Politicians other than the President throwing out the first pitch

[Mattingly]

Yesterday, Mon Apr 6, 2009, former US President George W Bush threw out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game, at the request of team owner Tom Hicks.

In Baltimore the same day, US Vice President Joe Biden who said he'd played baseball in his youth, threw out the first pitch there.

What is the history of politicians, primarily current or former White House politicians other than the sitting US President, throwing out first pitches? Also, have two very recognizable names (they don't have to practice in Washington, DC) ever done so on the same day?

Many thanks.

[Utter Chaos]

Here's a list of non-presidents that threw out the first pitch in a season opener (and the reason why the President didn't do it).

1912 - VP James S. Sherman (Taft - death of a friend)
1914 - Speaker of the House Champ Clark (Wilson - Veracruz incident)
1917 - VP Thomas Marshall (Wilson - WWI)
1918 - DC Commissioner Louis Brownlow (Wilson - WWI)
1919 - General Peyton C. March (Wilson - Paris Peace Conference)
1920 - VP Thomas Marshall (Wilson - stroke)
1926 - nobody (Coolidge - father's death)
1939 - nobody (Roosevelt - family gathering)
1942 - nobody (Roosevelt - WW2)
1943 - nobody (Roosevelt - WW2)
1944 - nobody (Roosevelt - WW2)
1945 - nobody (Roosevelt - WW2)
1966 - none (Johnson - ???)
1968 - VP Hubert Humphrey (Johnson - game was delayed due to MLK)
1970 - David Eisenhower (Nixon - late)
1971 - POW Sgt. David Pitzer (Nixon - unable to attend)
2001 - Bud Selig (Bush threw out the second pitch)
2007 - VP Dick Cheney (Bush - late)
2009 - VP Joe Biden (Obama - G20 Summit)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_pitch

[Mattingly]

Wow, talk about a thorough reply. Thanks a lot! :D

[TonyK]

Back in the old timey days the mayor usually threw out the first pitch of a town team or semipro team's home opener. Preceded by a speech of course.

[Mattingly]

Back in the old timey days the mayor usually threw out the first pitch of a town team or semipro team's home opener. Preceded by a speech of course.
Thanks. When was this, and for which cities? Do you mean a regular game or Opening Day?

[chinese home run]

When the Baltimore Orioles had their first-ever home opener in 1954, Vice-President Nixon threw out the first ball there. I know he was in attendance for the Giants' first home opener at Candlestick Park in 1960, and I believe he may have thrown out the first ball there as well.

[TonyK]

Thanks. When was this, and for which cities? Do you mean a regular game or Opening Day?

I'm talking about mainly non-ML teams from minor league clubs, semi-pro, or town teams. If you look at microfilm of old newspapers from 1880 to 1910 and on you will often read about Opening Day festivities. Sometimes they had a parade. The two teams entered the ballpark in a wagon or, later on, in automobiles. The players stood up while the mayor gave a political speech and then threw out the first ball. A few examples that I know of would be Syracuse, Binghamton, and Utica, NY. Vice President James Sherman was from Utica.

Maybe others know about other Opening Day events where they lived?

[EdTarbusz]

President Clinton threw out the first pitch at the opening of Jacobs Field in 1994.

[Mattingly]

When the Baltimore Orioles had their first-ever home opener in 1954, Vice-President Nixon threw out the first ball there. I know he was in attendance for the Giants' first home opener at Candlestick Park in 1960, and I believe he may have thrown out the first ball there as well.
I appreciate this. I hadn't meant to forget this thread. I hadn't realized that Nixon involved himself in the national pasttime. Was he a fan of the game also?

[Mattingly]

I'm talking about mainly non-ML teams from minor league clubs, semi-pro, or town teams. If you look at microfilm of old newspapers from 1880 to 1910 and on you will often read about Opening Day festivities. Sometimes they had a parade. The two teams entered the ballpark in a wagon or, later on, in automobiles. The players stood up while the mayor gave a political speech and then threw out the first ball. A few examples that I know of would be Syracuse, Binghamton, and Utica, NY. Vice President James Sherman was from Utica.

