Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden is taking a break from her new life in Washington for some baseball at Camden Yards. However, she won’t be just sitting in the stands.
Hayden, the former longtime CEO of Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library system, tweeted this morning that she’ll be tossing the ceremonial first pitch in Monday’s matchup between the Orioles and the Washington Nationals. A member of the Orioles’ PR team confirmed she’ll kick off the game, which will be the first in a four-game series between the teams.
She indicated she’s already prepping with three days to go, using the spacious hallways of her Capitol Hill digs to play catch with a staffer.
I’m throwing the opening pitch at the @Orioles @Nationals game on Monday. Practicing my fast ball. https://t.co/2CgR0xTtut pic.twitter.com/k7NXHeetM5
— Carla Hayden (@LibnOfCongress) May 5, 2017
Hayden left her job in Baltimore late last year to make history by becoming both the first-ever female and first-ever African-American librarian of Congress. President Barack Obama nominated her for the position in February 2016.
The Orioles honored Hayden last summer during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays, spotlighting her as a “Birdland Community Hero” for her 23 years of service leading Baltimore’s public library system.
Despite taking a job in Washington for work, Hayden told The Washington Post last September that she would commute from her Charm City home to Capitol Hill everyday.
While remaining in Baltimore, the 14th librarian of Congress said in response to a Twitter query in March that she hasn’t picked sides between the two cities’ baseball teams.
I’m an equal opportunity fan. @Orioles @Nationals ? My childhood dream was to be a shortstop for the @Cardinals. https://t.co/qVEGlYVS2X
— Carla Hayden (@LibnOfCongress) March 27, 2017
