With a Washington Presidential Opener on many minds today, did you know that back in October of 2004, when the hotly contested Presidential Election featuring then President George W. Bush and Massachusetts' Senator John Kerry was in full swing--The 43rd President Of The United States visited Space Coast Stadium for a rally in Central Florida? President Bush's visit came less than four months before Our Washington Nationals began their very first training camp ever in Viera, Florida.
Of course, five months later, President Bush would also throw out The First Presidential Pitch in Washington, D.C. in over 33 years on April 14, 2005.
But on October 23rd, 2004, The President Of The United States was in Viera, Florida. What's interesting to observe in the campaign pictures is how barren the landscape was surrounding Space Coast Stadium nearly five and one half years ago. The vacant lot on the horizon in the pictures of Marine One landing in centerfield is now a rather large housing development with a golf course. In fact, a new Viera Hospital is about to open near there as well.
And notice how the ballpark is mostly teal in trim color--thanks to the fact Space Coast Stadium was originally the spring training home for The Florida Marlins.
Here a link to the video on C-SPAN from October 23rd, 2004.
Our Washington Nationals and The Houston Astros have to be on the short list of Major League Teams whose complete facilities have been visited by a President Of The United States. President Bush's Father--George Herbert Walker Bush (Bush 41) has taken in games at The Astrodome & Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas & Oscela County Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida for his beloved Houston Astros. Interestingly, President George W. Bush has been to all of Washington's homes: RFK Stadium, Nationals Park and Space Coast Stadium.
President Obama makes his first official appearance ever at any Nationals Game or Ballpark on Monday, April 5th, 2010.
Many thanks to Nationals Fan Aaron for providing the link and the campaign pictures for this post.
President Bush 2005 First Pitch at RFK Stadium--Reuters
I'm glad Bush visited, but I suspect he came to root for the Astros, which are now his home town team rather than the Nationals.
ReplyDeleteEddie: George W. Bush showed up at Space Coast Stadium for a Presidential Campaign Stop. He did not attend a baseball game there in 2004.
ReplyDeleteActually the Rangers are GW Bush's home team, not the Astros. W lives in Dallas now. His father GHW Bush is the one who lives in Houston and is the Astros fan.
ReplyDeleteW was also at the first Nats game I ever attended (June 24, 2005 vs the Blue Jays) but I didn't even know it until I got home and saw it on the 11:00 news. He just came as a fan and sat in the owner's box with Bowden.
TBC, please read the post again. There is no mention of George W. Bush and the Houston Astros being his team at all, just his father.
ReplyDeleteSBF, I was not responding to your post, but rather to the first comment that said Bush was an Astros fan. I assumed he was talking about W there.
ReplyDelete