ST. LOUIS — After President Obama was introduced at the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, he trotted out of the first-base dugout at Busch Stadium wearing a black White Sox jacket. Obama stopped before throwing the ceremonial first pitch to shake hands with Stan Musial, a Hall of Famer for the St. Louis Cardinals, who was sitting in a red golf cart.
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Once Obama made it to the mound, he eased into his motion and softly floated a pitch to Albert Pujols. Pujols, the current Cardinals icon, reached in front of home plate to catch Obama’s wobbly pitch. The fans cheered for Obama, who then hugged Pujols halfway between the mound and the plate.
Besides Musial, the other five living Cardinals who are in the Hall of Fame were behind the plate to welcome Obama. Lou Brock, one of the retired players, saluted Obama, who saluted back. Obama waved to the fans several times as he retreated from the field through the dugout.
On Monday, Pujols said he would be emotional about standing 60 feet 6 inches from Obama. “Obviously, it’s an honor to catch the first pitch from the president,” Pujols said. “He’s our leader.”
When Obama visited the National League clubhouse before the game, he hugged Pujols. Obama also spoke with Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard, whose lockers were side by side.
After Air Force One landed in St. Louis at 5:19 p.m, Obama, dressed in jeans, sneakers, a white shirt and a black jacket, descended the stairs with the Hall of Famer Willie Mays.
Mays, who wore a Giants cap while he traveled here from Detroit as a guest of Obama, offered the president one snippet of advice.
“I’m telling him follow through,” Mays said. “He’s going to do fine, I guarantee you. He’ll be fine. I just want to make sure he follows through.”
Obama was scheduled to sit with Hank Aaron, another Hall of Famer, in a private box at Busch Stadium.
Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said the president had “been throwing a little bit” with Reggie Love, his aide and a former basketball player at Duke. Gibbs noted that Obama, an ardent White Sox fan, last threw out the first pitch at a game during the 2005 American League Championship Series. The White Sox went on to win the World Series title that season.
Commissioner Bud Selig said he sent Obama a letter inviting him to become the first sitting president since Gerald Ford in 1978 to throw out the first pitch at an All-Star Game. Selig said the White House responded in less than 24 hours and that Obama was “really happy to” attend the game.
“No matter what one thinks politically, right or left or whatever, it’s a big thing,” Selig said. “The players will enjoy it, the fans will enjoy it. It’s another test to the meaning of this sport.”
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