz feels everyone should support each other based on how they act.

‘‘Nobody knows what is perfect and what is not,’’ Ortiz said, sitting at his locker about three hours before the game. ‘‘If you are respectful and you do what you’re supposed to do, it doesn’t matter what you are and what you come from, people should respect you and love you the same way.’’

Collins wears 98 on his jerseys to honor Matthew Shepard who was killed in 1998, a decision welcomed by Shepard’s parents.

2015 Pride Night at Fenway

Hey Danny and Doc, bring him back to the Celtics!

By the way, the Sox won on a walk-off 3 run homer by – David Ortiz.

Photograph Jim Davis/Globe Staff

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• Jason Collins Throws Out First Pitch At Fenway Park (boston.cbslocal.com)
• Jason Collins throws out first pitch for Red Sox (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
• Jason Collins Throws Out First Pitch at Fenway to John Farrell, Who Says ‘We Respect His Courage’ (nesn.com)
• Openly gay NBA player Jason Collins throws out 1st pitch for Red Sox (sportsillustrated.cnn.com)
• NBA’s Collins throws first pitch at Fenway (mlb.mlb.com)
• Collins throws out 1st pitch at Red Sox game (espn.go.com)