Dingers, D-Backs and Dubya: an unlikely World Series begins in Texas

The Fall Classic that no one expected began on Friday with a presidential cameo, a walk-off home run in extra innings and first blood to the Rangers. But don't count Arizona out just yet

With one of the most conservative fanbases in Major League Baseball, there could only be one choice to throw out the ceremonial first pitch as the Texas Rangers returned to the World Series for the first time since 2011.

The toss from the Dallas librarian and former Rangers co-owner was so low that not even a hall-of-famer, former catcher Ivan Pudge' Rodriguez, could grab it before it scuffed the dirt.