Shhhh... Joe Biden ditches work for baseball game in Baltimore

Don't tell anyone but Joe Biden is sneaking out of the White House today to go see a baseball game in Baltimore.

It's exactly like Ferris Bueller.

As President Obama is traveling overseas this week, the vice president gets to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the season as the Orioles host the Yankees at Camden Yards.

Will he throw a strike? There's a chance.

Regardless, Biden takes the mound today at 4:15pm (Eastern Time).

Here's some quick history of America's pastime and the presidency.

President Taft was the first President to throw out the first ball of the baseball season on April 14, 1910.

President Wilson and Edith Galt made their first public appearance as an engaged couple at the second game of the World Series in Philadelphia. The following spring, Mrs. Wilson was at the President's side as he threw out the first pitch on opening day.

President Harding once hosted Babe Ruth at the White House and attended this 1922 opener with his wife and with then Secretary of Commerce, Herbert Hoover.

Although President Coolidge threw out the opening pitch, the real baseball fan was standing next to him. Grace Coolidge kept perfect scorecards of baseball games and stayed behind after the President made an early exit from the game.

President Hoover should have stayed at home. With the onset of the Great Depression and Babe Ruth's opposition to the president, Hoover was the recipient of many boos when he threw out the first pitch at the 1931 World Series.

Even amidst the Great Depression and World War II, President Roosevelt insisted that the game be given a green light to aid and enhance the morale of the country. He did, however, cease his visits to the ballpark during the war.

President Truman was the first southpaw to toss a baseball out of the presidential box. In fact, President Truman was ambidextrous and used both arms during his numerous ceremonial pitches.

How big of a deal was baseball to President Eisenhower? According to Baseball Almanacy, huge. "Not making the baseball team at West Point was one of the greatest disappointments of my life, maybe my greatest," he said.

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