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Chef and humanitarian José Andrés to throw first pitch if Nationals-Astros have fifth game, President Trump to watch from stands

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The Washington Nationals are currently up 2-0 in a best-of-seven series against the Houston Astros. The Nationals will be back home for the next few games. After initial reports that President Trump would throw the first pitch for a possible fifth game, the Nationals confirmed that was not to be.

If the series goes to five games, first pitch will go to long-time Washington sports fan, chef, and humanitarian José Andrés, who was “humbled by the invitation.”

Trump and Andrés have a tumultuous history. Previously, Andrés withdrew his plans to open a restaurant in Trump’s DC hotel, the two sued each other and eventually reached a settlement.

Andrés remains an outspoken critic of President Trump’s actions, especially with regards to communities in need of clean water and healthy food, which Andrés’s World Kitchen organization has started providing by itself.

President Trump was concerned about the prospect of throwing the first pitch because he’d have to wear “a lot of heavy armor” which would make him “look too heavy”. He says he will attend the game and watch the “humbled” chef Andrés enjoy his “big big big honor” from the stands.

Andrés has been honored for his work in the kitchen with two Michelin stars and being named Outstanding Chef by the James Beard Foundation in 2013.

His humanitarian efforts, bringing kitchens to feed people in need around the globe, has brought him a James Beard Award for Humanitarian of the Year, a National Humanities Medal, and a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, for which Ted Leonsis advocated.

Andrés opposed Initiative 77, which would have increased wages for tipped employees in the District.

Like most Nats fans, Andrés hopes that the fifth game won’t be necessary–not just because of the victory, pride, and bragging rights, but also because he may need to brush up on his fundamentals.

I’m sure there won’t be a shortage of volunteers to play some catch, especially given that Andrés helped the DC community by opening kitchens for federal workers during the government shutdown.

He’s also a die-hard, long-time DC sports fan.


Leonsis is a long-time supporter of Andrés and his work. Last year, he gifted Andrés with a Capitals championship ring.

You can learn more about Andrés’s work from his 60 Minutes interview, and donate or otherwise support the efforts to serve the people of the Bahamas, Puerto Rico–and, most recently, those affected by the California wildfires–through The World Kitchen’s website.

The next game (or two or three) all have 8:07 PM start times on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Headline image: @chefjoseandres

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