Opening Day, the start of the great American pastime and signal of summer yet to come, is an event filled with anticipation.

In Cleveland, Opening Day is a fresh start -- the beginning of a new baseball season filled with optimism that allows fans  to ask, "Will this finally be the year the Indians win the World Series?"

But before play can begin; before the umpire yells, "Play ball!"; the ceremonial first pitch must be thrown. Here's a look at some of those first pitches over the years.

Ceremonial first pitch signals it's time to play ball!

By Robert Higgs, cleveland.com

April 4, 2016

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- After the pageantry -- the massive balloon releases, the giant flag covering the field for the National Anthem and the salutes to the military, the traditional first pitch marks the start of the baseball season.

Throwing out the first ball is an honor that has been shared by presidents, dignitaries, celebrities and longtime Tribe favorites over the years.

The next several pages remember some of those first pitches from the last 50 years.

(Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)

2016: A long-standing family tradition

Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney will throw out the first pitch Monday, continuing a Carney family tradition of attending home openers that spans three generations.

"My dad introduced me to basically everything I like still as an adult -- music, sports, baseball and comedy," Carney, of Akron, toldESPN.

"I remember clearly the first time my brothers and I played catch. It was summer 1987 and we all became hooked on baseball. All of us played Little League for the next few years and would drive to the games listening to (Indians broadcaster) Herb Score."

(Chuck Yarborough, The Plain Dealer)

1963: Cleveland Mayor Ralph Locher

Long before there was a group called the Black Keys, and long before the Indians played in Progressive Field, there was Cleveland Stadium, home to the Indians for decades.

Ralph Locher became mayor in 1962. He threw out the first pitch April 11, 1963. The Indians lost to Detroit that day, 6-1.

(Norbert J. Yassanye, The Plain Dealer)

James A. Hatch

1971: Ohio Gov. John Gilligan

Ohio Gov. John Gilligan hailed from Cincinnati, but he came to Cleveland to throw out the first pitch April 8, 1971, for the Indians.

The Indians beat the Boston Red Sox, 3-2.

(James A. Hatch, The Plain Dealer)

1978: Cleveland Mayor Dennis Kucinich

In his first year of office, Cleveland Mayor Dennis Kucinich took to the mound April 8, 1978, to throw out the first pitch. Kucinich, then 31, was the youngest mayor in Cleveland's history.

The Indians beat the Kansas City Royals that day, 8-5.

(C.H. Pete Copeland, The Plain Dealer)

1994: President Bill Clinton

President Bill Clinton visited April 4, 1994, to help inaugurate Cleveland's new ballpark, then called Jacobs Field.

The Indians opened play in the new stadium with a win, topping the Seattle Mariners, 4-3.

(Associated Press file)

2000: Former team owner Richard Jacobs

New team owner Larry Dolan invited former owner Richard Jacobs to throw out the first pitch on April 14, 2000. At the time, the field still bore Jacobs' family name.

The Indians lost 7-2 to the Texas Rangers that day.

(Associated Press file)

2002: Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell

Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell threw out the first ball April 8, 2002. That year was her first in office.

Campbell is laughing in this picture because people were encouraging her to back up to the mound, but she confessed she couldn't throw it from there to home plate. She did lob it to the Indians' John McDonald on the fly.

Cleveland beat Minnesota by a score of 9-5 that game to improve its early-season record to 6-1.

(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

2004: Mike Hargrove

Former Indians Manager Mike Hargrove threw out the first pitch on April 12, 2004. Hargrove, who also played with the team, was manager from 1991 to 1999, winning more games than every other Indians manager except Lou Boudreau.

The Indians beat the Twins that day, 6-3.

(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

2007: Wounded soldier Richard Turner

The Indians honored Lance Corporal Richard Turner, who was wounded while deployed to Iraq, for the April 6, 2007, opening day ceremonies.

The Budweiser's eight-horse team of Clydesdales gave Turner a lift onto the field.

The Indians beat Detroit 5-3 to improve their record to 4 wins and one loss.

(John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer)

2008: A soldier's mom, Kim Shockley-Hampton

Kim Shockley-Hampton was honored as the Indians opened the 2008 season on March 31. Her son, Andre Hampton, a soldier serving in Kuwait, could be seen on the scoreboard as his mom threw out the first pitch.

The Indians beat the Chicago White Sox, 10-8.

(Tracy Boulian, The Plain Dealer)

2010: Indians legend Bob Feller

Legendary pitcher Bob Feller opened the 2010 season for the Tribe.

Feller, considered by some the best pitcher ever to play in the major leagues, took the mound April 12, 2010, at the age of 91. He died later that year.

Over 18 seasons he won 266 games for the Indians, despite losing three prime years of his career while he served in World War II.

The Indians lost that home opener to the Texas Rangers.

(John Kuntz, The Plain Dealer)

2013: Father and son

The Indians invited the fathers of team personnel who also played Major League Baseball to throw out the first pitch April 8, 2013.

Among the participants were Sandy Alomar Sr., father of Sandy Alomar Jr. and former Indian Roberto Alomar, Steve Swisher, father of then Indian Nick Swisher, and Tito Francona, father of Indians Manager Terry Francona.

The elder Francona, seen here hugging his son, played for the Indians himself from 1959 to 1964.

(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

2015: Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry

Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry was honored April 10, 2015, with the first pitch.

Perry, seen here with 2014 Cy Young Award winner Cory Kluber, won the pitching award himself in 1972, his first season with the Indians.

Perry won 70 games for the Indians before he was traded in 1975. He finished his career with 314 wins and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991.

Cleveland lost that home opener to Detroit, 8-4.

(Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer)