Ryan Howard, playing in his 658th game, becomes the fastest player to hit 200 home runs when he goes deep off Chris Volstad with his solo shot in the sixth inning in the team’s 4-0 victory in Miami. The previous mark was held by Hall of Fame slugger Ralph Kiner, who played in 48 more contests than the 29 year-old Phillies first baseman to reach the plateau.

The Phillies do it with the long ball in beating Florida, 4 – 0. Raul Ibanez homers twice and Ryan Howard once. For Howard, it is the 200th home run of his career, in his 658th game; he is fastest to reach that mark, beating Ralph Kiner who took 706 games to hit 200 dingers. Jamie Moyer allows one hit over seven innings for the win.

Barack Obama, clad in his White Sox jacket, becomes the first Commander-in-Chief to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in the Midsummer Classic since Gerald Ford tossed the ball at the beginning of the 1976 contest. After warming up in the White House Rose Garden prior to arriving at Busch Stadium, the 44th president’s pitch barely reaches the plate, but doesn’t bounce, thanks to the efforts of Cardinals’ hometown hero Albert Pujols, who moves up from home and reaches out to scoop the low throw.

The American League runs its unbeaten streak to 13 games (12 wins and a tie) by defeating the National League, 4 – 3, in the 80th All-Star Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. The win enables the AL to finish the 2000s without losing any All-Star Game (9-0-1) in the decade, the first time either league has ever accomplished this feat. Carl Crawford of the Rays earns MVP honors by climbing over the left field fence to deprive Brad Hawpe of a home run in the 7th inning.

At Busch Stadium, Prince Fielder outslugs Rangers’ outfielder Nelson Cruz in the final round, 6-5, to win the All-Star Home Run Derby. The Brewer first baseman’s power surge included a stunning shot estimated to have traveled over 500 feet.

The Washington Nationals, owners of the worst record in the major leagues, fire manager Manny Acta. Bench coach Jim Riggleman takes over on an interim basis.

The Red Sox dedicate the center-field flagpole to Dom DiMaggio by raising a banner just below the stars and stripes with the former center fielder’s name on it. After the ceremony, his widow, Emily, throws out the ceremonial first pitch before the Fenway Park contest against Kansas City.

The Cubs and Cardinals split a day/night doubleheader at Wrigley Field. Chicago wins the opener, 7 – 3, on home runs by Micah Hoffpauir and P Carlos Zambrano, and the Cards take the nightcap, 4 – 2. Ryan Ludwick hits two two-run home runs to account for all of St. Louis’s runs; Adam Wainwright picks up his 10th win and Ryan Franklin strikes out the side in the 9th for his 21st save. As a result, the first four teams in the NL Central are within 3 1/2 games of each other heading into the All-Star break.

Washington has its best offensive game since relocating from Montreal in 2005 in beating Houston, 13 – 2. The Nats collect 21 hits – the most for them since the move – and Nick Johnson, Josh Willingham and Adam Dunn homer in consecutive at bats in the 6th, also a first. Craig Stammen pitches a complete game for the win.