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Primary sourcePhotograph9 October 1915

Wilson Throws First Pitch, 1915 World Series

Bain News Service · 9 October 1915

A news photograph of President Woodrow Wilson throwing the ceremonial first pitch at the 1915 World Series.

The photograph shows Wilson performing a ceremonial public duty as president, surrounded by family and local officials.

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Black-and-white photograph of a smiling man in a fedora and overcoat raising a baseball in his right hand, standing in a crowd of men in hats and coats. A smiling older woman in a fur-trimmed hat is at left, and a bearded older man is at right.
Bain News Service, President Woodrow Wilson throws out the first pitch, 1915 World Series.

About this source

What it is

This photograph, published by the Bain News Service on 9 October 1915, shows President Woodrow Wilson throwing out the first pitch at the 1915 World Series. Beside him are his mother-in-law, Sallie White Bolling, and the mayor, Rudolph Blankenburg.

Why it matters

The image shows a president taking part in a popular public ceremony, a tradition that linked the presidency to everyday American life and leisure. It also records the people who accompanied Wilson on public occasions, including his family.

Look closer

  • Why might a news photographer want to capture the president at a baseball game rather than in the White House?
  • What does this image suggest about how presidents used public appearances to connect with ordinary citizens?
  • Who else is shown in the photograph, and what might their presence tell you about Wilson's personal and political life?

This photograph is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Woodrow Wilson on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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