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CNN Live Sunday

President Returns to Washington for Second T-Ball Event

Aired June 03, 2001 - 16:12   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush is returning to the White House any minute now, just in time for the second T-ball game in his backyard. The game kicks off in less than an hour, and CNN's Major Garrett already has his spot picked out on the White House lawn. Hi, Major.

MAJOR GARRETT, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, a familiar spot here in the peanut gallery, if you will, Donna. A dream come true for two teams of youngsters playing T-ball, to play on the South Lawn, to have the president of the United States and the first lady in the grandstands.

But there's also something a bit special about today's game. Three Major League Hall of Famers will also be in the grandstands. I'm with one of them right now, St. Louis Cardinal great and one of the greatest base-stealers in the history of Major League Baseball, Lou Brock.

Lou, thanks so much for joining us here on CNN. Why are you here, and what do you think is so special about T-ball on the South Lawn?

LOU BROCK, FRM. ST. LOUIS CARDINAL: Well, I think T-ball in itself is a signature of the president, and his passion. And a passion has no logic, so there's no logic as to why he's here, but he's here. I think it's his and his signature, and we as players, particularly as Hall of Fame players, has come in to make that signature more profound.

GARRETT: When it was announced, the White House said one of the things the president wanted do help with T-ball was help to keep the game vital, revitalize it in a sense. Do you think this does that?

BROCK: Well, I think baseball is background music to America. You can very well be doing what you're doing on a daily basis and yet know what's going on baseball. I think when they now think of baseball, you hear it on street. They may not know anything about politics, but they recognize the fact that T-ball is at the White House.

GARRETT: What about the idea that it's boys and girls playing a game that's not really competitive baseball; it's putting a ball on a tee, hitting it, running. No one scores, no one keeps count. What does that mean about playing baseball? BROCK: It mean they hit the ball. T-ball, that's what it is. It gives me the opportunity and the confidence that I can swing and hit a ball without being embarrassed about the fact that I missed the ball. So, I think T-ball allows, in particular kids, the confidence to hit the ball. I think they in themselves, it's not about whether I hit the ball or not, it's about whether or not I'm out there with the president.

GARRETT: Now, you were one of the greatest clutch hitters in the World Series in your career. Do you think at age eight, if you had been on South Lawn of the White House, you would have felt a little bit too much pressure, would have clutched up a little bit?

BROCK: I might have clutched up a little bit, but I would have went back home in the neighborhood and bragged about it for the next 10 years. So, I think you also have bragging rights in this game as well.

GARRETT: Bragging rights for the kids, a moment for Americana, do you think, baseball in the White House?

BROCK: Yes, I think this is something new and different, and when you look at the Hall of Famers who can add spice to this, not only Hall of Famers, you can bring in the current-day players as well. You're not only giving kids a chance to dream about it, but you give them a chance to touch it, and this is what this T-ball does.

GARRETT: A chance to dream about it, a chance to touch it, here at the South Lawn of the White House.

Donna, back to you.

All right, Major Garrett, thanks.

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