ARLINGTON, Texas — Game One of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas is now underway and a very big name with ties to the D-backs' last trip to the World Series threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
That was former President George W. Bush.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: El expresidente George W. Bush tira la primera bola en el Juego 1 de la Serie Mundial
The 43rd President, who held the office from 2001-2009, is also the former owner of the Rangers, but left the team after getting elected Governor of Texas in 1994 and officially sold his stake in the team in 1998 before running for president.
The former president took the field to a standing ovation from the crowd in Arlington but threw a ball that hit the dirt in front of former Ranger catcher and Hall of Famer, Iván “Pudge” Rodríguez. You can watch the pitch below.
Bush was seen at Globe Life Field before the game with his wife, Laura, getting ready for the first pitch.
Bush is also one of several connections between this World Series run and the 2001 World Series championship team.
Friday was Bush's fourth time throwing out the first pitch at the World Series. The most famous was when he threw out the first pitch of Game 3 of the 2001 World Series at Yankee Stadium less than two months after the 9/11 attacks. You can watch that first pitch below.
Bush also threw the ceremonial first pitch before Game Four of the 2010 World Series in Texas with his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and before Game Five of the 2017 World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
Some of the other connections to the 2001 D-backs World Series Championship team include:
- A bird being killed by a D-backs pitcher (Randy Johnson in 2001, Zac Gallen in 2023)
- The dates of all seven World Series games in 2001 are the same as the 2023 World Series
- The All-Star Game was held in Seattle in both 2001 and 2023
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.
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