President William Taft Throws Out First Pitch

On April 14, 1910, William Howard Taft, the 27th United States president, throws the "first ball" to Washington Senators pitcher Walter Johnson. Traditionally, the commissioner of the District of Columbia would throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Senators' first game of the season.

But with Taft in the audience, the ball was handed to him instead. Taft was unaware that would be throwing the pitch, as he had been sitting in the stands. Rather than throwing it to the catcher, as norm, Taft threw the ball in to Johnson -- reasoning that he would need the ball anyway.

And just that like, a Major League Baseball tradition was born.

From 1910 to 1972, every acting president threw out the first pitch of the year at least once at the Senators' home stadium.

There were a few instances, including four straight years during World War II, when national issues prevented the president from attending. In 1912 for instance, Vice President James Sherman attended in place of Taft, who was the mourning the loss of Archibald Butt, who died on the Titanic.



In 1973, the Senators moved out west and became the Texas Rangers. Washington eventually regained a baseball team at around the turn of the century, but the tradition of presidential opening day pitches persisted nonetheless.

In 1973, Richard Nixon threw out the first pitch at Anaheim Stadium. A year later, Gerald Ford threw out the first pitch in Texas.

The presidential streak came to an end with Jimmy Carter, who threw out the first ball prior to Game 7 of the 1979 World Series, but never to begin the season.

Ronald Reagen started a new streak by throwing out the first pitch in 1984.

President Barrack Obama has held up the streak started by Reagan by throwing at the first pitch at both Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals' games.

President Carter Announces United States To Boycot Moscow Olympics

On March 21, 1980, the President of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter announces that the United States will boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia.

 

Led by the United States, 65 countries boycotted the games because of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, though some athletes from some of the boycotting countries participated in the games, under the Olympic Flag.

This prompted the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Summer Olympics that were held in Los Angeles, Calif.

Some of the later events of the games were also nearly marred by the death and unauthorized mass funeral of the immensely popular and beloved singer-songwriter Vladimir Vysotsky.

Although approximately half of the 24 countries that boycotted the 1976 Summer Olympics (in protest of apartheid in South Africa) participated in these games, the 1980 Summer Olympics were disrupted by another, even larger, boycott led by the United States in protest of the 1979 Soviet war in Afghanistan. Many of the boycotting nations participated instead in the Liberty Bell Classic (also known as the "Olympic Boycott Games") in Philadelphia.

Eighty nations participated – the smallest number since 1956. However, the nations that did compete had won 71% of the medals, including 71% of the gold medals, at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.

Of the 80 nations represented at the Moscow Games, six nations made their first Olympic appearance in 1980: Angola, Botswana, Jordan, Laos, Mozambique, and Seychelles. Cyprus made its debut at the Summer Olympics, but had appeared earlier at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Sri Lanka competed for the first time under its new name (previously as Ceylon), Benin had competed previously as Dahomey and Zimbabwe competed for the first time under that name (previously as Rhodesia).

As a form of protest against the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, 15 countries marched in the Opening Ceremony with the Olympic Flag instead of with their national flags, and the Olympic Flag and Olympic Hymn were used at Medal Ceremonies when athletes from these countries won medals. Competitors from three countries New Zealand, Portugal and Spain; competed under the flag of their respective National Olympic Committees. Some of the teams who marched under other than their national flags were depleted by boycotts by individual athletes, and others did not march.

The Soviet Union took home the most medals with 195 total medals, including the most Gold medals of any country with 80. They also won 69 Silver medals and 46 Bronze medals.

The East Germans took home the second most medals with 126, including 47 Gold medals, 37 Silver medals and 42 Bronze medals.

The Bulgarians took home the third most medals with 41, including eight Gold medals, 16 Silver medals and 17 Bronze medals.

NFL And AAFC Merge

On Dec. 9, 1949, the NFL merged with the All-American Football Conference. As part of the merger, three AAFC franchises joined the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Colts, and Cleveland Browns joined the NFL. The remaining AAFC franchises folded. Two days later, the Browns beat the 49ers in the final AAFC title game.

The Baltimore Colts ended up disbanding as a team following the 1950 season, but would re-enter into the NFL in 1953. The Colts would win two Super Bowls in their four appearances. With there most notable appearance in Super Bowl III against the New York Jets, when Johnny Unitas quarterback of the Colts lost to “Broadway” Joe Namath.

More recently Peyton Manning led the Colts to a win in Super Bowl XLI (41) as they beat the Chicago Bears, solidifying Manning as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL and his entrance into the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

The Cleveland Browns still have never been to a Super Bowl, however a team that was built from them the Baltimore Ravens would win Super Bowl XXXV, their only appearance in history up until last season when the Ravens beat the 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers have gone on to become one of the elite franchises in NFL history winning Five Super Bowls (and dropping one) ranking them tied for second all-time. They trail only the Steelers, who have six wins, and are tied with the Dallas Cowboys.