105-year-old Pearl Harbor survivor throws out 1st pitch at AmFam Field

MILWAUKEE -- Ed Miklavcic said the secrets to his longevity are simple: He took care of himself and worked hard.

It showed on Wednesday at American Family Field, where the 105-year-old Miklavcic, a World War II veteran and the second-oldest living survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, threw a ceremonial first pitch for the ages before the Brewers rode a trio of home runs to a 5-1 win over the Tigers.

Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick -- who accounted for two of the Brewers homers -- and manager Pat Murphy were among those who visited with Miklavcic before his pitch. He is one of 15 veterans of Pearl Harbor alive today after this week’s passing of 106-year-old Vaughn P. Drake Jr. in Kentucky.

“There’s very few superheroes in the world and he’s one of them,” Frelick said. “I credited him with the home run. As soon as I came back to the dugout, I said, ‘I shook his hand.’ He’s from the greatest generation ever and I’m super honored to be in the presence of such a legend.”

Miklavcic actually apologized to Murphy for missing the strike zone. The manager laughed.

“You could tell how much it meant to him to be out here today,” Yelich said. “It’s pretty awesome to be able to come out here and throw a first pitch. I just wanted to shake his hand and thank him for his service and everything he’s done for this country.”

Miklavcic resides in Brookfield, Wis., where he celebrated his 105th birthday earlier this month.

“I was still walking five miles a day at 102 years old,” Miklavcic told Milwaukee’s WISN 12 News. “Now, I only walk a mile a day.”