Today President George W. Bush turned 71-years old, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with one of his most iconic moments.
Bush’s opening pitch before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks will go down as one of the most memorable moments in MLB history.
The first pitch took place less than two two months after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Game 3 saw the Yankees come back to New York, where President Bush was waiting and ready to throw the opening pitch for the New York crowd.
Bush famously threw the pitch from the pitcher’s mound after Yankees legend Derek Jeter told him the crowd would boo him if he threw it from in front of the mound. “Don’t bounce it, they’ll boo you,” Bush said Jeter told him.
The fans and Jeter should never have been concerned because Bush threw absolute heat from the mound.
WATCH:
An absolutely incredible moment for baseball and America as the country rebounded from the brutal terrorist attack that changed countless lives.