Former President George W. Bush’s bounced first pitch at the World Series opener drew attention, with daughter Jenna revealing he had back surgery earlier this year. A spokesperson confirmed his recovery from fusion surgery, adding, “He doesn’t make excuses, but it’s true.”
Bush, known for his perfect 2001 post-9/11 pitch and appearances in 2010 and 2017 alongside his father, George H.W. Bush, is reportedly healing well.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Former President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the World Series to former Texas Rangers catcher Iván “Pudge” Rodriguez, bouncing the throw from the front of the mound.

Bush, a former Texas governor, spent 1989-94 as managing partner of the Rangers, who are playing the Arizona Diamondbacks.

When he was president, Bush famously threw out the first pitch of the first World Series game in New York after 9/11 terrorist attacks, making that toss from the rubber without a bounce.

Before this first pitch, Bush reminisced with former Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, now a TV analyst, about Jeter telling him he had to throw from the mound and couldn’t bounce the pitch in 2001, or else he would get booed.

“Well, this is Texas,” Jeter said Friday in a brief interview from the tunnel behind the Texas dugout on the first-base side. “You bounce it, they won’t boo you.”

“No, no,” Bush replied. “It doesn’t matter now.” Bush wore a white jacket with the Rangers’ red “T” logo on the chest, while the Hall of Famer Rodriguez wore his familiar No. 7 jersey.