The presidential first pitch

William Howard Taft becomes the first president to throw out a ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day 114 years ago today in Washington, D.C.

Taft makes his pitch to Walter Johnson, Washington’s future Hall of Fame pitcher, before Johnson tosses a one-hitter and beats the Philadelphia Athletics 3-0.

Ninety-five years later – after teams twice abandon Washington for Minnesota and Texas – baseball returns to D.C. with the transplanted Montreal Expos, who 19 years ago today play their first game at RFK Stadium as the newly minted Washington Nationals.

The ceremonial first pitch for that game in 2005 – a 5-3 victory over Arizona – is thrown from President George W. Bush to Nationals catcher Brian Schneider.