SunTrust Park rendering (Photo: Courtesy of the Atlanta Braves)

Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Harris Hines is coming off the bench to pitch.

The day after Hines retires from a half-century legal career and 44 years as a judge, he will be returning to his first love: baseball.

The high court's public information officer, Jane Hansen, announced Friday that Hines will throw out the first pitch for the Atlanta Braves Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Braves will play the Pittsburgh Pirates at SunTrust Park.

“It is believed this is the first time in history that a chief justice of the state's highest court has ever had the honor of throwing the ceremonial first pitch,” Hansen said.

The pitch may not be as much of a stretch for Hines as for the typical almost-75-year-old lawyer. He played baseball at Grady High School under a legendary coach, Erk Russell, who would go on to football fame at University of Georgia, as defensive coordinator, and Georgia Southern, as head coach. Hines was voted “most athletic” by his class.

Hines found inspiration in the competitiveness of sports to juice his performance as a trial lawyer. “If they're going to keep score, try to win,” he once said.

But Hines did admit to some opening night jitters as he packed up his legal career and prepared for his return to the field.

“This is the thrill of a lifetime,” Hines said. “I hope I can still get the ball across the plate.”