'So blessed to be alive': A week after collapsing at Pirate City, Ernie Withers throws 1st pitch

BRADENTON, Fla. — One week after going into cardiac arrest and requiring CPR at Pirate City, Ernie Withers threw the ceremonial first pitch to the doctor who saved his life.

Wearing a black Pittsburgh Pirates jersey, Withers tossed the ball Tuesday at LECOM Park to Pirates medical director Dr. Patrick DeMeo. Withers expressed his eternal gratitude for the quick response of the Pirates’ medical and training staff after they resuscitated him in the outfield during practice Feb. 21 at Roberto Clemente Field.

Ernie Withers, who collapsed on the field during practice at Pirate City last week, throws the first pitch to Dr. Patrick DeMeo, who performed CPR to save his life. pic.twitter.com/ReZyGfQNFR

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 28, 2023

“I’m so blessed to be alive,” said Withers, 68, of Bradenton. “Based on everything that transpired — I was told my heart stopped for two to three minutes — the outcome usually isn’t good. Dr. DeMeo, I can’t thank him enough. It’s amazing that I’m here today.”

Withers thanked DeMeo, lead team physician Todd Franco and director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk for their preparedness and training to “bring me back to life.” DeMeo spent an hour with Withers before the Pirates played the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s hard to describe the feeling of gratitude, that you could help somebody in that situation” said DeMeo, chairman of orthopedics at Allegheny Health Network. “It’s a humbling experience. We realized that we had a lot of help from God.”

After throwing the first pitch at LECOM Park, Ernie Withers talks about his cardiac arrest last week at Pirate City and his gratitude for the Pirates medical and training staff for their response to perform CPR. pic.twitter.com/iNUJFjIXae

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 28, 2023

Withers said he feels “normal” after spending three days at Manatee Memorial Hospital, where he had four stents and a pacemaker inserted. He joked that his wife, Cindy, “was so happy to hear me snore again.”

Withers retired Dec. 31 as general manager at Mercedes-Benz of Sarasota. He said he had golfed 18 holes and walked five miles Feb. 20 before going to Pirate City to participate in the team’s workout as a guest of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, for which he’s a past chairman.

Withers said he felt soreness in his shoulder after throwing several balls back into the infield. So he stopped to take video of the practice, when he collapsed. Pirates coordinator Kevin Young was standing nearby and screamed for a trainer after he saw Withers drop to the ground. DeMeo was sitting on a golf cart with clubhouse/equipment manager Scott Bonnett, who drove him to Withers within 15 seconds.

“If it happened on the golf course,” Withers said, “I wouldn’t be here right now. That window of five to 10 minutes at Pirate City saved my life.”

Ernie Withers shares a hug with Pirates outfielder Chavez Young, stands in line with the team during the national anthem and talks with pitcher Rich Hill on Tuesday afternoon at LECOM Park. pic.twitter.com/v4Naaa0rIQ

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) February 28, 2023

Withers attended the Pirates-Orioles game as a guest of Jeff Pobodnik, the team’s vice president of Florida and Dominican operations, only to find out he would be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch. Withers posed for a photo with the Pirates medical and training staff before the game and exchanged a hug with outfielder Chavez Young, who had sent well wishes on social media last week.

“The story is not about me,” Withers said. “The story is about doctors and trainers and the need to learn how to do CPR and the need for businesses to make sure they have a defibrillator in the office.”

Withers said the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce bought AEDs for its Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch offices and a portable one. Manatee Memorial Hospital, where he was a patient for three days, is offering free CPR classes to area businesses.

“Something good has come out of it. It’s truly unbelievable,” Withers said. “It was because of the quick actions of Dr. DeMeo and his team. He says it’s not about him, but I chose him to catch the ball so he could get credit. I’m forever indebted to him. I just wanted to give him some recognition.”

Cindy Withers watched with gratitude after spending the past week pondering what the alternative outcome would have meant.

“It’s been so surreal,” she said. “It happened so fast. The story is amazing, how everyone was in the right place at the right time. I think it was a miracle.”