Honor, service, character, humility, grace and class......Yale baseball bids farewell to it's greatest captain ever. How fitting that I happen to be in the middle of "Flyboys", a book about the courage displayed by GHWB and his fellow pilots in WWII. Incredible stuff; so proud.
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Thanks for posting BucsFan and I hope all is well with you and your family. Lately, I've not had the time to do everything I want to do on HSBBWeb. Too much going on, so my posting has suffered. Life is good. GHWB was the real deal.
So, GHWB is one of my brushes with greatness. I met him in 1988 when I was driving around the White House (back when you could do that) with a co-worker. We saw Barbara on the lawn with Millie and her puppies, so we pulled the car over and started talking to the First Lady. Less than 5 mins later, George (and the secret service) walk over and begin a conversation with us. Within 20 seconds George and I are talking baseball....the Red Sox were playing his Texas Rangers in a series at Fenway. We talk baseball for a couple minutes and then I invited him to my upcoming wedding in Kennebunkport knowing that where I was getting married (Shawmut Inn) was just around the corner from his summer home in Kennebunkport. The press corps stayed at the Shawmut Inn when he was in town. He graciously declined my wedding invitation as he thought he'd be busy that week. We both laughed, and it was a moment I'll never forget. Love that guy!
PS...Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everybody on HSBBWeb!
President Bush attended Phillips Andover prep school. Andover baseball Twitter feed (@real_PAbaseball) posted some photos of President Bush playing first base, class of 1942. Very cool. Texas A&M baseball twitter feed also has some good photos from President Bush's visit there from a couple years ago. He's in a wheelchair, Yale baseball jersey on.
And welcome back FenwaySouth!
BucsFan posted:Honor, service, character, humility, grace and class......Yale baseball bids farewell to it's greatest captain ever. How fitting that I happen to be in the middle of "Flyboys", a book about the courage displayed by GHWB and his fellow pilots in WWII. Incredible stuff; so proud.
I've worked a good part of my career in politics and had the chance to meet 41 and get to know some of his aides. The Bush 41 people were just different from those around 42-45. Moderates in politics and temperament. Grown-ups with a strong sense of duty and a belief in service.
Anyone who is interested in 41's life should track down the late Richard Ben Cramer's book about the '88 election. It's called "What it Takes" and has unforgettable biographies of several candidates that year including 41 and Senators Dole and Biden. Cramer forces you to think about these politicians as people with histories, hopes, fears, etc. Great stuff.
Two years ago, when Yale had its best season ever, beat Nebraska in a Regional and ultimately lost to then #1 ranked Oregon State, GHWB was following every step of the way. When it was over, he sent word and invited them to visit him in Kennebunkport. My son (who was in TJ rehab at the time) had already raced to get on a train home to start an internship (which he was already late for). We were so torn; he did not turn around and go. Like a lot of things in life, he will probably regret it. I remember him reading Coach Stuper's email about it to the team: "Guys...this is NOT A JOKE. REPEAT, NOT A JOKE. President Bush wants the team to visit him at his home." They had a good turnout but many players had conflicts or had already departed New Haven. Gotta run but will try to post the team photo taken with him later.
Wow - what a story, bucsfan! One of the unique perks of Ivy baseball - the people who run the world sometime read your boxscore too!
Here are a few news clips that recently aired on his Yale baseball career! (And Barbara was their scorekeeper). Great job, captain Simon.
https://www.wtnh.com/news/pres...-s-legacy/1636722415
BucsFan posted:Two years ago, when Yale had its best season ever, beat Nebraska in a Regional and ultimately lost to then #1 ranked Oregon State, GHWB was following every step of the way. When it was over, he sent word and invited them to visit him in Kennebunkport. My son (who was in TJ rehab at the time) had already raced to get on a train home to start an internship (which he was already late for). We were so torn; he did not turn around and go. Like a lot of things in life, he will probably regret it. I remember him reading Coach Stuper's email about it to the team: "Guys...this is NOT A JOKE. REPEAT, NOT A JOKE. President Bush wants the team to visit him at his home." They had a good turnout but many players had conflicts or had already departed New Haven. Gotta run but will try to post the team photo taken with him later.
Here is the photo...btw, Simon Whiteman, current Yale Captain and son of HSBBW's very own "Ripken Fan", is in the very back, directly behind President Bush and under the chimney. He is wearing a tie but no jacket. Congratulations, again, to him on the well deserved honor.
Thanks for posting Bucs Fan. I thought about it as well, as President HW Bush was very involved in baseball and kept tabs on how Yale was doing. Something told me he sent his son Marvin to the Yale talegate to the UVA series last year-- just as friendly as #41. President Bush kept his first baseman's mitt in a drawer of the oval office. Such a classy decent individual. I was fortunate to be in the same room with both he and Barbara at the Presidential Library at Texas A & M. Though it seemed unlikely at the time, they both dropped in along with a few dogs. With a former President in attendance, what an amazing 2nd game in my son's college career. The game started with a team photo near home plate, with my son right behind the GHWB's left shoulder. Great memories to cherish for sure.
I worked at a golf course on the south side of Maui back in the mid-nineties and President Bush was staying at the resort with his wife. They both came up to the course for a guided tour (not sure why he didn't play) as it is/was probably the most scenic on the island. Both GHWB and Barbara shook hands with all the staff and took pictures. One still likely hangs on a pro-shop wall. He also insisted that 2 of his SS guys got to play 9 holes and I was fortunate enough to be the one selected to play with them. Both of them were great guys and gave me a SS challenge coin when we finished. I got to meet a bunch of famous people while working there and none were nicer than the President and his wife (and his SS guys). Very cordial, classy down to earth people. Was certainly the highlight of my time there....You'll be missed 41!!!
What a terrific thread!
His long and varied service to our nation was a blessing.
