Obama To Throw Ceremonial First Pitch At 2009 MLB All Star Game

Sports Betting News - July 9th, 2009 - Written by Jimmy

The 2009 MLB All Star Game in St. Louis will have a special guest this year. On July 14th, President Barack Obama will be tossing out the ceremonial first pitch to start the festivities, on July 14th. President Obama will be the fourth president to throw out the first pitch in a Major League Baseball All Star game. Obama joins fellow Presidents John F. Kennedy, who threw out the pitch in 1962 in Washington, Richard Nixon, who tossed the first pitch in Cincinnati at the 1970 All Star Game, as well as President Gerald Ford, who was part of the 1970 All Star game in Philadelphia.

President Obama is a known Chicago White Sox fan, being that he is from Illinois, but has never thrown out the first pitch at a White Sox game, though the offer has been made. Teams like the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals have also offered Obama the opportunity to throw out the first pitch, but has declined their offers as well. For Obama to take to the mound, and deliver the first throw will be a great occasion, and one not to be missed.

The main theme of the 2009 MLB All Star game will be community service, by showing appreciation to average everyday people who go out of their way to help others. Adding President Obama, who is beloved by millions of Americans, will only help bolster that concept.

This should be a great public relations move for President Obama. Normally, Americans don't think of their leader being an avid sports fan. Surely they don't picture their President sitting in front of the television, catching the game while enjoying a cold beer. While Obama isn't necessarily that guy, though he does love sports, this will help him better relate to those people, who are the backbone of the United States workforce.

Depending on how the first pitch goes, American League manager, Joe Maddon, may want to keep Obama in the bullpen, just in case the game goes into extra innings. Picture this, President Obama comes in to relieve Mariano Rivera and in effect saves the game for the American League. What an amazing story that would be!