Major League Baseball

Obama booed for Youkilis remark

Published Jun. 26, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

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President Barack Obama certainly isn't helping his campaign in Red Sox Nation.

During a fundraiser in Boston on Monday night, Obama playfully joked with the crowd, referencing the trade between the Red Sox and White Sox that sent Kevin Youkilis to Chicago.

"And finally Boston, I just want to say, thank you for Youkilis," Obama said.

The President's quip was met with some laughs, but mostly with boos and "Youk" chants from the crowd at Symphony Hall.

"I'm just saying, he's going to have to change the color of his socks," added Obama, a known White Sox fan.

The rough crowd caused Obama to backtrack on his jokes and realize that he should not have mixed baseball in with his re-election campaign.

"I didn't think I was going to get any boos out of here," Obama said. "I should not have brought up baseball. I understand. My mistake! My mistake! You've got to know your crowd."

The Red Sox traded Youkilis, who has struggled with injuries and became expendable with the emergence of third baseman Will Middlebrooks, to the White Sox on Sunday. Boston received Brent Lillibridge and Zach Stewart in return for the 33-year-old Youkilis.

In over eight seasons with the Red Sox, Youkilis won two World Series titles (2004, 2007) and was a career .286 hitter with 133 home runs and 564 RBI.

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