By: Devin Fussa

The tumultuous crowd roars, a reverberating echo across the stadium. The man emerges from the dugout, stops, and breathes. The faces in the crowd are blurred together, hollering, howling, like beasts yearning for flesh. The man straightens his suit, checks that his tie is well-fit, and sweeps his hair to the side. He begins to stride forward, moving up the steps with an unmatched grace. The crowd continues it’s chants, cheering and jeering simultaneously. The stadium quakes under the force of the thunderous volume.

But the man has no fear. His beady eyes betray nothing, save for confidence. Casually, he steps onto the dirt, grains crunching together with his every footstep. He shakes a few hands, and continues onward. A smile holds still on his lips, as his hand raises to greet the crowd (to the millions in attendance). He continues his walk, strutting through the green pasture and stopping atop the mound in the middle of the field. The air smells of newly cut grass.

The man holds a red baseball cap in his hand, and places it upon his skull. He manages to place his mit upon his other hand, and takes the leathery orb out of his pocket. It’s white surface glistens in the sun, the red stitchings bold and boisterous. The man spins the ball in his hand, his strong, large hand, and rears back his arm. The air is hot, but no sweat can be found on his brow. The man is calm, cool, and collected. With a great force, he whips the ball at the catcher, with the skill of a big league player. The crowd silences, stunned by the throw. Suddenly, they erupt in cheer, awed by the magnificent display of athleticism. A bald eagle flies overhead.

This year, we won’t get to see President Trump throw the Major League Baseball’s opening pitch. The tradition started in 1910, and 13 former presidents have thrown a ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game in the following decades. While the first pitch tradition has not continued uninterrupted, it has occurred during every president’s first year since Ronald Reagan’s time in office. President Trump has announced that he will not be throwing a pitch during his first year, so for those interested, hopefully, the narrative above quenches your thirst.