#Shortstops: Lefty Delivers

Written by: Nicole Román Abreu

2026-07-12

Baseball and the American presidency have had a long history together. For more than a century U.S. presidents have taken time from their busy schedules to attend games, from amateur sandlot contests near the White House to All-Star and World Series games.

Since 1937, five United States presidents have thrown out the first pitch at a major league All-Star Game, but Gerald Ford was the first president to do so with his non-dominant arm. Celebrating America’s bicentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence led 38th President Gerald Ford to throw the first pitch at the All-Star Game at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia on July 13, 1976.

Throwing from his presidential box near first base, not from the pitcher’s mound as we see today, President Ford ceremoniously began the Midsummer Classic. He first threw a right-handed pitch to National League and Cincinnati Reds catcher, Johnny Bench. To prove his ambidextrous ability, Ford then tossed another pitch to American League and New York Yankees catcher, Thurman Munson, which would become this autographed baseball that is preserved in the Museum’s collection.

Ceremonial first pitch baseball thrown by President Gerald Ford — President Gerald Ford delivered a pair of ceremonial first pitches – firing one with each arm – before the 1976 MLB All-Star Game. This baseball, thrown to catcher Thurman Munson and later signed by Ford, is part of the Museum’s collection. (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

Ford watched the rest of the All-Star Game with Hall of Famer Ernie Banks and NBC sportscaster Joe Garagiola. Not missing the opportunity to give his congratulations, President Ford noted talks with players like Joe Morgan in the National League clubhouse before the NL won the All-Star Game 7-1.

Ford was an avid baseball enjoyer and athlete. Before his presidency, Ford served for 25 years as a member of Congress and played the position of catcher for the Republicans during the annual Congressional Baseball Game in 1957. In that game, he hit a grand slam helping his team gain a total of nine runs even though they lost.

Sharing the belief that baseball is America’s pastime, President Ford signed an amendment to Little League Baseball rules in 1974 allowing girls to play with the same opportunity as boys. Approved on Dec. 26, 1974, the amendment was a declaration that everyone has the right to play baseball, like America’s message of promising equality for all.

Baseball is coined as America’s National Pastime, and President Ford loved the game. It gave the room for people like President Gerald Ford to take part in leading some revolutionary changes, especially through baseball. Whether it was through throwing out first pitches at the All-Star Game to help ensure all could play Little League Baseball, President Ford also recognized baseball’s revolutionary strengths and importance to American people.

Nicole Román Abreu is a 2026 Curatorial intern in the Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Leadership Development