Maybe others know about other Opening Day events where they lived?
That's interesting about the microfilm part. When I lived in Brooklyn, the only local newspaper that had microfilm was the NY Times, available a the schol library. I've also heard of microfiche, but never researched this. Which newspapers did you view the microfilms at, and where did you see these?

Thanks. :)

[TonyK]

That's interesting about the microfilm part. When I lived in Brooklyn, the only local newspaper that had microfilm was the NY Times, available a the schol library. I've also heard of microfiche, but never researched this. Which newspapers did you view the microfilms at, and where did you see these?

Thanks. :)

Most public libraries have microfilm of local newspapers in their area dating back to early papers. Genealogists use them to look up their ancestors. For baseball research, you want to look at a daily newspaper as the weeklies may not have a lot of baseball coverage. It gets tricky sometimes if a certain newspaper changed names every few years or merged with another one.

One example I can give you are Syracuse newspapers. The Syracuse public library and the Onondaga Historical Association each hold microfilm of several dailies from the 19th Century including the Syracuse Standard and the Syracuse Herald. The OHA has files about early baseball including original newspaper columns and photos.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from the 19th Century and early 20th Century is now available online to read through. I imagine the NY Public Library must have dozens of daily NYC newspapers on microfilm.

Years ago a SABR member suggested I obtain microfilm of old newspapers via interlibrary loan. I have probably read over 100 different old newspapers from all over the US and other countries and there is no charge for this service. Part of the pleasure in reading these papers is you learn about what life was like back then and what was considered headlines in that era. Some of the other stories are far more interesting than the boxscore on Page 5.

[Mattingly]

Most public libraries have microfilm of local newspapers in their area dating back to early papers. Genealogists use them to look up their ancestors. For baseball research, you want to look at a daily newspaper as the weeklies may not have a lot of baseball coverage. It gets tricky sometimes if a certain newspaper changed names every few years or merged with another one.

One example I can give you are Syracuse newspapers. The Syracuse public library and the Onondaga Historical Association each hold microfilm of several dailies from the 19th Century including the Syracuse Standard and the Syracuse Herald. The OHA has files about early baseball including original newspaper columns and photos.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from the 19th Century and early 20th Century is now available online to read through. I imagine the NY Public Library must have dozens of daily NYC newspapers on microfilm.

Years ago a SABR member suggested I obtain microfilm of old newspapers via interlibrary loan. I have probably read over 100 different old newspapers from all over the US and other countries and there is no charge for this service. Part of the pleasure in reading these papers is you learn about what life was like back then and what was considered headlines in that era. Some of the other stories are far more interesting than the boxscore on Page 5.
Thank you very much on this highly useful information, Tony K. I am now encouraged to visit the local public library to see the microfilms. I just remember they were on a spool that was around 3" wide or so (this was at Erasmus HS in Brooklyn), and they played on a viewer.

The only newspapers that I can think of that go to the 19th century would be the NY Times and the NY Post, which I believe was founded by Alexander Hamilton. I don't remember the Brooklyn Eagle, since the NYC subway token was about 35¢ when I lived there (usually a good point of reference in NYC), and this was either under NYC Mayor Abe Beame or John V. Lindsay.

In either case, this does seem like a leasant chore for me on weekends. If you or anyone here knows of online links to microfilm of major city newspapers that were in MLB towns, I would greatly appreciate this.

Many thanks. :)

[TonyK]

Thank you very much on this highly useful information, Tony K. I am now encouraged to visit the local public library to see the microfilms. I just remember they were on a spool that was around 3" wide or so (this was at Erasmus HS in Brooklyn), and they played on a viewer.

The only newspapers that I can think of that go to the 19th century would be the NY Times and the NY Post, which I believe was founded by Alexander Hamilton. I don't remember the Brooklyn Eagle, since the NYC subway token was about 35¢ when I lived there (usually a good point of reference in NYC), and this was either under NYC Mayor Abe Beame or John V. Lindsay.

