Opinion: Biden throws the first pitch (not brickbats)

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As the Ticket reported Monday with the start of baseball season, presidents and baseball have long gone together. But with President Obama traveling in Europe (and later -- surprise! -- to Iraq), it fell to Vice President Joe Biden to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

We posted that tidbit before game time, but now we can offer up a photo of the veep on the mound at Baltimore’s beautiful Camden Yards. According to the Orioles organization, he was the first sitting vice president to do the honors. (For those who care about sports more than politics, the orioles beat the Yankees 10-5.)

And speaking of presidential pitchers, that’s Jimmy Carter below, photographed in 2002, talking baseball in Havana. And, yes, that’s Fidel Castro in the Adidas jacket.

-- Steve Padilla

Photos: Top, Baltimore Sun. Bottom, Reuters