Today marks Opening Day of Major League Baseball — and not just any Opening Day. This is the earliest Opening Day in MLB history, and it comes with a twist that would have been unimaginable to fans even a decade ago: the first-ever MLB Opening Night game streaming exclusively on Netflix.
The matchup between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants kicks off a new three-year partnership between the league and the streaming giant, making this the first season opener to air exclusively on a major streaming service. And in a nod to the moment’s pop culture significance, Thing — the disembodied hand from the Netflix series Wednesday and the beloved Addams Family franchise — will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the game. Only in baseball.
A Ritual as Old as the Game Itself
The ceremonial first pitch is one of those traditions so deeply woven into baseball’s fabric that it’s easy to forget it had to start somewhere. The practice dates back to at least 1890, with one of the earliest recorded instances coming in 1892, when Ohio Governor William McKinley — later the 25th President of the United States — threw a pitch at a minor league season opener.
In those early days, the guest would throw the ball from their seat in the grandstand to the pitcher or catcher of the home team. That changed in 1988, when President Ronald Reagan made an unscheduled appearance at a Baltimore Orioles game and threw the first pitch from the field itself, setting a new standard for how the ritual would be performed ever after.
Taft Starts a Presidential Tradition
The specifically presidential dimension of the first pitch began in 1910, when President William Howard Taft threw the ceremonial first ball at the Washington Senators’ Opening Day at Griffith Stadium. It was actually Washington manager Jimmy McAleer’s idea, and Taft — an ardent fan of the game — readily agreed. The day was not without drama: baseball historians have noted that the game nearly ended the career of Vice President James S. Sherman, who took a foul ball directly to the head.
Taft returned the following year, and just like that, a tradition was born. Every president since has thrown out at least one ceremonial first pitch — during their term or after — with the exceptions of Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
Hot Dogs, Hecklers, and Ambidextrous Presidents
The history of presidential first pitches is full of memorable moments. When Herbert Hoover threw out the first pitch at the 1930 World Series, a portion of the crowd — unhappy with Prohibition — greeted him with chants of “We want beer!” Harry Truman, who threw a pitch on September 8, 1945, just six days after Japan’s surrender ending World War II, kept fans guessing by being ambidextrous. He became the first left-hander and oldest president to throw out a first pitch, and on Opening Day in 1950, he went all in and threw two balls — one with each hand. Lyndon Johnson, meanwhile, set what remains an unofficial but undisputed record on Opening Day in 1964: four hot dogs consumed by a sitting president.
When it comes to sheer volume, Franklin D. Roosevelt leads the pack with 11 ceremonial first pitches thrown while in office. For overall totals including pre- and post-presidency appearances, both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are tied at 14 apiece.
The World Series Is a Different Matter
Not just anyone gets to throw the first pitch at the World Series. The Commissioner of Baseball has final say, and the World Series Manual is explicit: politicians, movie stars, and similar figures will not be approved “except in rare or unusual circumstances.” The rule has teeth — a Baltimore Orioles owner was fined $2,500 for allowing the Maryland governor to throw the first pitch at the 1979 World Series against the commissioner’s wishes.
One Man’s Quest for the Record Books
On the more lighthearted end of first pitch history, New York-based comedian Eitan Levine made headlines in August 2024 when he threw his 40th ceremonial first pitch at a Mets home game, breaking the Guinness World Record for ceremonial first pitches in a single professional baseball season. All proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation — proof that even the quirkier corners of baseball lore can do some genuine good.
So as the Yankees and Giants take the field tonight, and Thing reaches back and delivers what is surely the most unusual first pitch in the history of the game, remember: you’re watching a tradition more than a century in the making. Play ball!