With Major League Baseball players enjoying their All-Star break, President Bush had no trouble drawing them to the White House on Wednesday for some T-ball and dinner.
The Braves’ John Smoltz and the Orioles’ Kevin Millar coached T-ball on the South Lawn in the late afternoon, along with former Dodger Rick Monday and Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg (pictured). Rounding out the all-star cast were former Nationals manager and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, who served as commissioner; ESPN’s Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg, who announced the two games among kids from all 50 states; and country crooner Kenny Chesney, who sang the national anthem.
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Chesney, who stayed at the nearby Willard Hotel, was back again at night, performing at the president’s (nearly) annual baseball dinner in the Rose Garden. In addition to the T-ball crowd, the president welcomed Oriole great Brooks Robinson, Reds Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, the one and only Cal Ripken, Tigers manager Jim Leyland, Mets closer Billy Wagner, ESPN’s Peter Gammons and Tim Kurkjian, and former White House spokesguy Ari Fleischer, who happens to be a big baseball fan.
When Chesney finished, the president took the mic and said, “It doesn’t get much better than this — country music in the Rose Garden and celebrating baseball.”
