Former Rangers owner George W. Bush throws first pitch before World Series Game 1 in Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas – Twenty-two years after throwing out the first pitch at a World Series game in an emotionally charged appearance in post-9/11 New York, former President George W. Bush repeated the feat on far more familiar grounds.

Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch Friday night at Globe Life Field, just across the street from the stadium that rose as he served as managing general partner of the Texas Rangers from 1989-94, before  the Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks played Game 1 of the 2023 Series.

Bush, 77, stepped down as Rangers owner before running for governor of Texas in 1994; he eventually sold his stake in the club before running for president in 2000.

While the Rangers’ on-field performance during Bush’s stint in the organization was undistinguished – the club notoriously traded future home run hero Sammy Sosa to the Chicago White Sox in 1989, which Bush later said he regretted – the club did construct the Ballpark in Arlington, one of the finer edifices in that stadium renaissance era.

Current Rangers owner Ray Davis eventually secured significant public financing to construct Globe Life Field, which features a retractable roof; Bush’s legacy can be seen through the outfield windows, as the Ballpark – now called Choctaw Stadium – still hosts high school and college football games.

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Bush received thunderous support at Yankee Stadium and in approval ratings after his first pitch before Game 3 on Oct. 30, 2001, during which he wore a bulletproof vest as snipers lurked atop the ballpark.

Bush left office in 2009 with a 61% disapproval rating, second only to President Nixon (62%) in Gallup Poll results conducted since 1952, but has remained a popular figure in his home state. 

On Friday, the North Texas crowd greeted its former governor with chants of "USA!" and Bush delivered a pitch from about 40 feet to baseball Hall of Famer Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez.