U.S. President Harry S. Truman opens major league baseball game. U.S. President Harry S.

U.S. President Harry S. Truman opens major league baseball game. U.S. President Harry S. Truman completes his throw in, opening a major league baseball game played in the U.S. capital Sept. 8, 1945, between the Washington team, nicknamed the Senators, and the St. Louis Browns. It is traditional for U.S. presidents to throw out the first ball at the opening game of the baseball season, but President Truman's first visit to the ball park as Chief Executive was postponed because the baseball season opened during the period of mourning for the late President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Seated nect to the President are Mrs.Truman (left) and U.S. Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy (right), Chief of Staff to President Truman. The Washington Senators won by a socre of 4-1. St. Louis is a major city of Missouri, President Truman's home state.