What was the most viewed pitch in baseball history? Was it the pitch to Barry Bonds that he hit for his 756th career home run to break Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record (with an asterisk, of course)? Was it the final pitch of Game-6 of the 2011 World Series considered by many to be the most exciting World Series game ever played? Was it the final pitch of King Félix Hernández’s perfect game on August 15, 2012 – the 23rd and last perfecto to be thrown in baseball history? No, it wasn’t any of these milestone pitches. The most viewed pitch in baseball history quite possibly occurred at 7:10 PM Pacific Daylight Time on Saturday evening, July 27, 2013 at Dodger Stadium.

It was the first pitch of a regular season game between the NL West leading Los Angeles Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds, who are currently in third place in the NL Central Division.

How can the first pitch of a regular season baseball game in late July possibly be the most viewed pitch in baseball history, you ask? Because it was the much anticipated first pitch from South Korean born Dodger left-hander Hyun-jin Ryu to South Korean born Reds left-handed hitting center fielder Shin-Soo Choo – two countrymen opposing each other for the first time in their respective MLB careers.

With the game being televised in South Korean to an estimated viewing audience of approximately 18.5 million households, Ryu’s first pitch to Choo quite possibly was the most viewed pitch of all time.

Although Ryu and Choo were teammates on Team Korea in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, this was the first time that the two squared off against each other in the MLB. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

That first pitch, which occurred at precisely 12:10 PM on Sunday, July 28. 2013 in South Korea, was one of 13 that Choo would see from Ryu on the night and it was taken for a called strike. Choo would eventually draw a five-pitch walk in that first at bat, the only walk that Ryu allowed all night.

Although Choo took the first pitch for a called strike, he ended up drawing a walk. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

“I was definitely more nervous,” said Ryu through an interpreter about facing Choo.

And what did Ryu’s battery mate Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis have to say about the match-up?

“It’s a big deal. It’s one of his best friends and one of his idols. It was special to be a part of.”

Ryu eventually got even with his countryman by striking him out in the 6th inning – one of nine strikeouts for Ryu on the night. He also got Choo to ground out to Dodger first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in the 3rd inning.

The Dodgers won the game 4-1 to improve Ryu’s record to 9-3 on the season with a very impressive 3.14 ERA – 18th best in the National League. The win, coupled with a loss by the Diamondbacks, increased the Dodgers lead in the NL West to 1.5 games with a record of 55-48 (.534).

The Giants lost to the Padres on Saturday and are now .001 point behind the Padres for last place in the NL West. Both team trail the Dodgers by 9 games in the standings.