CNN Political Ticker
943 days ago

Obama set to take the mound at All Star game

Obama will throw out the first pitch at Tuesday's All Star game.
Obama will throw out the first pitch at Tuesday's All Star game.

(CNN) - He missed Opening Day while traveling in Europe, but President Obama gets his first moment on the mound Tuesday night.

The president will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in St. Louis. The White House said he is taking part to highlight his United We Serve program, with community service the center of the pre-game festivities.

Major League Baseball will honor five community volunteers as part of their "All-Stars Among Us" program. Obama and all living former presidents will appear in a community service video before the game.

After the video is shown, Obama will take the field at Busch Stadium and greet the six St. Louis Cardinal Hall of Fame players. He then will throw the first pitch to Cardinals' All-Star first baseman Albert Pujols.

MLB said the president will wear a specially made glove for his appearance, with a script Obama 44 and an American flag on it. The glove will then be sent to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

The president will travel to St. Louis after making remarks on the economy in the Detroit suburb of Warren, Michigan earlier in the day.

Obama will become the fifth president to throw out the first pitch at an All-Star Game, but the first in 33 years.

UPDATE: At a photo opportunity with Dutch Prime Minister Balkenende Tuesday morning, Obama was asked if had been practicing for the nationally-televised pitch. "I think it's fair to say I wanted to loosen up my arm," he said. "I just want to keep (the pitch) high."

While this will be Obama's first trip to the mound as president, he has previous pitching experience. He threw out the first pitch at a Chicago White Sox game in 2005, joking at the time that the pitch may not have topped 30 miles an hour, but it did clear the plate.


Filed under: President Obama
soundoff (66 Responses)
  1. Dutch/Bad Newz, VA

    How ironic that the name of the stadium is Busch....as in Anheiser. I can't wait to see the commercial with all the living presidents. Community service and George W. Bush don't belong in the same sentence.

    July 14, 2009 08:36 am at 8:36 am |
  2. Stuffit

    Sort of ironic it will be at Busch stadium.

    July 14, 2009 08:37 am at 8:37 am |
  3. Jamey

    He should have a ball... as a one termer, he might as well enjoy it.

    July 14, 2009 08:37 am at 8:37 am |
  4. southerncousin

    This is all St. Louis needed for an already stressing event. I'm sure Hussein throws and bats left.

    July 14, 2009 08:40 am at 8:40 am |
  5. Jeff in Atlanta

    He's taking part because he can't handle something or someone else getting the spotlight and no other reason.

    What an arrogant, self serving, egotistical nit!

    July 14, 2009 08:42 am at 8:42 am |
  6. Steve

    "Obama will through out the first pitch at Tuesday's All Star game."

    "THROUGH"??? Nice job there.

    July 14, 2009 08:45 am at 8:45 am |
  7. dominican mama 4 Obama

    Witht he possible exception of Nixon, Mr. President, you will be in good company. Continue to make us proud...pitch long, hard, and fast!

    Obama '12 and beyond (wish that were possible!)

    July 14, 2009 08:46 am at 8:46 am |
  8. Bj

    How are they going to set up his teleprompter on the field?

    July 14, 2009 08:49 am at 8:49 am |
  9. James

    How does one possibly 'through' out a first pitch at a baseball game? Steve Brusk and his editors should be embarrassed at that mishap. Fox News anyone?

    July 14, 2009 08:51 am at 8:51 am |
  10. yuri

    Rock star status in politics for BHO, might come in handy for the ball game, perhaps, we reckon? We also wonder if GOP has any objection to this. Moreover, this deal has to go thru the senate sports sub-committee for approval.

    July 14, 2009 08:53 am at 8:53 am |
  11. makesUwonder

    Yeah, he missed "opening day" because he was vacationing in Europe.

    July 14, 2009 08:56 am at 8:56 am |
  12. This black liberal who hates Obama!

    I wouldn't be suprised if a) Obama throws the ball like a girl and b) The Cardinals lose because of him, if in fact that's his favorate team!

    July 14, 2009 08:59 am at 8:59 am |
  13. Ralph

    I want that Jersey!!!

    July 14, 2009 09:06 am at 9:06 am |
  14. Keith in Austin

    Yet another earth-shattering piece of news! Meanwhile in Obama's words, he has "put the Nation on notice that his Healthcare Bill will be implemented. I for one am sick and tired of his totalitarian,elitist attitude and distinct love of socialism on the backs of tax paying Americans! Please wake up people.

