2:24 PM PT -- Good news for Fauci card collectors ... the moment will NOT be remembered as the worst ceremonial first pitch of all-time, so says fellow terrible first-pitch thrower Akbar Gbaja-Biamila.
That honor, according to the former NFL player who once embarrassed himself on a mound in Philadelphia, belongs to 50 Cent.
"It goes 50," Akbar tells TMZ Sports. "Then right under 50 is Dr. Fauci."
It's tough to argue ... check out 50's infamous first pitch in New York back in 2014 -- gotta rank worse than Fauci's, right?!
Dr. Anthony Fauci's hilarious ceremonial first pitch will be forever immortalized in the baseball world ... with the moment getting its own trading card!!
Topps just launched the card for a limited time ... showing the COVID-19 expert mid-throw before the Nationals' Opening Day game against the New York Yankees.
Of course, we all know how it went down ... but the card actually makes the dude look a bit more like Max Scherzer -- talk about a good angle!!
The card also features some info on the Doc ... saying, "Dr. Anthony Fauci, longtime Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and ardent Washington Nationals fan, signaled the official start of the 2020 MLB regular season by throwing out the first pitch before the Nationals took on the Yankees on Thursday evening."
"The 79-year-old Brooklyn native, donning a Nationals jersey, hat and facemask, fired a strong effort to the plate before the Nationals took the field."
Very generous of Topps to call it a "strong effort" ... we're just teasing.
Of course, the Dr. Fauci collectibles have skyrocketed during the pandemic -- from doughnuts to beer to bobbleheads.
The card will be available on Topps' website for just 24 hours ... so all you Fauci fanatics better hop on it!!
Originally Published -- 10:10 AM PT