


Section 7.13 of the World Series Manual states, "All first‐ball throwers are subject to final approval of the commissioner. Ĭeremonial first pitches during the World Series are subject to the Commissioner of Baseball's approval. Former Japanese Prime Minister Ōkuma Shigenobu threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the first game of an American All-Star team's tour of Japan in 1908, making him possibly the first person who had served as a national head of government to throw out a first pitch. president) William McKinley, for example, "threw the ball into the diamond" before an opening day game between Toledo and Columbus in 1892. The practice of having ceremonial first pitches dates back to at least 1890, when throwers were often a mayor, governor, or other locally notable individual. Often, especially in the minor leagues, multiple first pitches are made. The ceremonial thrower may be a notable person (dignitary, celebrity, former player, etc.) who is in attendance, an executive from a company that sponsors the team (especially when that company has sponsored that night's promotional giveaway), or a person who won the first pitch opportunity as a contest prize. The recipient of the pitch is usually a player from the home team. The ceremonial thrower sometimes stands on the mound (as a pitcher would). Now, the guest stands in front of the pitcher's mound and throws towards home plate. Originally, the guest threw a ball from their seat in the grandstand to the pitcher or catcher of the home team, but the ritual changed after United States President Ronald Reagan threw the first pitch on the field at an unscheduled appearance at a Baltimore Orioles game. The ceremonial first pitch is a longstanding ritual of baseball in which a guest of honor throws a ball to mark the end of pregame festivities and the start of the game. Bush, 2001 World Series Game 3, Yankee Stadium, October 30, 2001. Pittsburgh Pirates, Wrigley Field, September 30, 1988. New York Yankees, RFK Stadium, April 7, 1969. Richard Nixon, Opening Day, Washington Senators v. New York Yankees, Griffith Stadium, April 20, 1916. Woodrow Wilson, Washington Senators home opener v.
