Presidential First Pitches: Trump's Politics Trump Baseball

Tyler Salk 

At 990WBOB, we feel like we have given U.S. President Donald Trump a fair shake, even at the beginning.

During our live election night, we were the “first to call it,” naming Trump president without any negativity. We even have a list of politicians to laugh at instead of Trump. But now that baseball season is underway, Trump is giving us reason to doubt him, and some of the people listed. He ran on the mantra “Make America Great Again,” and he knows baseball is one of the most American things around. Despite this, he will not be throwing out the first pitch of the season at the National’s home opener. Seriously.

---

The first pitch is never the most important thing, but some traditions need to live on.

Here are 5 memorable Presidential first pitches:

​5) Barack Obama
​
Obamacare might be highly contested, but one thing we all can agree about is that Obama cares… about his White Sox.

​ Entering the field, he was wearing Nationals garb, but pulled a White Sox hat out from nowhere on opening day. I can respect it. I just can’t really respect the pitch.

4) Jimmy Carter

Back in the days before 990WBOB, baseball players made nothing. Peanuts. One president didn’t need to be a baseball player to get peanuts, but if he could pitch like this, Jimmy Carter might have made it.

​3) Richard Nixon 

​Richard Nixon is infamous for the Watergate scandal. It’s second on his list. Throwing a baseball like this is the real worst thing he ever did.

2) George H.W. Bush

​Most ceremonial first pitch throwers try to make it easier for themselves. They pitch from in front of the mound, instead of from the top of the hill. Bush Sr didn’t care. And had no problems at all. His best sports moment came more recently though.

1) George W. Bush 

Baseball is a major aspect of being an American, but there is nothing more American than unity. When it matters the most, we forget the colors of our favorite teams, and embrace the colors of our flag. There is nothing more American, that celebrated unity more, than the 2001 World Series. After September 11th, America needed to come together. With a perfect strike, George Bush couldn’t have done any better.

---

Read More WBOB

• ​​Trump: Delicate-Flower-in-Chief
• ​The Rhode to Phoenix: Previewing Every Matchup​​
• Top 5 Places to Catch a Show in Providence
• 9 RI Influencers to Watch in 2017​