President Bush and President Bush: World Series Game 4

What a great way to start Game 4 of the World Series, with two former presidents, father and son!

I found it genuinely moving.

Say what you will about President George W. Bush but there's no disputing the fact that the man knows how to throw.

From the Associated Press:

The father-and-son team of George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday night in what Major League Baseball said was the first time two former presidents attended a World Series game.

George W. Bush, the 43rd president, threw the pitch, with his dad, the 41st president, at his side.

The duo drove in from left field together in a golf cart, with the younger Bush wearing a blue Texas Rangers jacket and the elder Bush a red World Series jacket. The older held a cane in his left hand and walked haltingly, and he later needed assistance getting into his seat in the first row next to the Texas Rangers dugout.

As they approached the infield dirt and drove past four Giants, San Francisco outfielder Cody Ross gave a handshake to the older Bush.

"He put his hand out, and I went over there, and went for it," Ross said. "That was really, really special because I grew up here. I grew up a Ranger fan."

Ross also caught the attention of the younger Bush.

"He gave me a little wink when his dad shook my hand," Ross said after the Giants' 4-0 win.

Former First Lady Barbara Bush took pictures from her first-row seat with former First Lady Laura Bush, her daughter-in-law, standing next to her.

When the golf cart pulled up next to the mound of the first-base side, the two ex-presidents were greeted by Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, the current Rangers president. George W. Bush threw a high pitch to Ryan, who caught it over the right-handed hitter's batter's box.

After the pitch, the pair got back in the golf cart and drove the short distance to in front of the Rangers dugout. Once they were in their seats, the umpires walked over to shake their hands.

This AP account is very dry.

Yahoo Sports gives a better description, albeit somewhat grudgingly, of the atmosphere at the ballpark, the crowd's positive reaction and the warm welcome offered to the former presidents.

George W. Bush came into Sunday's Game 3 of the World Series with a reputation as the best first pitcher in presidential history to uphold.

Mission, uh, accomplished.

With his father George H.W. Bush looking on from just a few feet away, the experienced Republican righthander threw an impressive no-bounce heater to Texas Rangers team president Nolan Ryan behind the plate. While the pitch had nowhere near the emotional impact of Bush's strike during the 2001 World Series after 9/11, it was a big moment for Bush, who used to own the team, and for his family's constituents in the state of Texas.

Indeed, the standing-room only crowd at Rangers Ballpark stood and cheered as the two former presidents emerged from left field in a golf cart driven by the younger Bush. San Francisco Giants outfielder Cody Ross(notes) was so moved by the moment that he broke from the left field line — and any concerns that he'll be welcomed back to San Francisco — to shake the elder Bush's hand as the golf cart passed by.

Bush's pitch was followed by loud chants of U-S-A! U-S-A! from the crowd dressed in red and blue.

"Mission, uh, accomplished."

That was uncalled for, but at least the terrific ovation for the presidents and the chants of U-S-A! U-S-A! were mentioned in the article.

It really was a wonderful moment - the history of the game, the history of the country, the ties between father and son.

Here's video, from RealClearPolitics.