    July 14, 2009 09:15 am at 9:15 am |
  15. mike in VA

    They ned an all Obama channel so those who are in love with him can watch 24/7 and spare the rest of us!!

    July 14, 2009 09:17 am at 9:17 am |
  16. guesswhats4dinner

    I know the cheers will drown out any boos, and the crowd will boo hard for W. Can't wait. President Obama, being as fit as he is, will definitely make a great pitch over the plate. I bet Pujois is pretty proud to be able to catch that pitch! Can't wait to see it. Will have to DVR it for sure

    July 14, 2009 09:18 am at 9:18 am |
  17. Me in Big D

    This showy dude will do anything to get his mug in front of a camera. WHERE ARE THE JOBS? WHERE IS MY 401(k) money?

    July 14, 2009 09:23 am at 9:23 am |
  18. awaitingliberalizationbyCNN

    Obamatrons everywhere rejoice, a chance to see dear leader on tv.

    July 14, 2009 09:23 am at 9:23 am |
  19. Joe Dokes

    He better throw a halfway decent pitch. I get tired of presidents who can't throw a respectable pitch to a catcher... which seems to be most of them!

    July 14, 2009 09:24 am at 9:24 am |
  20. Babs

    Enough already, the President is taking air force 1 with his family and I'm sure plenty of others to fly to St Louis so he can throw out the first pitch. Do we not have other things to worry about. The cost of flying Air Force one along wiht security from ST. Louis Police is astromonical. Apparently he has oblivious to the fact that there is a recession on, whoops he's President and doesn't worry about his spending just telling everyone else to tighen thier belts. 2010..is coming fast. He'lll just print more of our money and put WE THE PEOPLE FURTHER INTO DEBT... WAKE UP EVERYONE... he wants a socialistic goverment. Read the book COMMON SENSE.. Something the democrats don't have!!!!

    July 14, 2009 09:28 am at 9:28 am |
  21. munchmom

    Fiddling while Rome burns...again?

    July 14, 2009 09:30 am at 9:30 am |
  22. Terry from Texas

    Obama thinks and talks about pro-sports too much. American men and their sports heroes are like American women and their soap opera stars. Too much brain power is being spent on this absolute waste of time. The corporations that field pro sports teams extort huge sums from their addicted patrons for tickets, refreshments, memoribilia, and other junk. Sports "heroes" would mostly be working at a car wash if it weren't for the existence of their particular sport. What possible use could a pitcher make of his throwing skill anywhere else?

    Baseball is the biggest ripoff. If you video taped a baseball game, then cut out all the parts where the ball is not in play, you would realize that a baseball game takes about 15 minutes to play. I suspect that the glacial pace of baseball is designed to sell more refreshments and to provide air time for more commercials.

    Men, if you like baseball, get up off the couch, turn off the TV, and go play baseball instead of watching it.

    July 14, 2009 09:41 am at 9:41 am |
  23. Expat American

    Baseball is Americana at its best. I like to watch it at the stadium though...it's much more exciting than watching it on TV and seems to move quicker in a live format.

    President Obama is a lefty. I hope that Pujols has done his homework.

    July 14, 2009 09:41 am at 9:41 am |
  24. Kat

    God bless St. Louis! God bless the Cardinals! God bless the president!

    Kat from good ole St. Louis, Missouri.

    July 14, 2009 09:43 am at 9:43 am |
  25. One Love

    Good.....Hopefully this too will iritate the GOP!

    July 14, 2009 09:43 am at 9:43 am |
  26. audacity of a dope

    TOTUS Has Crashed who is running the country?????I hear flags will be lowered to half staff today, such a sad day for Amerika

    July 14, 2009 09:47 am at 9:47 am |
  27. JMS

    Obama took the CLASS out of being a President. No President should be on TV this much.. How much money are we spending in Security alone every time he wants to step outside for activities like this? Does he really need to fulfill his dreams on the TRUE AMERICAN PEOPLE?

    July 14, 2009 09:48 am at 9:48 am |
  28. Susan

    cool...sounds like fun...will stay tuned for that one

    July 14, 2009 09:52 am at 9:52 am |
  29. Mike C. from Canada

    Our Toronto Blue Jays might soon lose the magnificent Roy Halladay to free agency.

    If President Obama let go of some good ceremonial first pitch "heat", we could sign him up in 2013.

