#FirstPitch October 28

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

For the month of October 2024 several of us are participating in the 30-Day World Series Coach4aday Challenge. Each day we attempt to learn something about some aspect of the World Series. Today I am focusing on Presidents who have thrown out the ceremonial FIRST PITCH.

The ceremonial first pitch in baseball is a symbolic gesture typically performed before the start of a game, especially on special occasions such as Opening Day, the World Series, or some promotion at a regular season game. A notable guest, celebrity, politician, former player, or local hero is invited to throw a pitch from the mound. Since 1910 starting with William Howard Taft a lot of US Presidents have done that at either Opening Day or at a World Series Game.

World Series 30-Day Challenge Guidelines

Like previous challenges there are no hard and fast rules to participate. There are a few suggested guidelines

1. Each day in October 2024 write about the World Series
2. Share at least one fact about the event or the participants.
3. If so inclined use the hash tag #Coach4adayChallenge on social media platforms

October 28th-First Pitch

There are some interesting stories and facts about Presidential First Pitches. Not all of them occurred at a World Series Game but some are too good not to share.

1. From 1910 to 1984 the US Presidents threw the ball from the grandstands to a catcher waiting on the field. That might explain why Franklin Delano Roosevelt who was confined to wheelchair threw out 11 first pitches.
2. In 1984 Ronald Reagan went on the field at a Baltimore Orioles game to throw the ball. That was a first for a US President. Reagan also was on the field at Wrigley Field in Chicago in 1988.
3. Wikipedia has a great link about Presidential First Pitches.

Here is a link to a great compilation video. Remember early on the toss went from the grandstands in the direction of the entire team who were lined up on the field in front of the President tossing out the ball. That would cause a mad dash to catch the ball.