TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2273

JFK THROWS OUT LAST FIRST PITCH

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy threw out what would be his last ceremonial first pitch of the major league baseball season 54 years ago today, April 8, 1963.  The ceremony was held at DC Stadium here in the Nation's Capital.

The tradition of Presidents of the United States throwing out the ceremonial 1st pitch began with William Howard Taft on April 14, 1910 when he attended the opening game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Athletics.  Every president has participated in at least one ceremonial 1st pitch since that time.

As a possible warning of trouble to come, Warren G. Harding's 1st pitch was followed by the 1st loss of the Washington Nationals in an opening game at which a president threw out the 1st pitch.

Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the record, as might be expected with his election to 4 terms as president, at nine 1st pitches.  On his 8th 1st pitch, however, Mr. Roosevelt's throw hit a Washington Post camera.  The ambidextrous Harry S Truman threw 2 1st pitches in 1950, 1 left-handed & 1 right-handed.

Richard M. Nixon "relieved" Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959 becoming the 1st sitting Vice-President to throw out the 1st pitch.  John F. Kennedy, the youngest elected president, was also the youngest president to throw out a 1st pitch.
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the oldest president to throw out a 1st pitch.In 1990. 

George H.W. Bush became the 1st president to throw out the 1st pitch in Canada at the opening game at the Sky Dome in Toronto.  Mr. Bush also threw out the 1st pitch at the new Camden Yards stadium in Baltimore in 1992.

In 1993, William Jefferson Clinton changed the tradition by becoming the 1st president to throw the 1st pitch from the pitcher's mound on opening day of the baseball season.  This event also took place at Camden Yards.

On October 12, 2005, Senator Barack Obama threw out the 1st pitch of Game 2 of the ALCS game between the White Sox and Angels in Chicago.  In 2010, Barack Obama threw out the 1st pitch marking the 100th anniversary of the custom of the presidential 1st pitch ceremony.

JFK Throws Out 1st Pitch

 1962 All-Star Game

DC Stadium

Photo by Cecil W. Stoughton

JFK Library Image

                  

JFK'S LAST FIRST PITCH

JFK THROWS OUT LAST FIRST PITCH
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy threw out the ceremonial first pitch of the 1963 baseball season 52 years ago today, April 8, 1963.

JFK's "first pitch" came before the opening day game at DC Stadium here in the Nation's Capital.  The President was accompanied by administrative aide, David Powers, who was known as JFK's "Undersecretary of Baseball."

On hand to observe the first pitch was Speaker of the House, John W. McCormick, Senators Everett Dirksen, Abraham Ribicoff, Hubert Humphrey and Mike Mansfield.  Another JFK aide, Larry O'Brien was also in attendance.

The final score...Baltimore Orioles 3, 
                                  Washington Senators 1.

Sadly it would be President Kennedy's last opportunity to enjoy an event he clearly loved.

JFK loved sports, both as a participant and as a spectator.  He threw four first pitches during his tenure as president:  April 10, 1961, April 9, 1962, the All-Star Game July 10, 1962, and his last first pitch on April 8, 1963.

The Baseball Almanac website says that President Kennedy stayed through every inning of every baseball game he attended as Chief Executive.

SOURCE

www.baseball-almanac.com/

JFK Throws Out First Pitch

DC Stadium, Washington

April 8, 1963

Photo by Harold L. Sellers (Cecil Stoughton)

JFK Library and Museum Image

BAY OF PIGS CAPTIVES SENTENCED IN CUBA

Havana, Cuba (JFK+50) 53 years ago today, April 8, 1962, almost a year after the failed invasion of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, a Cuban military court sentenced more than 1100 exiles who were captured in the failed invasion of April 17, 1961.

Each of the captives were sentenced to serve 30 years in prison.  Fidel Castro, however, made an offer to the Kennedy administration.  He would release all the prisoners upon payment of $62 million.

EMERGENCY RELIEF ACT BECOMES LAW  

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Eighty years ago today, April 8, 1935, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Second New Deal was getting underway, the Congress passed his proposed Emergency Relief Appropriations Act.

It authorized expenditures of $5 million for work-relief programs.  ERA established the Works Progress Administration which paid workers to build highways, schools, hospitals, airports and playgrounds.

The WPA also restored theaters such as the Dock Street Theater in Charleston, South Carolina.