    July 14, 2009 09:53 am at 9:53 am |
  30. Jack Carlson

    HOW MUCH WILL THAT COST THE POOR AMERICAN PEOPLE, some don't have food. That spending fool !
    Jack
    WA

    July 14, 2009 09:55 am at 9:55 am |
  31. Nelson Colorado Springs Co.

    Go Mr President Obama, ok I wonder how many people will say he should doing other things. What ever you do people will whine about something even ME.

    July 14, 2009 10:04 am at 10:04 am |
  32. Doug

    "Obama will through out the first pitch at Tuesday's All Star game."

    Are there no literate prufreederz anymore?

    July 14, 2009 10:04 am at 10:04 am |
  33. Dennis

    I will skip the opening pitch. Probably a good time to go get a beer.

    July 14, 2009 10:05 am at 10:05 am |
  34. ernaE

    We'll be watching from Curacao, in the Netherlands Antilles!!! We love this guy

    July 14, 2009 10:07 am at 10:07 am |
  35. Sniffit

    first GOPer to claim he's not doing any work gets a cookie...tear shaped...wrapped in tissues....with the word "crybaby" spelled out in icing on it...

    July 14, 2009 10:09 am at 10:09 am |
  36. Doug, New Jersey

    The catcher should line up right in front of the dugout since everything Obama touches seems to go far left.

    July 14, 2009 10:22 am at 10:22 am |
  37. Idiot_Pelosi

    Great. Now the "American Idol WANTABE" is going to ruin the All Star Game. No one wants to see this lying schmuck.

    July 14, 2009 10:27 am at 10:27 am |
  38. Polar Bears Against Palin

    Who cares?

    I'm from Pittsburgh. The Steelers and the Penguins are world champions and proud organizations. The Pittsburgh Pirates are on their way to a record setting 17 losing seasons. It's shameful and unexcusable. Screw baseball!!

    July 14, 2009 10:29 am at 10:29 am |
  39. I laugh at comrade Limbaugh daily

    Great job President Obama.I dont pay any attention to the paid rightwing radical street teamers like TCM or the other names she uses.If she isnt getting paid to post,she should get paid,shes on here all day long spewing her lying Rush Limbaugh talking points.Is that you Snerdly?hahaha

    July 14, 2009 10:37 am at 10:37 am |
  40. JGB

    Wow – Big News story! He doesn't want the American flag on his glove. This is the man who refused to wear the flag or honor it.

    July 14, 2009 10:38 am at 10:38 am |
  41. TCM

    I wonder if he'll appoint a Baseball Czar? Someone to study the game of baseball, to make sure it's fair. Perhaps the Czar will ensure that better hitters will have to use heavier bats, and that poor hitters get 4-5 strikes; you know, even the playing field.

    July 14, 2009 10:38 am at 10:38 am |
  42. Legna

    He will probably throw a wild pitch as he has done with the economic policy. The news media will report it as a strike and use CIA,Bush policy,Chaney, and Michael Jackson to deflect the true facts.

    July 14, 2009 10:44 am at 10:44 am |
  43. JeromeMJ

    Once again BO is playing games instead of working. The country is in bad shape and getting worse and he just keeps talking. Words without actions. Some day he will actually visit someplace in the US that is not in the north. He is the President of few and all of those who supported him will turn on him and it will be very ugky.

    July 14, 2009 10:49 am at 10:49 am |
  44. Ryan Indy

    What a Loser, bet he doesnt throw from the mound and doesnt even get the ball to the plate.

    July 14, 2009 10:50 am at 10:50 am |
  45. Dominic

    Hopefully its better than bush did. I dont mean that in a political way, but seriously my 13 year old could have done better...Obama come on now, make us proud

    July 14, 2009 11:00 am at 11:00 am |
  46. DB Reader

    "Obama will through out the first pitch at Tuesday's All Star game." per the photo caption.

    Does proof reading occur anymore? Is he going through the air or throwing the ball? The web is a great substitute for print media while quickly eroding literary quality.

    The game will be nice

    July 14, 2009 11:00 am at 11:00 am |
  47. In Oregon

    Awesome, your doing just fine Mr. President.

    July 14, 2009 11:01 am at 11:01 am |
  48. DBNY

    "Obama will through out the first pitch at Tuesday's All Star game."

    Does proof reading occur anymore? Is he going through the air or throwing the ball? The web is a great substitute for print media while quickly eroding literary quality.

    Hope the game is entertaining

    July 14, 2009 11:03 am at 11:03 am |
  49. Proud Member..Party of No

    Can't this narcissistic idiot stay away from the cameras for just one day? Now he's going to ruin the All-Star game and this will be the first game I haven't watched since I was 5 years old. Shouldn't he be back in Washington trying to do damage control to his failed administration?

