Former President George W. Bush recently made headlines for bouncing the ceremonial first pitch at the World Series opener. His daughter, Jenna Bush Hager, shed light on the incident, revealing that her father had back surgery earlier in the year.
She explained, “It did not, it curved, and he just had back surgery, so unfortunately he probably injured himself.
”A spokesperson for President Bush confirmed his back surgery, saying, “President Bush isn’t one to make excuses,
but that’s true — he did have fusion surgery on his lower back early this year.” Despite the surgery, he is recovering well.
Bush left the Rangers after he was elected governor of Texas in 1994 and sold his stake in the franchise in 1998. He made it to the White House two years later, and has not had any formal ties to the franchise in his post-presidential life.
Asked about his thoughts on his favorite baseball team playing in its second World Series in history by former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, now a TV analyst, the ex-Republican said: ‘I’m fired up. As are the Rangers fans. We have a good team. […] I think we’re gonna prevail in six games, but we’ll see.’
Bush was U.S. president from 2001-2009 and threw the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the 2001 Word Series at Yankee Stadium between New York and Arizona. With heavy security following the 9-11 terrorist attacks, Bush wore a bulletproof vest.
As Bush warmed up beneath the stands of old Yankee Stadium, 22 years ago, Jeter told him ‘Don’t bounce it, they will boo you,’ Bush later recalled.
‘I picked you in six, too, as well,’ he teasingly reminded the five-time World Series champion on Friday night.
Bush shakes hands with Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter prior to Game 3 of the 2001 World Series
Bush threw out ceremonial first pitches with his father, former President George H.W. Bush, before Game 4 of the 2010 World Series in Texas and prior to Game 5 of the 2017 World Series in Houston. The younger Bush lives in Dallas.
William Howard Taft was the first president to pitch at a World Series in 1910, before the Washington Senators played the Philadelphia Athletics. He threw the pitch to Hall of Famer, Walter Johnson.
Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden are the only heads of state who haven’t thrown a ceremonial first pitch either during or after their time in office. Trump threw out a first pitch at Fenway Park in 2006.
President Barack Obama is the last sitting president to throw a ceremonial first pitch, back on opening day of the 2010 MLB season.
