Detroit’s Opening Day Hero, Charlie Bennett

Charlie Bennett throws out one of his many first pitches on Opening Day in Detroit.

Charlie Bennett probably threw out more ceremonial first pitches than any man in baseball history. Maybe a president did it more, but it’s unlikely.

Every spring, like the arrival of the birds from the south, as sure as the sun came up, Bennett would make his way onto the field at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull in Detroit and rock himself back to fire a first pitch. With this act…