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Nats Pick Taft As Fifth Racing President

By: WAMU Staff // January 26, 2013
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The Washington Nationals announced Friday evening on Twitter that William Howard Taft would become the team's fifth Racing President.

According to Nats Insider, Taft has "agreed to the terms" to be the Nationals fifth racing president, pending a physical. The 27th president would join fellow mascots George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

The Nationals are scheduled to introduce Taft Saturday afternoon at Chosen for his competitive streak and the indelible mark he left on the national pastime, Taft holds the distinction of throwing out the first Presidential Ceremonial First Pitch on April 14, 1910 at the old Griffith Stadium in D.C. Legend has it he also accidentally inspired the seventh-inning stretch.

The Racing Presidents are 12-foot over-sized mascots who race during the fourth inning of every Nationals home game. The tradition was started in 2006.

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