Bush Is Pitcher Perfect
March 30, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Baseball legend Joe DiMaggio once said, “There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first or last time, I owe him my best.”
That quote is inscribed in the new Washington Nationals ballpark, which opened for business tonight in Major League Baseball’s first game of the season, against the Atlanta Braves.
Who else gave their best? President Bush, throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
It was a great toss to Nationals catcher Paul Lo Duca. Just a bit high, but otherwise a fast pitch straight over home plate. ESPN announcer Jon Miller remarked, “There have been lots of presidents who’ve thrown out the first pitch, but I don’t know anybody who’s done it better.” And Joe Morgan said, “That’s the best I’ve ever seen, that’s some high heat.”
For those kids in the stadium tonight who’ve seen President Bush throw for the first time, he certainly gave his best.
(And the Nationals right now are beating the Braves 2-0 in the third inning.)
Ben Keeler said,
March 31, 2008 @ 3:15 am
The stadium looked awesome on TV. I cant wait to make a trip there this summer.
Always nice to see a team to win their first game at their new home,
RIchard said,
March 31, 2008 @ 7:27 am
I’ll never forget the strike Bush threw at Yankee Stadium just after 9/11. Security was everywhere and the tension was unbelievable. Great moment.
comatus said,
March 31, 2008 @ 7:39 am
“Now pitching for Washington, hore-hay BOOSH…”
Of course the junior Senator from Kentucky would be the ‘perfect’ commentator,
but Bush should appear in the official record as the first to throw the split-finger
in a bulletproof vest.
There is a reason it’s called the Bush league.
Jack is Back! said,
March 31, 2008 @ 8:51 am
I only wish he could throw more high heat to Pelosi, Reid and company. What we need in Washington are more no-hitters and less grand slam pork!
william said,
March 31, 2008 @ 10:16 am
The first pitch was thrown to Nationals Acta, not Paul LoDuca.
paul said,
March 31, 2008 @ 11:41 am
yes, there were boos…
as a yankee fan, I got used to hearing them on the road in the post season. but even when the yankees were on the road and getting booed, I’d always hear a smattering of cheers, watching the players smile to themselves, with their game faces. Bush still wears his game face, in a tough town, that has been trying to knock him off for the last 7 years.
He could have opened for Atlanta or Texas, but instead he took his stuff ‘on the road’, and he delivered.
(Richard-I remember W taking the mound after 9/11…sweetest pitch ever.)
Moultrie Creek said,
March 31, 2008 @ 1:16 pm
Did you notice the flak jacket under his Nationals jacket? Makes a nice pitch even more impressive. Also enjoyed his commentary in the booth later in the game.
Kyle said,
March 31, 2008 @ 2:05 pm
Nats’ Manager, Manny Acta, caught the pitch due to Lo Duca’s involvement in the steroid debacle.