ST. LOUIS -- If the Brewers make the playoffs and win the World Series, Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder and Trevor Hoffman will see a familiar face when they visit the White House.

The three Brewers' all-stars met with President Obama in the National League clubhouse hours before the 80th All-Star Game Tuesday night at Busch Stadium.

Obama threw out the ceremonial first pitch in the game, which the American League won, 4-3.

"I got to talk to him; it was pretty special," Braun said. "It's a unique experience being with the Secret Service and seeing sharpshooters everywhere. It was like a scene from a movie."

Obama, who wore a White Sox jacket, jeans and white sneakers, greeted Fielder and then teased Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols for allowing the Brewers first baseman to win the Home Run Derby at Pujols' home park.

"It was cool," Fielder said.

Braun said players were told to sit at their lockers and then stood up to greet the president and shake his hand.

"It was pretty special," he said. "It's not something very many people get to experience."

What did the Commander in Chief say to the National League's starting rightfielder?

"He said he liked the way that I play and said I'm doing well," Braun said. "It was pretty cool."

Obama was the fourth President to throw out the first pitch, joining John F. Kennedy (1962), Richard Nixon (1970) and Gerald Ford (1976). Ronald Reagan (1989) and George H.W. Bush (1991 and '92) attended the game but did not throw out a pitch.

Obama didn't use a glove, but Wilson made one for him. It was black with "Obama #44" written in script. The glove, which also included an American flag, will be sent to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

"We have a glove from (Dwight) Eisenhower, from the 1952 World Series," said Brad Horn, senior director of communications and education at the Hall of Fame.

Braun, the first Milwaukee player to start back-to-back games since Robin Yount did it in the early 1980s, said there was one aspect of the All-Star experience that eclipsed meeting the president.

"Prince winning the (Home Run) Derby was definitely the highlight," he said. "That was pretty fun. I was pretty fired up."

Braun was hitless in two at-bats -- a hard line drive to center and a routine grounder to short.

"It was nice to center a ball up," Braun said of his first at-bat, which came with Obama in the broadcast booth. "I hit a line drive right to center field. That's what you want to do, stay in the middle of the field. I felt good."

Braun also handled his duty in right field -- a position he'd never played at any level -- without incident.

"The first ball of the game comes to me," he said, referring to Ichiro Suzuki's single. "I had a line drive to right-center and a line drive down the line. I got tested a little bit. I felt comfortable. I felt surprisingly comfortable out there."

Braun said that playing in an All-Star Game has a different feel than a regular season game.

"It's a little like spring training," he said. "There are different pitchers every inning; guys you haven't faced before. It's just a little different experience.

"Once you get out there, everybody wants to win. You want to compete and you want to have success."

Economic stimulus: Fielder was pleased to hear that the Brewers sold out their supply of discounted tickets in the wake of his 23-homer performance in the Home Run Derby. The loge outfield seats for the three-game San Diego series beginning Aug. 11, were discounted by $1 for each Fielder home run. Fans camped out overnight to get the $5 tickets and they sold out in less than 15 minutes.

"That's awesome," Fielder said.

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3 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by wiscoleeds on July 15, 2009 at 10:43 a.m. (report)

Better yet a salary cap where the Yankees have to pay for the Brewers so everything is equal.

Posted by GeorgeWill on July 15, 2009 at 10:42 a.m. (report)

From my sources - Stimulus Two will include money for the Brewers to sign pitching help. Go BHO.

Posted by sandstorm on July 15, 2009 at 8:18 a.m. (report)

why didn't Braun implore the President to force the Brewers into trading for some pitching?