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New ESPN '30 for 30' film highlights George W. Bush's first pitch at Yankee Stadium after 9/11

A new ESPN 30 for 30 short film highlights the night former President George W. Bush took the mound at Yankee Stadium during the World Series to throw out the first pitch after 9/11.

Bush wore a bulletproof vest and gave the crowd a thumbs up before throwing a perfect strike ahead of Game 3 between the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks. It was emotional and powerful moment.

“What President Bush told us without uttering a single word was that we could once again attempt to carry on our lives,” sportscaster Jim Gray said via the Dallas Morning News at the George W. Bush Presidential Center during a screening of the movie last weekend. “What an amazing symbol it was.”

The 25-minute documentary titled First Pitch will debut on ESPN next Friday on the 14th anniversary of 9/11. Gray produced the film.

“It’s a moment that when I think about it, I still get goosebumps,” he said.

AFP PHOTO/Luke FRAZZA

AFP PHOTO/Luke FRAZZA

The film includes interviews from Bush and his wife Laura, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and former Yankees Derek Jeter and Joe Torre.

The movie reportedly highlights Bush speaking with Jeter while he was warming up, moments before coming out of the tunnel. Jeter told the president to throw from the mound and not to bounce the ball because then fans would boo him.

Bush told those at the screening that Jeter motivated him, but this was one of the most “nerve-racking moments” of his presidency.

“I was nervous, really nervous,” Bush said. “[The director] didn’t put the part in there where I said the ball felt like a shot put.”

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