Gotta Watch: Presidential first pitches; remembering Selena
It's opening day for Major League Baseball so we're looking at a history of presidential pitches.
March 31st, 2011
11:29 AM ET

Gotta Watch: Presidential first pitches; remembering Selena

It's a throwback kind of day in more ways than one. Baseball season starts today, making it the perfect time to reflect on a century's worth of presidential pitches. Also in today's Gotta Watch, we mark the 16th anniversary of singer Selena Quintanilla-Pérez's death.

Perfecting the presidential pitch – For once, this is a presidential pitch devoid of any politics. Check out how the presidents measure up when it's time to throw out the first pitch. From 20th century presidents to more modern day leaders like Ronald Reagan pitching 1984, see who threw it best.

We have video of George H. W. Bush winding it up in 1991 and 1992. We also threw in Bill Clinton's 1992 pitch, George W. Bush's 2001, 2005 and 2009 pitches. And of course, there's president Barack Obama from 2009 and 2010.

Remembering Selena – Selena may have been one of the earliest pioneers in the 1990s Latin music explosion. The tejano singer already had a devoted following for her Spanish-language music, but she attained crossover success when her first English-language album was released posthumously. Two years after her death, the murdered Grammy winner helped ignite Jennifer Lopez's career. J. Lo played Selena in a 1997 biopic that bore the slain singer's name.

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Filed under: Barack Obama • Baseball • Bill Clinton • George W. Bush • Gotta Watch • Politics • Sports
soundoff (49 Responses)
  1. mE

    slow news day....

    March 31, 2011 at 12:26 pm | Report abuse |
    • yawn

      Tomorrow on Must See, Presidential first dumps of the term. And in the old days, even the president had one-ply tp.

      March 31, 2011 at 5:16 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Riddick

    So they're calling J-Lo a vulture or a parasite that uses dead people to catapult their way into the headlines? I see. She's a necrocelebrity.

    March 31, 2011 at 12:31 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Herbert

    There hasn't been a good cleaning in the White House since the Hoover administration.

    March 31, 2011 at 12:36 pm | Report abuse |
    • ChrisMeece

      Nice one Herbert, I wonder how many people got it.

      March 31, 2011 at 1:53 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mike

      Brilliant quip!

      March 31, 2011 at 2:53 pm | Report abuse |
    • Chachi Arcola

      Brilliant? Let's not get swept away here.

      March 31, 2011 at 3:14 pm | Report abuse |
    • pa jesseson

      are you saying the white house needs to be hoovered?

      I say it's as clean as it's been in quite some time, given the refreshing non scandals of this president. he knows how to play ball the good, clean American way.

      March 31, 2011 at 3:21 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Christian Soto

    How do the two subjects in this story possibly relate to each other Ibanga?

    March 31, 2011 at 12:39 pm | Report abuse |
  5. tatersalad8498

    Chris Hoiles is the answer to a trivia question...caught at least 2 Presidential 1st pitches....

    .....W had good form too

    March 31, 2011 at 12:44 pm | Report abuse |
  6. mario

    The loser of this country isn't going to do it this year...what a loser he is...

    March 31, 2011 at 12:59 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Eric

    George W. Bush is the most talented president ever....when it comes to throwing out ceremonial first pitches.

    March 31, 2011 at 1:37 pm | Report abuse |
    • pa jesseson

      true enough. that's the arena where he can say mission accomplished. now, let's see, as for ruining the hopes of millions of good hard working americans, well, I guess he and his fat cat boys and his ventriloquist dick cheney, can all say mission accomplished, too.

      March 31, 2011 at 3:24 pm | Report abuse |
    • Eric

      My policy on these forums is to only say something about someone if it is positive. Incidentally, this is the first comment that I ever made about George W. Bush on this forum.

      March 31, 2011 at 3:43 pm | Report abuse |
  8. Jacob

    Long live the Queen of Tejano, Selena!

    March 31, 2011 at 1:44 pm | Report abuse |
  9. knucklehead

    It is amazing how poorly they all throw. I bet JFK could of zipped an over hand or a side armed fast ball across the plate.

    March 31, 2011 at 1:45 pm | Report abuse |
    • 2ears1mouth

      Have you ever tried throwing a baseball from a regulatioin mound to home plate? Man, it ain't easy.

      March 31, 2011 at 3:20 pm | Report abuse |
  10. knucklehead

    I just thought of something. If I were going to throw the first pitch I wouldn't be wearing those heavy jackets they have on, heck it's only a few minutes regardless of the weather. Then I thought bullet proof armor, that must be why they all throw like girls, well some girls. 🙂

    March 31, 2011 at 1:50 pm | Report abuse |
  11. Brandon

    From what I can tell the Republican presidents had some good heat and form with their pitches (even the old ones), and the Democratic presidents limp wristed the ball to the plate. Make of that observation what you will.

    March 31, 2011 at 1:51 pm | Report abuse |
    • Danucci

      Yeah, it's one thing to talk the talk, it's another to walk the walk. If only they would govern as well as they speak. Make of that what you will.

      April 3, 2011 at 10:49 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Tim

    I loved Selena, I could have sukk her all over, she had a beautiful ass

    March 31, 2011 at 2:20 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Tim

    @herbert.. Very funny you stupid moron

    March 31, 2011 at 2:21 pm | Report abuse |
  14. Fred

    George Bush I apparently had some trouble with the pitches because of the bullet-proof vest security made him wear. His son refused to wear it because he wanted to pitch well. Too bad he didn't take the memos sent to him as seriously.

    March 31, 2011 at 2:24 pm | Report abuse |
  15. Tim

    @Fred.. Is this supposed to be a fukkin joke, I think your mother is the only one laughing, while I fukk her

    March 31, 2011 at 2:26 pm | Report abuse |
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