On This Date in Sports April 14, 1910: Presidential Stretch

In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com

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President William Howard Taft throws out the first ball while attending the Washington Senators' season opener against the Philadelphia Athletics at American League Park in Washington. This begins a beginning a tradition of the President throwing out the first pitch of the season in Washington. Taft spends the game in a special box as the Senators beat the Athletics 3-0 behind Walter Johnson, allowing just one hit.

William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States, was in his second year in the White House. Born in Cincinnati on September 15, 1857, Taft was elected President in 1908 as the hand-chosen successor to Teddy Roosevelt, who followed tradition and stepped down after two terms. Upon election Taft, became the heaviest president, weighing well over 300lbs. 

Seeking to bring attention to his team, Clark Griffith invited Taft to the season opener in Washington, hoping to give the Senators a boost. The Senators had finished last in the American League at 42-110 in 1909. This was despite having the top pitcher in the game Walter Johnson on the team. A joke was made that Washington's slogan was Washington First in War, First in Peace, and Last in the American League. 

After tossing the first pitch, William Howard Taft stayed and watched the game from a special Presidential Box. According to legend, the rotund Taft stretched his legs during the seventh inning, leading to the tradition of the seventh-inning stretch. The crowd watching felt obliged to following along with Taft and stretched along with of him. Walter Johnson had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning, the Frank "Home Run" Baker laced a ground-rule double.  It was the Athletics only hit as Johnson struck out nine in a 3-0 win for Washington. The A's would go on to win the 1910 World Series, while the Senators finished seventh with a record of 66-85.