The greatest sporting spectacle – the World Series is here! The Texas Rangers face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks for a chance at glory. Before the match, it was the former President George W. Bush who started the show with his ceremonial first pitch. But earlier than that, he was interviewed by none other than the “Captain Clutch” Derek Jeter.

In the interview, Bush said how he was fired up for the World Series. Bush threw the first pitch in 2001, incidentally, even then the Diamondbacks were playing in the World Series against Derek Jeter’s New York Yankees.

Bush’s Interview with Derek Jeter

When Derek referred to Bush as a huge fan of the Rangers and asked him how excited he was to throw the ceremonial pitch, here’s what Bush responded. “Now I’m fired up as all the Ranger fans. We got a good team. Arizona is good. I think we’re going to prevail in six games..” Next, Derek asked him about 2001, when Derek was playing and Bush threw the ceremonial pitch.

The former president said, “well back then. Totally different environment I’m loosening up in. Comes the Yankee captain Hey Press. That was you. And I said. Yeah, i said. Gona, throw from the mound. I said. What do you think I would? And then as you left, you said, don’t bounce it. They’ll boo you, well, tell you all I thought about on the man were you”.

Immediately after, Jeter assured George that this time around he was throwing the ceremonial pitch in Texas, and even if he bounces, they won’t boo him.

Bush’s connection with both teams of the World Series

George W. Bush is a lifelong lover of baseball. The former President’s love for the sport is such that during his Presidency he opened the South Lawn of the White House for T-Ball players in the Spring of 2001. Moreover, he also shares a connection with the Diamondbacks and the Rangers.

Before becoming the President, George W. Bush was the managing partner of the Texas Rangers. It was his lifelong fandom that led him to throw the ceremonial pitch in 2001 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the New York Yankees. The Snakes won that iconic series, considering Bush as their lucky charm.

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Now 22 years later, he again threw the pitch for the Game 1 of the World Series today. However, it didn’t churn out as expected for the  Diamondbacks as they got defeated by the Texas Rangers with the 6-5 margin.

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