How George H.W. Bush learned very quickly that the Queen wasn't a baseball fan: New book reveals her graceful reaction during visit to a dull Orioles game that lasted two innings

President George W. Bush took Queen Elizabeth to her first ever baseball game in 1991 - and the excursion only lasted two innings. 

A new book, penned by the late Bush's longtime chief of staff Jean Becker, sheds light on the exact moment the then-president realized the Queen wasn't enthralled by the game.

But her reaction was full of grace. 

In Becker's book, Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H. W. Bush, she features a number of political heavy hitters including President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Vice President Dan Quayle, as well as family members and White House staff. 

Dorrance Smith, a member of Bush 41's White House staff, recalled the president telling her he had an idea. 

'We should take the Queen to an Orioles baseball game! It's our national pastime, and I want to take her to Camden Yards,' she remembered Bush telling her. 

President George H.W. Bush (second from right) extends his arms to the crowd at a Baltimore Orioles game he took Queen Elizabeth (center right) and Prince Philip (center left) to during a state visit alongside first lady Barbara Bush (right) on May 15, 1991 

Former White House aide Dorrance Smith said the game was so dull that President George H.W. Bush (left) was left 'explaining innings with no runs, or a bloop single, or double plays' to Queen Elizabeth (right) during her short visit to Memorial Stadium in Baltimore 

Smith said that she knew from past experiences that an 'idea' was actually a direct order.

'Great idea, sir, let's do it,' Smith said.  

The state visit was planned for May 15 and the Queen was carried to Baltimore on the presidential helicopter, Marine One. 

Jean Becker's new book Character Matters and Other Life Lessons from George H.W. Bush is on bookshelves now 

The 13347311 Orioles were playing the Oakland Athletics in the game. 

At the time Baltimore was the closest place to see a Major League Baseball game. 

Washington, D.C. didn't have its own team - and wouldn't again until 2005, when the Montreal Expos moved and became the current team, the Washington Nationals.

The president and first lady Barbara Bush along with Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip were given the owner's box, meaning they had a front row seat to the game. 

'Problem was, well, there was very little action, which left the President in the role of explaining innings with no runs, or a bloop single, or double plays,' Smith wrote. 'There were no grand slams for the Grande Dame. Our national pastime was proving to be our own sticky wicket - a tricky or awkward situation. Patience was indeed building character!'

The Queen noticed the Orioles third-base coach 'bandy-legged' Cal Ripken, Sr., Smith described. 

He was pacing back and forth in front of the British monarch.

'She asked the president, "What does that gentleman do?"' Gamely the president said that his job was to either stop the runner on third base or signal him to continue on to home base and score a run,' Smith said. 

Queen Elizabeth (right) asked President George H.W. Bush (left) what Cal Ripken, Sr., the Orioles' third base coach did, and when Bush explained he had to tell the runner whether to stay put or go to home plate she responded, 'Do you mean to tell me that is his entire lot in life?'

Members of the Baltimore Orioles baseball team meet Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and President George W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush during a May 1991 visit to Memorial Stadium, the predecessor to Camden Yards 

Queen Elizabeth also greeted members of the opposing team, the Oakland Athletics, who eventually won the game against the Orioles, but by that time her majesty was long gone 

Prince Philip (from left), first lady Barbara Bush, Queen Elizabeth and President George H.W. Bush pose for a photo at the State Dinner that was a part of the monarch's visit to the White House in May 1991 

President George H.W. Bush (right) and Queen Elizabeth (left) pose for photos on the White House's South Lawn during the Queen's 1991 state visit to Washington, D.C. 

'She said curtly, "Do you mean to tell me that is his entire lot in life?"' the White House aide recalled. 

With that, Bush signaled to Smith that it was time to go. 

The president 'turned, pointed at me, and twirled his index finger, the signal to start up Marine One.' 

With that, they headed back to the White House South Lawn.  

'What did I learn from this presidential misadventure? Maybe even when you are the most powerful person in the world, ideas don't always work out,' Smith wrote. 

Ripken's son, Orioles shortstop Cal Ripken Jr., remembered the outing more fondly after the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022. 

'That was such a memorable visit to Baltimore and brought so much excitement to our city and our team,' Ripken Jr. said in a statement. 'I had the opportunity to meet her briefly and she was extremely friendly and engaging.'

'Baseball provided me with many special experiences and that was certainly one of them,' he added.  

Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H. W. Bush is on bookshelves now.