FDR’s pitch

President Franklin Delane Roosevelt throws out the ceremonial first pitch 86 years ago today in Washington, D.C. as the Nationals open the 1940 season with a 1-0 loss to the high-powered Boston Red Sox.

Roosevelt delivers his pitch before a Tuesday afternoon crowd of 31,000 at Griffith Stadium.

Despite their offensive prowess with four future Hall of Famers – Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin and Bobby Doerr – hitting in the middle of the lineup, the Red Sox score their only run thanks to an error in the second inning by Washington catcher and future Hall of Famer Rick Ferrell.

Limiting Washington to a pair of singles is Boston starter Lefty Grove, another future Hall of Famer beginning his penultimate season in the majors.

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