President Obama to Throw Out First Pitch In All-Star Game

On July 14, Major League Baseball will hold its annual All-Star Game in St. Louis. Before the actual game begins, though, President Barack Obama will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. It will mark the fourth time in the history of the Midsummer Classic a current president will have the honor of throwing the first pitch in an All-Star Game, and Obama will be the first one to do so since Gerald Ford took aim in 1976.

"Major League Baseball is truly honored that President Obama will be in attendance to throw out the first pitch at the 80th All-Star Game on July 14 in St. Louis," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig in a statement. "The central theme of the 2009 All-Star Game is community service, celebrating the extraordinary work being done by ordinary people. We are thrilled that we can come together with President Obama, who has encouraged a renewed spirit of national service, and illustrate a call to action in our communities. President Obama will continue a great tradition that joins our nation's leader and the national pastime."

The pre-game ceremonies are set to begin at 8 PM ET, with FOX Sports offering television coverage and ESPN Radio covering the radio waves. The game will also be televised in more than 200 countries by Major League Baseball International.

The past U.S. Presidents to throw out the ceremonial first pitch were Richard Nixon (1970), John F. Kennedy (1962) and Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1937).

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 10)

6-23-2009 @ 9:16PM

pluggy64 said...

The catcher better set up on the LEFT sidof the plate, which would be his right

6-24-2009 @ 4:26PM

TexanTie said...

breaking news: "Obama throws like a girl!!" that would sell more news papers. Even if he didn't, that would be subjective opinion...

obama would say, "hey, there's nothing wrong with throwing like a girl.. who put that on my telepromter.. he's fired"

6-24-2009 @ 9:00PM

Juan l'Siciliano said...

Beware, there will be a lot of booing!!!!!!

6-24-2009 @ 10:38PM

jhnriley4 said...

Maybe Bush should Throw out the first pitch he ran this country so well for the last 8 years. Have you seen you 401k at the end of 2008. Guess that was Obama fault too!!!!

6-23-2009 @ 9:34PM

draw984 said...

Hope he's better at baseball than he is at bowling.

6-23-2009 @ 9:41PM

Hi there said...

Why would a foul ball throw the first pitch?? Will Obama take over sports like they did in the USSR when the USA changes to the USSA

6-23-2009 @ 9:45PM

bobby and sandi said...

HE JUST KEEP RUINING THINGS FOR ME ,,,, MAYBE HE SHOULD STAY WITH BASKETBALL THAT I NOW HATE

6-23-2009 @ 9:53PM

bevi1001 said...

Barry has stuck out on everything so far. See if he can even find the plate.

6-23-2009 @ 10:09PM

dhartson said...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

6-23-2009 @ 10:19PM

ken said...

I hope he`s better at baseball, than running a Country.

6-25-2009 @ 12:45AM

Demetria said...

OMG SHUT UP!!!

Please remember it was your beloved George W. Bush who ran this country into the hole!!

Get over it McCain and his dummy running mate Palin LOST!!!

6-23-2009 @ 10:35PM

njtitleguru said...

Hopefully he'll leave the teleprompter at the WH.

6-23-2009 @ 11:13PM

k ryan said...

IJUST HEARD AND IT JUST RUINED THE WHOLE EVENT FOR ME. NOTHING AGAINST THE PRESIDENT IT JUST MESSES UP THE ACTIVITIES AND OH BOY THE TRAFFIC TIE UPS. ST LOUIS FAN

6-24-2009 @ 12:07AM

kenny said...

How much longer before you admit obama was a mistake ?

6-24-2009 @ 12:08AM

lolabull said...

Ohhhh, I'll be sure to watch now.......not!

6-24-2009 @ 12:09AM

rmrmsix said...

Baseball is kind of like the rest of the gutter games Obama plays. He should fit right in to sliding on his belly too!!

6-24-2009 @ 12:21AM

indians022 said...

Why is a loser throwing out the first pitch at the All Star Game. Their should be an oldtime who contributed to the game have the honor. Let Obama throw out the first pitch next year for Washington. Two losers,

6-24-2009 @ 10:40PM

jada1919 said...

Learn how to spell. In this case you should have used there, not their. And it should be oldtimer, not oldtime. I bet if it was Dubya you would be drooling over how wonderful it is. I am making no political statement here. But why are all of you people complaining about the president participating in baseball, America's game? He also participated in the NCAA torurnament bracket and plays basketball. So many Americans are obsessed by sports. If you recall, Bush often threw out the first pitch at baseball games. But because it is Obama all of his non-supporters have to find stupid things to criticize him for...just like I stupidly picked on you for your spelling, purposely to make my point. I did not hear Bush haters have fits when he threw out the first pitch at baseball games, and he did it quite often-not at the all-star game, but if we looked it up I bet he did it most years somewhere.

6-24-2009 @ 12:30AM

stang222003 said...

Of course he's gonna throw out the first pitch. There's gonna be a camera there. The guy's a ego maniac who needs to be in front of any camera, at any time. So of course he's going to have the focus on him rather than the "All-Stars." Besides, it's not like he has anything better to do! The Saudi prez is busy, so he can't bow down to him again, and the country's problems are all solved, so why not work on his image some more.