Ceremonial first pitch

<p>The ceremonial first pitch is a longstanding ritual of <a href="/facts/Baseball/42bEQy1Y">baseball</a> 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 their seat in the grandstand to the pitcher or catcher of the home team, but the ritual changed after <a href="/facts/United_States_President/oMsfmLb1">United States President</a> <a href="/facts/Ronald_Reagan/z6AaKAad">Ronald Reagan</a> threw the first pitch on the field at an unscheduled appearance at a 1988 <a href="/facts/Baltimore_Orioles/f5LSUyof">Baltimore Orioles</a> game. Now, the guest stands on or in front of the <a href="/facts/Baseball_field/RM6d8NBc">pitcher's mound</a> and throws towards <a href="/facts/Baseball_field/RM6d8NBc">home plate</a>. The recipient of the pitch is usually a player from the home team.
</p><p>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 <a href="/facts/Minor_league/6UDB7Sar">minor leagues</a>, multiple first pitches are made.
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Ceremonial first pitch open-in-new

Ceremonial first pitch