Not even presidents are afforded this indulgence: On his attempt at the ceremonial first pitch last night, Arnold Palmer took a mulligan.

Such do-overs are fit for The King, after all.

Golf's royalty, the Latrobe legend who with his irons cut a golfing swath across the globe, then later essentially founded the athlete-enriching businesses of marketing pitchman and golf-course designer, interrupted the center-field fireworks in honor of his 80th birthday for his second try at a first pitch. That one went much smoother, much lower, much closer to home plate. No matter that Mr. Palmer was throwing from baseball's version of the front tees, a few steps in front of the pitcher's mound.

"You liked that pitch?" he said afterward. "It was a strike.

"I didn't want to knock Jim down," he added of his ceremonial catcher, PNC CEO Jim Rohr.

Mr. Palmer along with his wife, Kit, Mr. Rohr and others gathered around PNC Park home plate last night on the occasion of this man, once the world's most famous athlete, officially becoming an octogenarian.

So the story goes, the Steelers wanted to celebrate it at Heinz Field tomorrow, his true birthday and their season opener after that Super Bowl XLIII triumph. Mr. Palmer politely begged off.

"I got too much happening," he said last night. "I'd like to be here, but I can't."

Instead, an unofficial three-day natal celebration for The King -- CBS announcer Jim Nantz came to town for events on the first two -- teed off last night on the North Shore.

Draped over nine tall chairs were "Palmer 80" Pirates jerseys, which the birthday boy, Mr. Rohr, Mr. Nantz and, later, Pirates broadcaster Steve Blass, slipped on. Also at home plate for the festivities were Pirates owner Bob Nutting and president Frank Coonelly -- whose introduction drew boos from much of the small crowd on hand, one day after the franchise set a North American professional sports record with a 17th consecutive losing season. Golfer and friend Peter Jacobsen along with Pirates pitcher Paul Maholm also sat with the group at home plate.

Mr. Palmer attracted two, separate standing ovations from the 17,862 ballpark patrons, saluting them with his trademark thumbs-up.

Mr. Blass, Mr. Maholm and Mr. Jacobson each took turns with wedges, trying three shots apiece to reach the 12-foot ring encircling the Pirate Parrot holding a flagstick 85 yards away, in center field. Naturally, Mr. Jacobson came the closest to the pin, his second shot bouncing off the Parrot's protruding posterior. That generated a $5,000 donation from PNC to Pirates charities.

Next came a scoreboard video that, from grainy, black-and-white film from a half-century ago to today's crisp color, chronicled the golfing life and times of Arnold Daniel Palmer, the Latrobe golf club pro's kid who grew to iconic status yet remained a Latrobe resident in summers. Nowadays the nearby airport bears his name, as do a hospital in Orlando, Fla., roads worldwide and more.

During the video, Mr. Palmer placed his right hand on his chairback, plunged his left hand into his pocket and watched attentively, pausing once to tease his wife. "A treasure to the game of golf and a gift to mankind," ended the video narrated by Mr. Nantz, a friend and CBS's golf announcer the past quarter-century.

Some birthday gifts were bestowed. He received a proclamation saying that Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato declared tomorrow "Arnold Palmer's 80th Birthday Day." Mr. Rohr announced that PNC is donating $1 million in the Palmer family's name to Children's Hospital. Well-wishers from the Pirates to Tiger Woods offered their thoughts in video tributes played throughout the game.

Then came The King.

"It's great to be in Pittsburgh," he told the crowd. "All the years I drove the Boulevard of the Allies to play golf tournaments at clubs around the Pittsburgh area. It's good to be back."

He mentioned being present in Forbes Field for Bill Mazeroski's World Series-winning homer in 1960. He mentioned Maz's double-play partner and long a golfing friend, Dick Groat. He mentioned that, yes, this would be his inaugural first pitch, though he played baseball as a kid and had practiced for this moment for weeks with his pilot, Pete Luster.

"I feel a little slow," Mr. Palmer kidded to the fans. "Eighty miles-an-hour is about all I can get."

Whatever the speed, The King's second try was a charm.

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