Ceremonial first pitch: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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[[Image:2001 World Series first pitch.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[George W. Bush]], [[2001 World Series]] Game 3, [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]], October 30, 2001.]]

The '''ceremonial first ball''' is a longstanding [[ritual]] of [[History of baseball in the United States|American baseball]] in which a [[guest of honor]] throws a ball to mark the end of pregame festivities and the start of the game. Originally, the guest threw a ball from his/her place in the grandstand to the pitcher or catcher of the home team, but the ritual changed after [[Ronald Reagan]] threw the first pitch on the field at an unscheduled appearance at a [[Baltimore Orioles]] game. Now, the guest stands in front of the [[pitcher's mound]] and throwingthrows towards the [[home plate]],. though sometimes heHe or she may also sometimes stand on the mound (as a pitcher would). The recipient of the pitch is usually a player from the home team.

The ceremonial thrower may be a notable person (dignitary, celebrity, former player, etc.) who is in attendance, an executive from a company that sponsors the team (especially when that company has sponsored that night's promotional giveaway), or a person who won the first pitch opportunity as a contest prize. Often, especially in the [[minor league]]s, multiple first pitches are made.