From $500K to $15M: How Former President George W. Bush Hit Home Run With Texas Rangers

The months-long baseball fight has almost reached a culmination. This season has made impossible things possible as two unexpected World Series contenders are fighting for the trophy. While the World Series games are crucial every year, 2023 is witness to teams that have been suffering from a trophy drought for decades. Amidst the Texas Rangers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks? Game 1 fight, a piece of news about former U.S. President George W. Bush has surprised baseball enthusiasts.

American Presidents and baseball surprisingly go hand in hand. While the MLB has no direct relation to the country?s political structure or condition, renowned political personalities often find a link to the game. George W. Bush?s connection to the Rangers is quite the same, but what is surprising is the profit he made from the team.

George W. Bush?s Surprising Texas Connection

For George W. Bush, life after the presidency looks calm in Dallas. But his stature still earns him nods in baseball, especially by a team he used to co-own. The 43rd President of the United States once invested $500K to get his stake in the Texas Rangers in 1989. Years later, he’s back at the ballpark.

General Managing Partner of the team from 1989, he stepped down from the position in 1994 to become the Governor of Texas. Unfortunately, during Bush?s tenure, the team didn?t do anything exceptional, they had only a division title. But, as a stakeholder, Bush hit a home run when he finally gave up his stakes. At the time, when the team was sold to Tom Hicks, Bush earned $15 million in return for what he had invested.

After decades of his absence from the baseball world, Globe Life Field once again witnessed the glorious presence of the ex-U. S. President in his former team?s crucial game. George W. Bush was the invited guest in World Series Game 1 to throw the ceremonial first pitch.

The former president wore a Texas Rangers jersey for the occasion. In a sense, his pitch proved to be a lucky charm for the home team as they got the last laugh after a thrilling fight.?However, that?s not the first time George W. Bush took the mound in an MLB World Series. Interestingly, the opponents were the Arizona Diamondbacks that year as well.

Bush Faced the D-Backs from the Mound Decades Ago

The former U.S. President?s baseball connection is pretty prominent. Even after he resigned as a co-owner of the Rangers, he didn?t cut himself off from the field. Back in 2001, he was invited to throw the ceremonial pitch in the World Series game between the New York Yankees and the Arizona Diamondbacks. This was memorable for another major reason, as it was only two months after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Surprisingly, he even that night proved himself lucky for the Yankees as they won the game. However, the D-backs took the World Series that year.

Read More: How Much Are Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks? Fans Paying for Tickets to Game 2 of the World Series?

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