    July 14, 2009 11:10 am at 11:10 am |
  50. Too True For You

    This is where the haters jump in with manufactured outrage over a harmless act of humanitarian leadership. Unleash the hounds!

    July 14, 2009 11:11 am at 11:11 am |
  51. Aunt Bea and Opie

    Baseball,apple pie and a President thats doing a great job for America,not some hillbilly and fake nonhorse riding wannabe that couldnt even manage a team,a state,or a country.

    July 14, 2009 11:11 am at 11:11 am |
  52. Don

    He better wear his Sox cap and not bow to the pressure of wearing a St. Louis cap.

    July 14, 2009 11:14 am at 11:14 am |
  53. Hans Brecker RI

    Maybe he should be studying things like economics and history insteaed of goofing round on a baseball field....get back to work and finally do something good for the USA............for once

    July 14, 2009 11:20 am at 11:20 am |
  54. Bourgeoisie

    This guy is a celebrity. Quick divert attention from failing economy and 10% unemployment, you Obama nuts couldn't smell poop if it was on your knees.

    July 14, 2009 11:37 am at 11:37 am |
  55. daniel

    Question is, is there anything this President can do that won't set the Republicans foaming at the mouth and shooting lighting bolts out their arses? Small minded, peevish, walnut-brained, stooopppiddd, childish, bone headed, I just can't find the right words to describe these prolonged-tantrum-throwing crybabies.

    July 14, 2009 11:38 am at 11:38 am |
  56. Real Talk

    Its funny too see how many people just hate on this man for no reason. I'm actually happy that we have a president who 75% of Americans actually like regardless of of there political views. Now that I think of it is hard to see a politician actually want to spend time with his wife and kids at every chance gets instead of being somewhere like Argentina with his mistress on Father's day.

    July 14, 2009 11:39 am at 11:39 am |
  57. turn Texas blue

    This is a real American President,not a fraud like Raygun, vice president Bush,and President Cheney.

    July 14, 2009 11:47 am at 11:47 am |
  58. Twinkle

    I am sure he will do a better job than Bush!

    July 14, 2009 11:49 am at 11:49 am |
  59. CanadianSteel

    I'll be happy to see Mr Obama :)

    Maybe he should be like the last prez and take 30 weeks vacation time a year.....You Rep sicken me more and more!

    July 14, 2009 11:51 am at 11:51 am |
  60. S. Cooper

    Holy cow ... I've never heard so much whining about a perfectly ordinary thing that nearly every president has done.

    Losing power – in the White House, House, and Senate – has sure turned the right into a bunch of extremely vocal crybabies. I'm genuinely surprised, although I suppose I shouldn't be.

    July 14, 2009 11:52 am at 11:52 am |
  61. Expat American

    Bj July 14th, 2009 8:49 am ET
    How are they going to set up his teleprompter on the field?
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Perhaps you can make yourself or your 300 lbs mother useful and hold it up for him.

    July 14, 2009 11:56 am at 11:56 am |
  62. Greg, San Francisco, CA

    Just so funny to watch the right wingers spew hatred about something so harmless as throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game. It truly shows what they have been reduced to – infantile and childish name calling. They have nothing to offer and they offer it in such abundance.

    July 14, 2009 11:57 am at 11:57 am |
  63. mockingbird

    Arrogant? Self-serving? MLB invited him, just as they invited other presidents. Every time Barack Obama does something all presidents - or many– have done in the past, a bunch of bloggers, etc., start carping that he has no right ot do it, or he's egoistical. he's the president, for heaven's sake! We all stand up and stretch durign the seventh inning of baseball games because William Howard Taft - a former president - once did so. Was Taft a an egoist? No - he was the president of the USA. Sounds like these people have a fundamental problem accepting Obama's presidency. And by the way - any former Bush voter suggesting that Mr. Obama has to study anything really is laughable. Obama is concentrating on healthcare. Once that goes through, i expect to see rapid movement on the jobs front, and he (and we) will be fine.

    July 14, 2009 12:07 pm at 12:07 pm |
  64. NC

    THINK............that is what liberals and democrats need to do in 2010 and 2012. We need to elect more republicans and independents into office. We must be more conservative with our money and tax dollars. We need to get the people in control of our America again.

    July 14, 2009 12:11 pm at 12:11 pm |