'Hometown Hero' Mattress Mack to throw out first pitch at Game 1 of ALDS

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Jim McIngvale, best known as "Mattress Mack," made national headlines for transforming his furniture stores into shelters after Hurricane Harvey.

On one of the biggest stages in sports, Mattress Mack will throw out the ceremonial first pitch during the Houston Astros Game 1 ALDS matchup against the Baltimore Red Sox.

Through his selfless act, Mattress Mack has become a Houston icon who showed the world the meaning of paying it forward and taking care of each other. In a Change.org petition, thousands of Houstonions called on city officials to name Aug. 26 as Mattress Mack Day.

RELATED: Gallery Furniture's 'Mattress Mack' praised for heroism in Harvey's wake

'Mattress Mack' opened his stores to residents displaced by the flooding.

"Dad, it doesn't surprise me you opened the stores to our fellow Houstonians, you would give your last breath for another, but it still amazes me how selfless you are," his daughter, Laura McIngvale Brown posted on Facebook in August.

Game 1 will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday.

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