President Abraham Lincoln to throw out the first pitch

Mechanicsburg, PA – In a unique twist on Presidential first pitches, Abraham Lincoln, as portrayed by James Hayney, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Harrisburg Senators baseball game at Metro Bank Park on Thursday, July 14, 2011 at 7:00pm.

Mr. Lincoln is scheduled to pitch using a commemorative Civil War baseball, produced by local collectibles company, American Mint, in conjunction with The National Civil War Museum. The ball features Abner Doubleday and the Battle of Fort Sumter, and is being presented in honor of the 150th Commemoration of America’s Civil War.

Just last week, American Mint and the National Civil War Museum held a joint press conference to unveil their new product line in honor of the Civil War Sesquicentennial. “Commemorative baseballs are a natural fit for the product line, given the sport’s nascent appeal during the war,” commented Kevin Sacher, President of American Mint. Often soldiers from both sides took up the new sport as a means to find distraction from the horrors of war.