Nice call! President Obama congratulates Buehrle on pitch perfect game
'First fan' Obama has perfect praise for Sox ace -- and claims a little credit
White Sox left-hander Mark Buehrle was still in uniform, recounting the incredible final outs of his perfect game Thursday, when team chairman Jerry Reinsdorf hung up his cell phone and ended Buehrle's interview.
"The president wants to talk," Reinsdorf said, escorting the pitcher into his office at U.S. Cellular Field.
It was that kind of day for the Sox ace.
Minutes later, Buehrle was on the phone getting a hearty congratulations from President Obama -- the nation's first fan when it comes to the White Sox.
"I'm still in shock," Buehrle told Obama. "Thank you, sir."
The president was in his limo in Cleveland on his way to Air Force One for a previously scheduled trip to Chicago when an e-mail from the White House popped into the president's BlackBerry announcing that Buehrle had recorded the last three outs to seal his perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.
The president got Buehrle on his cell phone.
"That's one of the privileges of being the president," Obama later joked to donors at the Hyatt Regency. "Somebody just asked me, 'What's more exciting? That or the Dow going over 9,000?' Well, a perfect game -- now that is big."
Gibbs said: "The president congratulated him, said it was an unbelievable achievement, something that everyone will always remember. The president told him maybe it was because he wore the White Sox jacket at the All-Star Game."
Gibbs said Obama told Buehrle, "As a fan, it's extraordinary. When you're a White Sox fan and know the guy who did it, it makes it even more fun."
Obama shared some advice, he recounted at another Chicago fund-raiser.
"I told him that he needed to go buy center fielder [DeWayne] Wise a nice big steak dinner," Obama said. "Even when you're pitching a perfect game, you still need help. It's all about team.."
Buehrle got a chance to say a quick hello to Obama last week at the All-Star Game in St. Louis, where the president raised eyebrows at Busch Stadium by delivering the ceremonial first pitch while wearing a White Sox jacket.
''He said he was taking a little bit of credit because he wore the White Sox jacket at the All-Star Game, and I told him how surprised I was that he actually did it,'' Buehrle said. ''He said congratulations, and it's an honor. A lot of people are going to remember this forever.''
So are these weekly chats with the president going to become a regular thing for Buehrle?
''Let's hope so,'' Buehrle said. ''It's weird. He's almost like a buddy."
On the phone, "I was more nervous talking to him and trying on my end not to say something stupid. ... I got goosebumps," Buehrle said.
For the record, Buehrle says the call lasted about 30 seconds.
''I'm like, 'What? That's all he's got for me?" Buehrle said with a laugh. "I know he's got more important things to do, but it's just an honor that he took a couple seconds out of his day to call me."