President Barack Obama, wearing a black Sox jacket, tossed out the first pitch to open up the Midsummer Classic at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Obama visited the AL and NL clubhouses before last night’s Midsummer Classic, showing off his knowledge of the game while having some fun with many of the best players in the majors.

“It was wonderful to meet him,” Mariano Rivera said. “He said, ‘Keep throwing that cutter.’ It was outstanding. I know he’s the President of the United States, but he was a regular man.”

Obama is the seventh President to appear at an MLB All-Star Game, but only the fourth to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, joining John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, who did it twice.

Pujols was thrilled to be chosen as Obama’s catcher. “Obviously it’s an honor to catch the first pitch from the President, as our leader,” he said. “Tomorrow I think it’s going to get to me.”