first pitch
Ceremonial baseball throw
The first pitch is the ceremonial throw that opens a baseball game, typically made by a guest of honor—a politician, celebrity, or local hero—rather than the actual pitcher.
It's a moment of symbolic significance: The president threw out the first pitch.
The phrase also refers to any opening move or initial attempt in other contexts.
- openingGap or start
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- baseballBat-and-ball team sport
- spring trainingBaseball's preseason practice period
- moundHeaped earth formation
catcher · home plate · batter's box · stadium · windup · throw · strike · ball · ceremonial · celebrity · game · play ball · umpire · delivery · fastball · homeplate · crowd · anthem
- pitchfastball, curveball, slider, changeup, sinker
- debutsdebut, debut performance, premiere, launch, unveiling
- openingsopening, aperture, gap, hole, slit
- pregamewarmup, warm-up, stretching routine, stretching, pep talk
- sports traditionstailgating, huddle, seventh inning stretch, awards banquet, team cheer
- beginningsbegin, beginning, start, opening, origin