Warren G. Harding

Warren Gamaliel Harding

• Throws Right

• Born November 2, 1865 near Marion, OH USA
• Died August 2, 1923 in San Francisco, CA USA

Biographical Information

Harding and Ruth shake hands in 1923

As a boy, Warren G. Harding played baseball with future big-league shortstop Bob Allen. Later, he was co-owner of the minor league team in his hometown of Marion, Ohio. As President, he invited Babe Ruth to the White House several times. He also threw the ceremonial first pitch before the first game ever played at Yankee Stadium, on April 18, 1923, in addition to doing so at the Washington Senators' home opener on several occasions.

Sports was an issue in the 1920 presidential campaign, according to the book 1920: The Year of the Six Presidents (by author David Pietrusza, better known to baseball fans as a baseball writer). Harding was a golfer, but that was seen by the public as a rich man's sport, so Harding's handlers arranged for the Chicago Cubs to come play an exhibition game in Harding's home town. For competition, the New York Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians were all asked, but they all refused. Finally, a semi-pro team called the Kerrigan Tailors became the opposition to the Cubs, in a game played on September 2, 1920, and Harding briefly served as pitcher for the Kerrigan team, throwing three pitches. As part of the day, according to Pietruzsa's book, Harding addressed the Cubs about politics, using baseball metaphors.

Hall of Famer Warren Spahn was named "Warren" after Warren Harding. Spahn was born in April 1921, shortly after Harding became President.

Related Sites

• Warren G. Harding at the SABR Bio Project
• White House Biography
• Wikipedia Entry
• Internet Public Library POTUS Page

Preceded by Woodrow Wilson

United States President 1921 – 1923

Succeeded by Calvin Coolidge