In either case, this does seem like a leasant chore for me on weekends. If you or anyone here knows of online links to microfilm of major city newspapers that were in MLB towns, I would greatly appreciate this.

Many thanks. :)

A word of warning that glancing through old newspapers on microfilm can be habit forming. Next thing you know you find yourself researching a semi-pro league in Brooklyn from 1895 to 1903.

I imagine there are dozens of old NY City newspapers on microfilm dating back to the 1830's or even earlier. The NY City Library has a great reputation among baseball researchers. I have never been there. Good Luck in your reesearch!

Paperofrecord.com and Probaseballarchive.com are two links you can try. I think we have a link somewhere on BBF to the Sporting Life or Sporting News?

[chinese home run]

A word of warning that glancing through old newspapers on microfilm can be habit forming. Next thing you know you find yourself researching a semi-pro league in Brooklyn from 1895 to 1903.

I imagine there are dozens of old NY City newspapers on microfilm dating back to the 1830's or even earlier. The NY City Library has a great reputation among baseball researchers. I have never been there. Good Luck in your reesearch!

Paperofrecord.com and Probaseballarchive.com are two links you can try. I think we have a link somewhere on BBF to the Sporting Life or Sporting News?

The New York Public Library is an exceptional source for microfilmed material. I've been there many times over doing research for a book I'm working on, and they had microfilm for all seven daily newspapers for the period I was looking for (The late 40's through the 50's.)They also had The Sporting News on microfilm going quite a ways back, although I don't remember how far.

You're right- though- it's a pleasant way to spend a day, and it seemed like I got so engrossed with them that by the time I got rolling, it was time to go. Eight hours went by like it was eight minutes.

[TonyK]

The New York Public Library is an exceptional source for microfilmed material. I've been there many times over doing research for a book I'm working on, and they had microfilm for all seven daily newspapers for the period I was looking for (The late 40's through the 50's.)They also had The Sporting News on microfilm going quite a ways back, although I don't remember how far.

You're right- though- it's a pleasant way to spend a day, and it seemed like I got so engrossed with them that by the time I got rolling, it was time to go. Eight hours went by like it was eight minutes.

I got used to problems when trying to copy pages or use a machine that went on the fritz. It is a pain when you have to pay to park, or you drove for two hours and you know you won't get to finish a project. The best way to do research is to stay overnight nearby and spend two or three days doing research. Maybe when I retire I can visit the NYC Library, the Cooperstown Research Library etc?

[VIBaseball]

1966 - none (Johnson - ???)

This intrigued me because I thought Johnson liked this sort of thing. But it does look like Hubert Humphrey stood in:

"Substituting for the President, who passed up the traditional opener to continue an Easter vacation in Texas, the Vice President had lobbed out a pair of floaters to raise the curtain on the 1966 season."

[VIBaseball]

I hadn't realized that Nixon involved himself in the national pastime. Was he a fan of the game also?

Most definitely. He really liked baseball history. The old Book of Lists included Nixon's all-time team selection!

[TonyK]

Most definitely. He really liked baseball history. The old Book of Lists included Nixon's all-time team selection!

Was Russ Nixon his all-time catcher?:rofl:

[Brad Harris]

I'm pretty sure Vice President George Herbert Walker Bush should be added to the list.

[VIBaseball]

When you mentioned it, Brad, it made sense. So I had a look. George H.W. Bush threw out the first pitch at Riverfront Stadium in 2003. Dick Cheney did so in 2004.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/151523-snow-looms-over-the-grand-history-of-opening-day-in-cincinnati

Bush the elder also threw out the Rangers' first pitch in 1991, but that wasn't the MLB opener, the honor Cincinnati has traditionally enjoyed.

[TonyK]

In the 1971 World Series, First Lady Pat Nixon threw out the first ball of Game 2 in Baltimore.