ST. LOUIS — President Barack Obama was true to his word: He didn't bounce it.

Determined his ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star game would reach the plate on the fly last night, Obama delivered — barely. St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols helped him, moving up to scoop the low toss inches off the dirt.

"We did a little practicing in the Rose Garden," Obama said during a half-inning with the FOX broadcasters. "This is as much fun as I've had in quite some time."

Television viewers, however, were initially left to wonder whether the presidential pitch skipped. The TV angle cut off Pujols' catch, and many people at Busch Stadium weren't completely sure.

When Obama later visited the broadcast booth, Fox showed a replay from the center-field camera that proved the ball made it home in the air.

"I did not play organized baseball when I was a kid and so, you know, I think some of these natural moves aren't so natural to me," Obama said.

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

Fresh from warming up a day earlier on the White House grounds, Obama went right to rubber, all 60 feet and 6 inches away. The left-hander wound up and bit his lip as he let fly.

Obama grimaced slightly, but gave a fist pump when Pujols — a Gold Glove first baseman — made the neat grab with a specially made black mitt with "Obama #44" and an American flag on it.

"I scooted up a little bit, but I think I was going to catch it in the air the whole way," Pujols said. "I was more nervous not to drop the ball, believe me. I wasn't worried about him bouncing the ball."

The All-Star game capped off a big sports outing for the president. He began the day by greeting Wimbledon champion Serena Williams at the White House, then picked up Hall of Famer Willie Mays in Michigan for the flight to St. Louis.

As for what advice he gave Obama, the Say Hey Kid said: "Follow through."

"He'll be fine. I guarantee it," Mays said aboard Air Force One.

LONGORIA WITHDRAWS

A frustrating injury left Evan Longoria with an unusual role in the All-Star game: cheerleader.

The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman withdrew from last night's game because of an infected right ring finger. He was replaced in the American League starting lineup by Texas third baseman Michael Young, who batted seventh.

Chone Figgins of the Los Angeles Angels took Longoria's spot on the AL squad, managed by Joe Maddon of the Rays.

"Obviously, you don't come to an All-Star game and want to sit on the bench and watch," Longoria said. "It's just unfortunate.

"Obviously, priority one is the Rays and being healthy for Friday's game," he added. "I shouldn't miss any regular-season games with this."