Bush Invited To Throw Out First Pitch At Rangers Opener

Tom Hicks has invited former president George W. Bush to throw out the first pitch at Texas' home opener on April 6

Rangers owner Tom Hicks and the Rangers have invited former president and new Dallasite George W. Bush to throw out the first pitch of their April 6 home opener against the Cleveland Indians.

Hicks said he was unsure if the former-president would be able to attend. "Hopefully he'll be there on Opening Day," Hicks said. "We won't get a confirmation for a few days." 

Regardless, Bush loves the game of baseball; that much is clear.
 
Bush was the managing owner of the Texas Rangers from 1989 to 1994. He was instrumental in the decision to build the new stadium, and he was present at the groundbreaking ceremony, in 1991, for what would become the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
 
In his eight years as commander in chief, he threw out ceremonial first pitches for Cincinnati, Washington, St. Louis and, most famously, prior to game three of the 2001 World Series between the Yankees and the Diamondbacks; such experience leads one to believe that he can probably spot up pretty well at this point.
 
He also met with World Series champs, Hall of Famers, and held T-Ball games on the South Lawn.
 
Bush was the head of a group of investors that bought the team from oil tycoon and, later, radio personality Eddie Chiles (who used to be “mad as hell”) in April of 1989.
 
In 1994, of course, Bush left the team to pursue a political career, which I hear worked out fairly well for him.
 
In 1998, Tom Hicks purchased the Rangers for $250 million, with Bush walking away with an estimated $15 million.
 
If “W” accepts Hicks’ invitation, it will be the first time he’s been to the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington since he became president.
 
It will also be a reunion of sorts, as Bush welcomed Josh and Katie Hamilton into the White House for a meeting on drug use reduction last December.
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