The First Pitch Heard Around the World

First appeared on October 29th, 2008
in The Lebanon Reporter

Some would say the end of George W. Bush’s term is looming on the horizon like a mirage in the desert. And, as we as a nation are busy straggling our way through the knee deep sand, it seems everyone from Oprah to Joe the Plumber are weighing in on W’s place in history. In the mold of every great ambulance chaser before us, we feel obliged to weigh in. This won’t be your run of the mill “he’s the worst president ever” diatribe those of us in the 35-105 age bracket have become so accustomed to hearing after a two term President rides off into the sunset. Consider this instead a comfy, warm your little heart bedtime story mother would have soothed you with on a dark stormy night.
Once upon a time in the year 2001 there lived the son of a former King who had stolen the throne from the man who invented the internet. In all seriousness the fall of 2001 is a time we never want to relive. September 11th was a seminal moment in the lives of so many people and the days, weeks and months that followed that horrific day still resonate with many.
For us one of clearest memories of that time was the uncertainty that loomed over our world. Most were of the opinion that it wasn’t a matter of if, but when another attack would come and, say what you want about the guy now, George W. Bush was solid as a rock during the darkest hours of our time. His calling Al Queda a “faceless enemy” and standing on the rubble of Ground Zero assuring the world that the United States would swing back are two powerful memories we have of those days. For us however, the most powerful moment of 43’s time at 1600 Pennsylvania came several weeks later.
In October of that year, the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees were fighting it out in the World Series. The first two games had been played at the BOB in Phoenix before the teams made their way to New York for game three. New York City hosting something of the magnitude of a World Series game just 48 days after the attacks of September 11th was certainly a shaky prospect at best.
It was a moment in time when Americans everywhere were clinging nervously to countless uncertainties. With their confidence shattered, many were on the hunt for someone to give them a boost back up on the wall. It was at this time that George W. Bush made one of the best decisions of his presidency. He agreed to throw out the first pitch at game three of the World Series.
Over 57,000 had gathered at Yankee Stadium on that cool October night. With 1200 police officers in attendance and a 34 mile wide no-fly zone around the stadium, there were still so many things that could have went wrong that night and yet perhaps that is what makes it all the more a powerful moment.
Moments after fans were treated to the sight of a Bald Eagle strafing an enormous American flag in centerfield, Bush entered. Just how many held their breath when the leader of the free world strolled onto the playing field will never be known. Clad in a jacket commemorating NYC firefighters as he took his perch on the mound, it wasn’t just the eyes of his countrymen, rather those of the entire world that were upon him. Chants of U-S-A, U-S-A were thundering around the stadium as he gave fans a thumbs up before firing what can only be described as a perfect strike to home plate.
In choosing to throw that pitch President Bush said more than let Game Three begin, he sent a message to the world that fear would always remain an emotion unfamiliar to Americans. From that moment on nothing would keep the U.S. from rising once again. As today marks the 7th anniversary of that powerful moment, perhaps we should all take time to look back on how far we’ve come.