July 14, 2009
Posted: July 14th, 2009 08:29 AM ET

From
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


Obama to Pitch Baseballs and United We Serve | TakePart Social Action Network™   July 14th, 2009 1:12 pm ET

[...] League Baseball celebrates the best of their bunch tonight at the annual All-Star Game.  And in that spirit President Barack Obama will be on hand to throw out the opening pitch and to promote his.... In fact community service will be the focus of all the pre-game fun at tonight's game.  [...]

NC   July 14th, 2009 12:11 pm ET

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.

mockingbird   July 14th, 2009 12:07 pm ET

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.

Greg, San Francisco, CA   July 14th, 2009 11:57 am ET

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.

Expat American   July 14th, 2009 11:56 am ET

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.

S. Cooper   July 14th, 2009 11:52 am ET

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.

CanadianSteel   July 14th, 2009 11:51 am ET

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!

Twinkle   July 14th, 2009 11:49 am ET

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

turn Texas blue   July 14th, 2009 11:47 am ET

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

Real Talk   July 14th, 2009 11:39 am ET

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.

daniel   July 14th, 2009 11:38 am ET

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.

Bourgeoisie   July 14th, 2009 11:37 am ET

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.

Hans Brecker RI   July 14th, 2009 11:20 am ET

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

Don   July 14th, 2009 11:14 am ET

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

Aunt Bea and Opie   July 14th, 2009 11:11 am ET

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.

Too True For You   July 14th, 2009 11:11 am ET

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

Proud Member..Party of No   July 14th, 2009 11:10 am ET

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?

DBNY   July 14th, 2009 11:03 am ET

"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

In Oregon   July 14th, 2009 11:01 am ET

Awesome, your doing just fine Mr. President.

DB Reader   July 14th, 2009 11:00 am ET

"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

Dominic   July 14th, 2009 11:00 am ET

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

Ryan Indy   July 14th, 2009 10:50 am ET

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

JeromeMJ   July 14th, 2009 10:49 am ET

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.

Legna   July 14th, 2009 10:44 am ET

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.

TCM   July 14th, 2009 10:38 am ET

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.

JGB   July 14th, 2009 10:38 am ET

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.

I laugh at comrade Limbaugh daily   July 14th, 2009 10:37 am ET

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

Polar Bears Against Palin   July 14th, 2009 10:29 am ET

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!!

Idiot_Pelosi   July 14th, 2009 10:27 am ET

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

Obama Will Throw the First Pitch!!! « Real Talk   July 14th, 2009 10:26 am ET

[...] throw the first pitch to Cardinals' All-Star first baseman Albert Pujols.  According to CNN the president will wear a specially made glove for his appearance, with a script Obama 44 and an [...]

Doug, New Jersey   July 14th, 2009 10:22 am ET

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

Sniffit   July 14th, 2009 10:09 am ET

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...

ernaE   July 14th, 2009 10:07 am ET

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

Dennis   July 14th, 2009 10:05 am ET

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

Doug   July 14th, 2009 10:04 am ET

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

Are there no literate prufreederz anymore?

Nelson Colorado Springs Co.   July 14th, 2009 10:04 am ET

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.

Jack Carlson   July 14th, 2009 9:55 am ET

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

Mike C. from Canada   July 14th, 2009 9:53 am ET

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.

Susan   July 14th, 2009 9:52 am ET

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

JMS   July 14th, 2009 9:48 am ET

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?

audacity of a dope   July 14th, 2009 9:47 am ET

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

One Love   July 14th, 2009 9:43 am ET

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

Kat   July 14th, 2009 9:43 am ET

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

Kat from good ole St. Louis, Missouri.

Expat American   July 14th, 2009 9:41 am ET

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.

Terry from Texas   July 14th, 2009 9:41 am ET

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.

munchmom   July 14th, 2009 9:30 am ET

Fiddling while Rome burns...again?

Babs   July 14th, 2009 9:28 am ET

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!!!!

Joe Dokes   July 14th, 2009 9:24 am ET

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!

awaitingliberalizationbyCNN   July 14th, 2009 9:23 am ET

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

Me in Big D   July 14th, 2009 9:23 am ET

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?

guesswhats4dinner   July 14th, 2009 9:18 am ET

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

mike in VA   July 14th, 2009 9:17 am ET

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

Keith in Austin   July 14th, 2009 9:15 am ET

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.

Ralph   July 14th, 2009 9:06 am ET

I want that Jersey!!!

This black liberal who hates Obama!   July 14th, 2009 8:59 am ET

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!

makesUwonder   July 14th, 2009 8:56 am ET

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

yuri   July 14th, 2009 8:53 am ET

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.

James   July 14th, 2009 8:51 am ET

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?

Bj   July 14th, 2009 8:49 am ET

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

dominican mama 4 Obama   July 14th, 2009 8:46 am ET

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!)

Steve   July 14th, 2009 8:45 am ET

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

"THROUGH"??? Nice job there.

Jeff in Atlanta   July 14th, 2009 8:42 am ET

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!

southerncousin   July 14th, 2009 8:40 am ET

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

Jamey   July 14th, 2009 8:37 am ET

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

Stuffit   July 14th, 2009 8:37 am ET

Sort of ironic it will be at Busch stadium.

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 14th, 2009 8:36 am ET

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.

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