Critiquing President Obama's First Pitch at the All-Star Game

By Julie Kent. Published on 07/15/2009 - 9:39am

President Barack Obama threw out the first pitch last night in Major League Baseball's All-Star Game. Everyone from fans to sports gambling sites questioned his ability to make 60-foot, 6-inch throw from the pitching mound to home plate. So how did the Commander-in-Chief fare?

While the angle of the camera from Fox was pretty awful and gave little indication of whether the pitch was good or bad, several members of the media who were in attendance were able to shed more light on the throw. The general consensus seems to be that Obama throws like a girl.

Rachel Abrams of The Weekly Standard commented:

"He may have thrown out the first pitch wearing a Chicago White Sox jacket ("My wife thinks I look cute in it"), but there was nothing in his cool aspect or his broadcast-booth blarney to suggest a true love for the game, like that of, say, our 43rd president. This guy should stick to golfing, or, better yet, to kicking a soccer ball around the White House lawn. It suits him: more Europeanish, less Americanish."

Dave Van Dyck of The Chicago Tribute chimed in, stating:

"While he was lacking in style points on his short southpaw lob to home plate, he certainly made a striking fashion statement — not to mention showing his South Side sentiment — to the worldwide television audience."

And finally, the AP added:

"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."

The cameramen must have seen his warm up pitches, which is probably why the angle on the throw was so bad. When President Bush threw out the first pitch during the World Series after 9/11, he was given a much better camera angle as he threw in a perfect strike.

Here's the video of Obama: