[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/29/art.obamapitch.jpg caption="Obama threw out the first pitch at the All Star game last summer."](CNN) - President Barack Obama will throw out the first pitch during the Washington Nationals' season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies next Monday, White House spokesman Bill Burton confirmed on Twitter.
In a statement on the MLB's Web site, Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig said he is proud Obama "will continue the long Presidential tradition of throwing out the first pitch of Opening Day in Washington D.C."
According to the MLB, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the first time a U.S. President ceremoniously delivered the opening pitch to kickoff a baseball season: President William Howard Taft did so in Washington, DC on April 14, 1910 before a match up between the then-Washington Senators and the Philadelphia Athletics.
The Senators defeated the Athletics 3-0 that day during a one-hit shout performance from hall of fame pitcher Walter Johnson.
While Obama did not throw the first pitch at the National's opener last year, he did do so at the All-star game in St. Louis last July. While it appeared the ball did not quite make the plate, catcher Albert Pujols told ESPN, "It was in the air the whole way" and denied saving the president from bouncing the ball.
OBOZO is throwing out the first pitch? LOL, Well that means the Nats. will definitely lose.
He should get President Bush to show him how it's done.
Might want to move the mound up a little so the little feller can reach home.
great form there, Madame President.
I bet he still throws like a girl
nobama needs to stick to golf, he throws a base ball like a non athletic female.
Mr. President go ahead and wear the comfortable jeans again. Something insignificant for the repugs to scream about.
I just lost my interest in Baseball. Baseball is an American Sport and Obama is so anti-American it is not even funny!
Well that means they will lose for sure!
Lets hope he gets some instruction on how to the throw a baseball, the guy looks like he had never seen a baseball the first time he did this.
The Fox nitwits will go on for days and days about the fact that he threw the pitch with his left hand.
Unfortunately, given the quality of the Nat's pitching, it will probably be the best thrown ball all season...even if it doesn't reach the plate!
No one wants to see this SOCIALIST PIG.
There has got to be some perks to that job or else we would never find anyone to do it.
Bet he throws it in the dirt................