Books and articles about William Howard Taft

Taft became the first U.S. president to throw a ceremonial "first pitch" when he opened the 1910 season at Washington's League Park on April 14. An overflow crowd estimated at 15,000 attended the spectacle, and the Senators' Walter Johnson responded by pitching a one-hitter, beating the Athletics and Eddie Plank 3-0. Johnson might have recorded the first Opening Day no-hitter if not for the excess fans who spilled out of the grandstand and surrounded the outfield. In the seventh inning, Frank Baker lofted a fly ball to right field, but Washington's Doc Gessler collided with a youngster while giving chase and the ball fell for a double. Taft stayed for the entire game and enjoyed himself so much that the presidential "first pitch" became an annual event in Washington.

Taft was President from 1909 to 1913 and later became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. (SCL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 14, 1910: With the weather perfect, President and Mrs. William Howard Taft, along with Veep Sherman, surprise the Nationals by showing up for the season Opener. Jimmy McAleer suggests Taft throw out the first ball, and he becomes the first president to do so. Walter Johnson catches it, then pitches the first of his 14 Opening Day Washington games, striking out 9. An easy fly hit by Frank "Home Run" Baker into the overflow crowd—a ground-rule double—mars his 3–0 pitching gem over rival Eddie Plank. Gabby Street is behind the plate for Johnson, the only opener in which he catches for Walter. » May 2, 1910: In Pittsburgh, baseball fan President William Howard Taft watches the Pirates top Chicago, 5–2. » May 4, 1910: President Taft takes in two games starting with the Reds and the Cardinals at Robison Field in St. Louis. The Cards score five in the 1st as Reds pitchers Fred Beebe, Walt Slagle (in his only ML appearance) and Harry Coveleski will eventually walk a record 16 in the 12–3 loss. The Cards walk seven to total a record 23. Taft doesn't stick around. He leaves for Sportsman's Park in hopes of seeing some good baseball and is rewarded by a 3–3, 14-inning battle between the Browns' Joe Lake and the Naps' Cy Young that ends in darkness. There will be a record 19 ties in the AL this year. » April 12, 1911: President Taft throws out the first ball at Washington's opener, and holdout Walter Johnson signs a 3-year contract at $7,000 a year. » April 19, 1912: Behind the pitching of Walter Johnson, Washington wins its home opener 6–0 over the World Champion Athletics. Only 10,000 fans show up as shocking news of the Titanic sinking keeps people away. President Taft skips the game and Veep Sherman does the tossing of the first ball. » June 18, 1912: The Senators, in 2nd place two games behind the Red Sox, return home to face the A's, as President Taft throws out a belated Opening Day ball. Washington wins 5–4, for the Nationals' 17th straight win. Their 16 road wins is a league record until 1984. The A's will stop the win streak on the 19th and 20th by sweeping back-to-back doubleheaders. Frank Baker will go 9–for–15 and drive in the winning runs in three of the victories. » September 2, 1920: Shaken by the possible effects of the scandal surrounding baseball, club owners begin a series of meetings to reform the game. Albert D. Lasker, a Chicago advertising man and minority stockholder, of the Cubs, proposes a 3-man board of non baseball men, with the chairman to be paid $25,000 year. Among the names mentioned: Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, former president William Howard Taft, General George Pershing, Senator Hiram Johnson, General Leonard Wood, and ex–treasury secretary William McAdoo. » October 2, 1920: Shaken by the possible effects of the scandal surrounding baseball, club owners begin a series of meetings to reform the game. Albert D. Lasker, a Chicago advertising man and minority stockholder, of the Cubs, proposes a 3-man board of nonbaseball men, with the chairman to be paid $25,000 year. Among the names mentioned: Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, former president William Howard Taft, General George Pershing, Senator Hiram Johnson, General Leonard Wood, and ex-treasury secretary William McAdoo.