Baseball and U.S. presidency have long gone hand-in-hand.
Former president Jimmy Carter is a lifelong Braves fan, while Barack Obama's election gave the White House a White Sox fan. Few presidents have as much connection to one team, however, as George W. Bush has with the Texas Rangers.
Bush is set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the World Series at Globe Life Field on Friday, which will come as no surprise to anyone who remembers his presence during the Rangers' trips to the World Series in 2010 and 2011.
Baseball is a family affair for the former president, as his father George, the 41st president, was a longtime fan of the Houston Astros and threw out a ceremonial first pitch at the 2017 World Series, a year before his death. For the 43rd president, however, his connection to the Rangers runs even deeper than just fandom.
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Here's a closer look at President Bush's relationship with the Rangers and the roles he held with the franchise before entering politics.
Does George W. Bush own the Rangers?
Bush does not own the Rangers, but he had a stake in the team from 1989-1994.
Bush helped organize a group to buy the Rangers for $89 million after the franchise went up for sale in 1988. While he only owned two percent of the franchise following the deal, Bush became the team's managing general partner and the front face of the ownership group on the baseball side of the business.
Bush left the Rangers after he was elected governor of Texas in 1994 and sold his stake in the franchise in 1998 before making it to the White House two years later, so the former president has not had any formal ties to the organization in his post-presidential life.
That hasn't stopped him from staying involved with the organization. Bush was visible throughout the Rangers' 2010 run to the World Series, attending every home playoff game and throwing out the first pitch alongside his father before a World Series game.
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One reason Bush stayed so close to the Rangers after leaving office was the presence of his friend Nolan Ryan, who was a part-owner and control person for the Rangers from 2010 through 2013.
Bush's involvement in baseball nearly didn't stop with the Rangers. According to a book written by former MLB commissioner Fay Vincent, Bush actually showed serious interest in becoming commissioner during the 1990s.
Of course, Bush ended up with an even better big, becoming governor of Texas before getting elected two terms as President of the United States.
Now nearly 15 years out of office, Bush has devoted many of his days to cheering on the Rangers, even while showing support for both Texas teams.
Who is George W. Bush pulling for in the #ALCS
— Jason Bristol (@JBristolKHOU) October 18, 2023
"I'm for everybody."
Then off to the side, he said, "Rangers."
(Video: @mikeorta/@KHOU) pic.twitter.com/b5uym0DMNJ
George W. Bush Rangers ownership timeline
1988: Eddie Chiles puts Rangers up for sale
Rangers owner Eddie Chiles, a friend of the Bush family, announced in 1988 that he was selling the franchise. Bush, whose father was on the verge of being elected President of the United States, began organizing a group of investors to buy the team.
1989: Bush and other investors purchase Rangers for $89 million
Bush's group successfully won the bidding for the Rangers in April 1989. While Bush himself only purchased two percent of the team, he became Texas' managing general partner.
1991-1993: Bush oversees building of new stadium
The defining story of Bush's time as Rangers managing general partner was the construction of a new stadium, known as The Ballpark in Arlington when it opened in 1994.
The process of building the stadium was set in motion in early 1991 when Arlington voters approved a plan to publicly fund the ballpark. The Rangers would stay in the venue until 2019, when they moved into their current home, Globe Life Field.
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1994: Bush leaves Rangers after being elected governor
Bush defeated incumbent Gov. Ann Richards in 1994 to become governor of Texas. One month later, he formally ended his tenure as the Rangers' managing general partner while maintaining his stake in the team.
1998: Sale of Rangers severs Bush's ties with team
While Bush remains a passionate Rangers fan, his formal connection to the organization ended 25 years ago when his ownership stake was sold as part of a sale of the franchise to Tom Hicks.
Bush's stake included a 10 percent escalator bonus if the Rangers were sold, so he came away with $14.9 million when Hicks purchased the team.
