Obama’s First Pitch: Hopefully Not a Wahlberg

By stephen on July 14th, 2009

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President Barack Obama – still enjoy writing that, by the way – will be throwing the first pitch in tonight’s 2009 All-Star game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. In preparation for the pitch, the left-handed President plans to practice a little, to loosen up. Talking to reporters in the Oval Office, Obama aims to “keep it high,” but he isn’t expecting much. Speaking to the speed and accuracy of his last pitch, he said, “If it exceeded thirty miles per hour, I’d be surprised. But it did clear the plate.”

Receiving the pitch will be the Cardinals first baseman, Albert Pujols. His recommendation? “Just lob it up there and don’t try to be a perfect throw.” Which, I must say, is pretty sound advice. After all, the president isn’t exactly known for his baseball skills, and doesn’t always have the best track record at sports he’s not familiar with. Bowling anyone?

The real hope I’d say, is that the President won’t pull a Mark Wahlberg. Wahlberg who recently gave the first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway, botched the first pitch real bad and was then given the opportunity for a second, with which he did, okay. What we likely won’t see, is the smooth-looking strike given by former President George W. Bush at the 2001 World Series.

Then again, you never know. Obama is not one known to buckle under pressure. Remember his perfect three-point shot at a base camp in Kuwait? It was during the summer campaign season, cameras were rolling and Obama had been starting to struggle in the polls. No problem though. Perfect swish.

And here’s Mark Wahlberg’s botched first pitch:

And finally, George W. Bush’s 2001 World Series first pitch: