Obama Goes Low with All-Star First Pitch

Cardinals' Albert Pujols Helps The President by Scooping Up the Toss

(AP)  President Barack Obama was true to his word: He didn't bounce it.

Obama's ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star game barely reached the plate Tuesday night. St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols helped the president, moving up on the plate and reaching out to scoop the toss.

Obama had warmed up on the White House grounds Monday night, and was determined his pitch would reach the plate on a fly.

"Well, I think it's fair to say that I want to loosen up my arm a little bit," Obama said Tuesday in the Oval Office.

Wearing a Chicago White Sox jacket, jeans and sneakers, and cheered by the sellout crowd at Busch Stadium, Obama walked out of the National League's dugout on the first-base side, shook hands with Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial and trotted to the mound.

From right on the rubber, 60 feet and 6 inches away, Obama wound up and bit his lip as he let go. He grimaced slightly, then gave a fist pump when Pujols - a Gold Glove first baseman - made the neat grab.

Obama became the latest Chicago hoopster to try his hand at baseball. Like Michael Jordan, the president looked more natural in his other job.