The Midsummer Classic
Tonight Major League Baseball has its All-Star Game at Chase Field in Phoenix. I haven't heard if President Obama or any former Presidents will be in attendance at the game, although I suspect that President Obama has some more pressing matters on his home plate at the moment. In 2009 President Obama threw out the first pitch at the game and all of the living former presidents participated in a seven minute video played before the game honouring individuals for their service to the community
But it was President Franklin D. Roosevelt who, on July 7, 1937, became the first President to attend an All-Star game. FDR threw out the first ball at Griffith Stadium in Washington D.C. News reports from the day tell us that the President and the rest of the sellout crowd of 31,391 who attended the 5th Annual All-Star game had to deal with a very hot and muggy afternoon. The game time temperature was reported to be 90 degrees.
The D.C. heat did not seem to bother the Yankees' first baseman Lou Gehrig who drove in four runs with a home run and a double to lead the American League to an 8-3 victory over the National League. Dizzy Dean, the star Cardinal pitcher not only was the losing pitcher of the game, he also fractured his toe when Earl Averill hit a ball that nailed Dean in the foot.
The Washington Senators were represented on the American League squad by 2nd Baseman - Buddy Myer, Catcher - Rick Ferrell, and Pitcher - Wes Ferrell. But Yankees' manager Joe McCarthy who was managing the American League team did not allow any of the three Senators to make it into the game.
Following is a video I found showing FDR tossing the first pitch, as well as some other interesting information about the game and about the connection between Presidents and baseball.
But it was President Franklin D. Roosevelt who, on July 7, 1937, became the first President to attend an All-Star game. FDR threw out the first ball at Griffith Stadium in Washington D.C. News reports from the day tell us that the President and the rest of the sellout crowd of 31,391 who attended the 5th Annual All-Star game had to deal with a very hot and muggy afternoon. The game time temperature was reported to be 90 degrees.
The D.C. heat did not seem to bother the Yankees' first baseman Lou Gehrig who drove in four runs with a home run and a double to lead the American League to an 8-3 victory over the National League. Dizzy Dean, the star Cardinal pitcher not only was the losing pitcher of the game, he also fractured his toe when Earl Averill hit a ball that nailed Dean in the foot.
The Washington Senators were represented on the American League squad by 2nd Baseman - Buddy Myer, Catcher - Rick Ferrell, and Pitcher - Wes Ferrell. But Yankees' manager Joe McCarthy who was managing the American League team did not allow any of the three Senators to make it into the game.
Following is a video I found showing FDR tossing the first pitch, as well as some other interesting information about the game and about the connection between Presidents and baseball.