Baseball Legend Dies at 94 yrs. Old

Baseball legend George H.W. Bush, also known as the 41st President of the United States, passed away late Friday in his Houston home at 94 years of age. His health had been declining for several years and he has battled Parkinson’s disease. He served as President of the United States from 1989 to 1993, and was also the father of the 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush.

George H.W. Bush accomplished many great things during his lifetime, but one of the lesser known things about him is the fact he was a stellar baseball player and played in the very first two College World Series’ with the Yale University baseball team in 1947 and 1948. After beating a Fordham team that included legendary Dodgers announcer Vin Scully in 1947, Bush’s Yale team fell to the University of California in the College World Series, then held in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The following year, Bush was elected captain of the baseball team, and the team battled back to appear in the College World Series once again. This time they would lose to the University of Southern California.

It is widely held that the elder Bush is one of the best athletes to ever serve as U.S. President. Primarily playing first base in college, he was known for his excellent fielding skills, posting ridiculously-good .976 and .992 fielding percentages in 1947 and 1948. Not as much known for his hitting ability, he wasn’t a slouch either. He once hit for the cycle against the University of North Carolina. Former University of Southern California coach Rod Dedeaux claimed he would put Bush on his all-time opponent team because he was such a good player against his USC Trojans.

President Bush was a great American and will be missed. He was a naval aviator and flew combat missions during World War II, served as a U.S. Representative of Texas, United Nations ambassador, CIA Director, U.S. Vice President, U.S. President, helped bring an end to the Cold War, and started Operation Desert Storm. He did so much to help his country and none of it should go unappreciated. Here at The Chief, we just want to take the time to say, “Thank You, Mr. President.”

Garett