George W. Bush throws out first pitch in Japan

The Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 9:39 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 9:39 a.m.

TOKYO - Former President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch Tuesday before Game 3 of the Japan Series between the Yomiuri Giants and Nippon Ham Fighters.

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Former President George W. Bush, center, reacts as U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, left, and former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi smile after Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the start of Game 3 of the Japan Series baseball between the Yomiuri Giants and the Nippon Ham Fighters at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)

Bush, wearing a Yomiuri warmup jacket, took the mound at Tokyo Dome and threw a pitch to Giants catcher Shinnosuke Abe that bounced once in the dirt before being caught.

Bush chatted briefly with several players after walking off the field and watched the game in a private box with former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Also in the box were Japanese home run king Sadaharu Oh and U.S. Ambassador John Roos.

The Giants won the game 7-4 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, Japan's version of the World Series.

Dozens of demonstrators marched outside the stadium protesting the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq that were launched by the Bush administration in 2001 and 2003, respectively. They carried signs saying, "Arrest Bush," "The King of War," and "Bush Go to Jail."

One demonstrator threw his shoes at a photo of the former president, mimicking Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi, who launched his own footwear at Bush at a Baghdad news conference last December.