ST. LOUIS — So I become an American citizen and a week later I meet the President. That’s how it works for everybody, isn’t it?

Getting a chance to shake President Barack Obama’s hand prior to Tuesday night’s All-Star Game was undoubtedly the moment I’ll most remember when looking back at my third trip to the Midsummer Classic, but there was so much more than that. There always is.

Sure, I won’t forget the fact that we won the game, 4-3, especially if we find ourselves playing at home for the first game of the World Series. And I will always recall getting the chance to make the trip with my Red Sox teammates, especially first-timer Tim Wakefield. Yet, what separates these games are the little memories, such as having to catch my daughter from running on the field during the Home Run Derby. (Fortunately they were in a commercial break.)

Workout day. I run back in from the field to get sunglasses. Locker room completely empty except Ichiro stretching on the floor and his translator sitting on the chair beside him. Sow we make small talk, and I ask him where he lives in Seattle because I lived in the suburbs.

Well, I had barely got the last word out when Ichiro says something in Japanse. Then his translator turns to me, deadpanned and straight-faced and says, “I’m going to mess with your house.” The way he said it was malicious, and Ichiro is on the floor dying laughing like it was the funniest thing ever. I was just like, “OK, I’ll see you guys out there.” I didn’t know what to say. It was weird.

There was plenty more to come away with.

For example, from the time we went on the field one thing I couldn’t take my eyes off were the snipers on top of the stadium. Even in the fourth inning, I couldn’t stop looking at them because from where I was it looked like a video game, with the dark silhouette and with the sun setting. I’m thinking, “These are snipers! That’s so cool!”

Or coming to realize that they just played a recording of the Canadian National Anthem instead of having somebody come in and sing it. That seemed strange, that they couldn’t find anybody in St. Louis who knew “Oh Canada.” Morneau and I could have done it if they really needed somebody.

And then there was playing in the actual game (which was just 2 hours and 31 minutes, which is truly unbelievable). On the third pitch of my first at-bat I hit a single to center. Then I lined out to right on the first pitch I saw, in the fourth. Put it this way — you know you’re probably going to get fastballs from the best pitchers around, so you aren’t preaching patience. There’s no “Moneyballing” it in this game.

On my way out of the clubhouse at the end of the day — which I punctuated by pulling from my pocket a plastic grass ornament that my daughter hijacked from the lunch buffet — it was a great time with plenty of memories. Hopefully I’ll get another chance to do it all again next time around … even if it doesn’t mean meeting up with the President.

ST. LOUIS — President Barack Obama fielded some questions after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the 80th All-Star Game. He stepped into the Fox broadcast booth and offered some spirited rhetoric about baseball. He could not avoid partisan rhetoric, as Obama made no secret of his rooting interest in the Chicago White Sox. Here is a transcript of the appearance:

On being at the Game:

First of all, it’s as close to home as I’ve been in a while, and this is the national pastime. To go down there and meet Stan Musial and Bob Gibson and those guys, it’s such a reminder about what’s great in this country. You can’t beat that and it’s a real treat.

You have reached the highest office in the land. Your heart must have been pounding underneath that Sox jacket to throw out the ceremonial first pitch:

This is the second time. I threw it out during the American League Championship Series (in 2005). The (White) Sox ended up winning the World Series. And when you’re a senator, they show you no respect, so they just hand you the ball. You don’t get a chance to warm up. Now here, I was with Albert Pujols in teh batting cage practicing before.

Did you forget the baseline moves? Did you put the basketball down?

We did all practicing in the Rose Garden. But what is true, I’m a great baseball fan. I did not play organized baseball when I was a kid, so I think some of these natural moves are not so natural to me.

The White Sox winning the World Series back in 2005, being a fan for so long, that had to be a thrill for you.

It was just wonderful. I was just talking to Jerry Reinsdorf, the White Sox owner, about this, after I threw out my pitch, they won eight straight after losing the first game (of the ALCS). Any of these teams need a lefty?

Who wins it all in 2009?

It’s a little early for that. You know, I tend to try to get a little more information. I tell you what, though, what’s been interesting about baseball this year, other than the Dodgers, who have been (playing) great baseball, there’s a lot of parity, which I think is terrific, because it means everybody around the country has a little bit of hope for the team. One may be the exception, the Nationals, who are still young and have a new ballpark.

You honored the Phillies in the White House:

Wonderful people, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, the whole crew there was just a class act and I like the way they play. They are a scrappy team, and (had a) real team bond, so very impressive. My campaign manager, he was from Delaware, so he was a crazy Phillies fan, and them winning kept him in a good mood.

Right on cue, as Phillies outfielder Shane Victorino gets a base hit to right.

Since I grew up in Hawaai, this kid, while we were down in the clubhouse, he actually gave me some macadamia nuts from back home.

He is the first position player to come out of Hawaii. There have been three pitchers, but he’s the first position player. The National League has Molina at the plate; as you know the N.L. hasn’t won the All-Star Game since 1996.

This is a problem.