When George W. Bush was warming up in the tunnel underneath Yankee Stadium to throw out the first pitch before Game 3 of the World Series in 2001, his nerves were getting the best of him.

Bush, an avid Baseball fan and player who once owned the Texas Rangers, I'm certain, was more nervous about this act than anything else up to this point in his life – this wasn't an ordinary first pitch! He was merely trying to unite the world after 9/11.

Derek Jeter approached Bush and gave him the advice he needed, "throw the pitch from the mound, not in front of it, and warned him, "Don't bounce it, they'll boo you ." Bush delivered a strike, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Don't Bounce It

As I watched a local celebrity throw out the ceremonial first pitch in a game recently, and I yelled, "Don't bounce it" (that act has become reflexive for me), I wondered if anyone had ever bounced the first pitch and then asked for a redo. Hello, internet wormhole.

There are many examples of horrible first-pitch moments that have entered our collective memories. When you read the words "throwing out the first pitch," I'm sure you immediately conjure up an image of some entertainment star throwing a horrible first pitch, getting gently booed, and then walking off the stage as quickly as possible. 

Who can forget those funny moments? Curtis Jackson, aka Fifty Cent, is my favorite.

The only case of a first pitch redo I could find was Luis Tiant, Sr., throwing out the first pitch in 1975 in Boston at Fenway Park against the Angels. From the AP story about the pitch, "Luis Sr. threw an initial pitch that he wasn't happy with, then, after calling for the ball back, he threw a strike right down the middle, which was well-received by the crowd."

That moment on the mound at Fenway Park capped a remarkable reunion for the Tiant family in 1975. Luis Tiant, Jr, "El Tiante," was finally reunited with his parents after a long estrangement that required some heavy lifting by the State Department and a U.S. Senator (here's a great read about the reunion).

After that, I got lost in the Luis Tiant's Career, especially his heroic efforts in the 1975 postseason. 

While the regular season wasn't anything to remember, El Tiante endeared himself to the Red Sox faithful and his teammates for his tenacity, humor, and grind during the postseason. Without El Tiante in 1975, the Red Sox would have been toast in the postseason.

Look at his postseason stats:

Game One in the AL Championship Series against the three-time defending World Series Champion Oakland Athletics:

• Boston starter Luis Tiant allowed just one run on three hits to defeat the A's, 7–1, in the ALCS opener. Tiant struck out eight and walked three in a complete game effort, retiring the side in order in four innings. 156 pitches.

The World Series against Cincinnati's Big Red Machine:

• Game one: a complete game. Tiant led off with a single and later scored Boston's first run on a single by Carl Yastrzemski. Tiant finished with a five-hitter against a team that had scored an MLB-high 840 runs during the regular season. Watch Tiant's at-bat that fueled the victory. To see a pitcher in a warm-up jacket running bases – he scored on a sac fly – is pure joy. 
  
  
• Game two: complete game. With the Reds leading the series 2–1, Luis Tiant pitched his second complete-game win of the Series. 173 pitches. Plus, he singled and scored!
• Game six: seven innings pitched, no decision. A 12-inning classic topped off with Carlton Fisks' foul poul game-ending moon shot.

El Tiante por Siempre

I created this custom brush type as an homage to El Tiante, the Fred Astaire of Baseball. Tiante is forever linked to the Boston Red Sox and that magical 1975 postseason — the cheers of "Lou-ee, Lou-ee, Lou-ee" echo at Fenway Park today. El Tiante would be the first one admitted if there was a Hall-of-Fame for guts. Rest in peace. El Tiante Forever!

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"You can talk about anybody else on that team (1975 Boston Red Sox) you want to, but when the chips are on the line, Luis Tiant is the greatest competitor I've ever seen." 

Jim Palmer, Hall of Fame Pitcher