Sunderland handed his debut to eight new players in their Premier League referee, but it was a trio of familiar faces that ensured that they made a perfect start to the season.
Promotion heroes Eliezer Mayenda and then Ballard produced every pounding second half headers before Wilson Isidor closed a wonderful afternoon with a late escape third to make Manager Regis Le Bris jump with Joy on Sunderland's first top-flight game since 2017.
This deserved victory will give hope that the black cats have a realistic opportunity to avoid an immediate return to the championship, but they will be confronted harder opposition than West Ham who were hopeless with the only exception of Captain Jarrod Bowen.
Direct connection between new and old
Play-off winners Sunderland have spent £ 130 million on a dozen players to give themselves a fight to survive and this proof looks well spent.
Record signing Habib Diarra was the striking with a performance of pace and power that will make him a favorite of the crowd in the stadium of light.
He came close to scoring a few times and was helped by having Granit Xhaka next to him.
None of the new players played as strangers and even goalkeeper Robin Roefs had a role to play at the end with a reflex saving after a West Ham corner.
Mayenda, who scored at Wembley in May, and Ballard enjoyed their goals – the defender bends his muscles in the celebration – but they will be the first to note that they were provided with quality crossing from their new teammates Simon Adingra and Omar Alderete. A seamless connection between new and old.
Replacement Isidor scored a solo -third to complete the routes. Asked last week if Sunderland could stay, he replied, “Of course!” Now you can see why.
Stadium of light the 12th man
After being starving for so long from top action, passionate wearers came to the floor from noon, creating a very special atmosphere.
When West Ham ran away, it was an intimidating sight, a sea or red-white and an earthink of 45,000 fans of Elvis Presley's “Can't Help Falling in Love”.
After the opening goal of Mayenda after an hour, the deafening volume went a different notch and broadcasters could no longer hear instructions from their radio station through their headphones.
In the last two seasons, all three promoted teams went back immediately. But if Sunderland can build on the momentum of this result, and they have winning competitions against Burnley and Brentford then, nobody likes to travel to the northeast.
No paqueta bouncer
West Ham hoped that Brazil International Lucas Paqueta could rediscover its form with spot-fixing allegations that have now been resolved.
Instead, he played just as bad as last season; Slowly, casual in possession and too easy to try to try to win free kicks. Granit Xhaka has fully trained it.
The only thing in the defense of the midfielder is that none of his teammates was much better with Niclas Fullkrug and Jean-Clair Todibo particularly terrible.
The honorable exception was Jarrod Bowen who ran his heart away, but after a positive preseason, Graham Potter's optimism for the new season went in the first 90 minutes.
Potter too slow
West Ham was 1-0 behind and was in second place for a long time before Potter turned to his bank after 71 minutes to set up Pallum Wilson-deserted by Sunderland fans for his Newcastle connections and Tomas Soucek.
They had hardly been on the field for a few minutes before Daniel Ballard scored a murderer second.
A more proactive manager may have made changes earlier, given that Sunderland was clearly apart and played the visitors.
Perhaps Potter became smart and tried to show the property that he needs more bodies, especially in the attack. Mohammed Kudus has not been replaced since he came to Tottenham.