Former President George W. Bush recently shared a lighthearted moment from his memory with New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. This took place just weeks after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, as Bush prepared to throw a ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium.

Speaking during an event at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, with his former national security advisor, Condoleezza Rice, Bush recounted the story. During the October 2001 World Series, as he faced the pressure of leading the nation through challenging times, Jeter advised Bush, “Don’t bounce it, they’ll boo you.” This moment of levity resonated with the audience.

Bush described walking to the center field mound, surrounded by the intense emotions inside the NYC stadium. He said he imagined the crowd felt unyielding resolve, thinking, “You can knock down our buildings, but you sure not going to touch our soul.”

“I looked at the catcher, he looked really tiny, and the ball felt really heavy,” Bush recalled.

With the crowd watching, Bush successfully threw the pitch, which made it over the plate. He reflected on the experience, calling it a “memorable” moment, describing the amazing feeling it gave him.

As the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approaches, Bush’s anecdote serves as a reminder of the resilience shown during that time. The coordinated attacks by al-Qaeda involved hijacking four commercial airplanes, leading to the loss of nearly 3,000 lives, including many firefighters and police officers. Two planes hit New York City’s Twin Towers, another hit the Pentagon, and the fourth crashed in Pennsylvania.