100 Years of Presidents Throwing Out the First Pitch

Published by djmick on July 15th, 2009

Since 1910 every U.S. President has thrown out at least one ceremonial first ball or pitch, either for Opening Day, the All-Star Game, or the World Series.

This pictorial looks back at 100 years of Presidents throwing the ceremonial first pitch.

Current US President Barack Obama throws out the first pitch at the 2009 MLB All-Star Game at Busch Stadium on July 14, 2009 in St Louis, Missouri.

President Obama throws first pitch

President George W Bush throws out the first pitch for the 2005, left and 2004 seasons

George W Bush throws out the first pitch

President Bill Clinton throws the ceremonial first pitch at Camden Yards as the Baltimore Orioles open their 1996 season against the Kansas City Royals.

Bill Clinton throws the ceremonial first pitch at Camden Yards

President George H W Bush throwing out the opening ball at the Rangers’ game in 1991.

George H W Bush throwing out the opening ball

President Ronald Reagan wears a Chicago Cubs jacket whilst throwing out the first ball for a Cubs game in 1988.

Ronald Reagan throwing out the first ball for a Cubs game

Former President Jimmy Carter throws out the ceremonial first pitch of the 1992 World Series game between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays at Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia.

President Jimmy Carter throws out the ceremonial first pitch

President Gerald Ford throws out the first pitch for the start of the 1976 season at the opening game for the Texas Rangers, Arlington Stadium, Texas.

President Gerald Ford throws out the first pitch

President Richard Nixon throws out the first pitch at an All-Star Game at Riverfront Stadium on July 14, 1970 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Richard Nixon throws out the first pitch

President Lyndon B Johnson throws out the first pitch of the 1967 baseball season at District of Columbia Stadium, Washington DC.

President Lyndon Baines Johnson throws out the first pitch

President John F. Kennedy tosses out the first ball of the 1961 baseball season, Washington DC.

John F Kennedy throws out the first ball

President Dwight Eisenhower throws out the first pitch of the 1955 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field on Sept. 28. Flanking him are Yankees manager Casey Stengel and Dodgers manager Walter Alston.

Dwight Eisenhower first pitch

President Harry Truman throws out the first ball of the 1954 season, flanked by Lou Boudreau, left, manager of the Philadelphia Athletics, and Bucky Harris, Senators manager.

Harry Truman throws out the first ball

President Franklin D Roosevelt throws out the first ball to open the 1938 season at Griffith Stadium in Washington DC.

Franklin D Roosevelt throws out the first ball

A photograph taken during the 1930’s shows President Herbert Hoover pitching a baseball.

President Herbert Hoover pitching a baseball

President Calvin Coolidge prepares to throw out the ball on the opening day for the Washington Senators in 1928.

President Calvin Coolidge throws out first pitch

President Warren Harding throws out the first pitch to open the American League baseball season in April, 1922.

President Warren Harding throws out the first pitch

President Woodrow Wilson throwing out the ceremonial first pitch in 1916.

President Woodrow Wilson throwing out the ceremonial first pitch

President William Howard Taft is seen on the cover of Harper’s Weekly, June 1909, and right, seen starting the tradition in 1910 at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC.

William Howard Taft throwing first pitch in 1910

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comments

Taters on July 19th, 2009 at 12:23 am
Where is Eisenhower at??
djmick on July 19th, 2009 at 9:46 am
I can only assume he was busy with the war.
morethanhalfabrain on August 1st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
@djmick – What war? We weren’t at war when Ike was Pres.
djmick on August 1st, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I wondered how long it would take someone to spot such an obvious mistake… Eisenhower has now been added throwing out the first pitch in 1955.

Taters on July 19th, 2009 at 12:23 am

Where is Eisenhower at??

djmick on July 19th, 2009 at 9:46 am

I can only assume he was busy with the war.

morethanhalfabrain on August 1st, 2009 at 3:38 pm

@djmick – What war? We weren’t at war when Ike was Pres.

djmick on August 1st, 2009 at 4:47 pm

I wondered how long it would take someone to spot such an obvious mistake… Eisenhower has now been added throwing out the first pitch in 1955.