A lot has changed since 1910. There have been two world wars and six moon landings. Wawa has expanded into the Midwest. However, some constants have remained, including within the executive branch. Since former President William Howard Taft in 1910, every president has thrown out a first pitch at an MLB game, though former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden did so before taking office. Nonetheless, this merging of two American institutions deserves a closer look as America selects its next leader. Thus, I present the definitive top 10 American presidents’ first pitches.
10. Bill Clinton — Opening Day 1994
Clinton’s first pitch opened Cleveland’s Jacobs Field in 1994. His motion, delivery and pitch were spectacular, as he tossed a smooth left-handed strike. What’s more, his pitch bested Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller’s, who delivered his pitch immediately after Clinton. A commendable effort by Slick Willie.
9. Barack Obama — 2009 All-Star Game
Known more for his basketball skills, Obama’s first pitch earns its entry due to its aesthetics. His Chicago White Sox jacket, jeans and sneakers, coupled with the sparkling St. Louis crowd, made his effort very “presidential.” However, the windup and the pitch were underwhelming, as Obama bounced it in front of the plate.
8. Franklin Delano Roosevelt — 1937 All-Star Game
Roosevelt’s presence is due to his extensive first pitch resume. He delivered a record 11 first pitches over 12 years, and his form was simply a wrist flick. I chose the 1937 Midsummer Classic because Roosevelt, who battled polio his entire life, was videoed walking to his box to deliver the pitch, a rare instance of him captured walking on tape.
7. George H.W. Bush — Opening Day 1992
Bush Sr. was the first president to pitch from the rubber, not in front of the mound. Bush, the captain of Yale University’s baseball team, had a lifelong affection for the sport. This effort was not his finest, as he bounced it on the third base side of home plate. Still, it was a historic day, the first game at the new Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and I admire his courage in tossing from 60 feet, 6 inches.
6. Woodrow Wilson — 1915 World Series
Wilson, a baseball fanatic, held season passes to New York Giants games. In 1915, he became the first president to attend the World Series and threw out the first ball before Game 2. Known for his fastball velocity, he threw “smoke.” The history and skill behind his pitches yield a high mark.
5. Harry S. Truman — Opening Day 1950
Truman holds two distinctions in presidential first pitch history — the first to throw a pitch left-handed and the first to throw a pitch with both hands. His ambidextrous nature rendered fans unsure of which arm he would use. Though his mechanics were not pretty, his creativity and audacity land him in the top five.
4. John F. Kennedy — Opening Day 1961
The youngest elected president was also one of the most athletic. It’s unsurprising that his pitching motion was top-notch and that he easily generated velocity at the inaugural game of the new Washington Senators franchise. Regarding his pitch, White Sox manager Al Lopez remarked, “He can really fire that thing.”
3. William Howard Taft — Opening Day 1910
Though no video exists of Taft’s effort, he ranks highly as the initiator of the tradition. A baseball player in his youth, Taft tossed the ball from his box before the Senators’ 1910 season opener against the Philadelphia Athletics. His passion for the game was admirable, and he’s the reason so many commanders in chief have flocked to the diamond.
2. Gerald Ford — 1976 All-Star Game
Ford was the first president to enter the field to deliver the first ball, though he retreated to his field-level box for the actual toss. Infamous for his clumsiness, Ford showed athletic acumen at the 1976 Midsummer Classic. Like Truman, he tossed one pitch left-handed and one pitch right-handed. The spectacle gains points for the baseball legends who accompanied Ford, including Henry Aaron and Johnny Bench.
1. George W. Bush — 2001 World Series
The ultimate presidential first pitch. Just over a month after 9/11, Bush tossed out the first ball at Yankee Stadium before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series. Wearing a New York City fire department jacket, Bush confidently strode to the mound and gave a “thumbs up” to the crowd, before firing a strike. Bush’s first pitch was a powerful moment. In a city that had recently experienced immeasurable tragedy, his strong demeanor assured residents the city would come back stronger.
So, while many are eyeing Nov. 5 as the most important presidential date, I will be looking to March 27, 2025, the day the Washington Nationals begin their 2025 season. Hopefully, the 47th president will be there too, continuing one of America’s best traditions.
