William H. Taft, the 27th president, was the first to throw out a first pitch on Opening Day in 1910 for the Senators. Taft tossed it from the crowd, not the mound, at National Park and did it again in 1911. The event became standard as nine of the next 10 presidents followed Taft in throwing out the first pitch on their first opportunity in office until Washington was left without a major league team in 1972.