Sports

Outfielder Recalls Accident That Killed Fan, Says He Could Hear Boy Screaming

Outfielder Recalls Accident That Killed Fan, Says He Could Hear Boy Screaming

The Texas Rangers' Josh Hamilton, wearing a black ribbon on Friday for fan Shannon Stone, who died after he fell from the stands during Thursday's game. (John F. Rhodes/Associated Press)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Josh Hamilton could hear 6-year-old Cooper Stone screaming for his dad, who tumbled over an outfield railing and fell 20 feet onto the concrete.

“In my mind, it happened in slow motion,” Hamilton said Friday, a day after the fatal accident. “I threw the ball and saw him go for it and saw him just tip right over the edge there. When it happened, it was just disbelief.”

Firefighter Shannon Stone, who only minutes earlier had called out to Hamilton for a foul ball, fell headfirst after reaching out to catch one tossed his way by the Texas Rangers outfielder during the second inning. Stone died about an hour later.

“It’s just hard for me, hearing that little boy screaming for his daddy. … That’s one of the main things I remember,” Hamilton said. “It’s definitely on my mind and in my heart. I can’t stop from praying enough for them.”

Hamilton said he is relying on his Christian faith, just as he has during an inspiring comeback from cocaine and alcohol addictions that almost kept him from ever playing in the major leagues.

The reigning AL MVP, whose major league debut in 2007 came almost eight years after he was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick, was selected by fans to start his fourth consecutive All-Star game next week.

Hamilton started the second game of Texas’ series against Oakland on Friday night, and hit a foul ball in the sixth inning that struck a man sitting about five rows behind the third-base dugout. The fan smiled as he held a compress against his forehead and walked away with stadium personnel to get further attention.

Rangers manager Ron Washington offered the slugger the day off, but Hamilton wanted to play.

“You pray, and you just understand that there’s nothing that you can do to change it now,” Hamilton said. “We live in a fallen world and things you try to do good, try to make people happy or put a little joy in their day, something can go wrong. You just trust God.”

After Hamilton picked up another foul ball earlier in the second inning Thursday night and tossed it to a ball girl, he heard someone in the stands call out, “Hey, Hamilton, how about the next one.”

When the left fielder turned around, he saw Stone and the boy whose favorite player is Hamilton.

“I just gave him a nod, and I got the next one and threw it in that direction,” Hamilton said. “When I glanced up there, the first person I saw was the dad and the boy. And it looked like somebody who would love to have a baseball.”

That next one came when Oakland’s Conor Jackson hit a ball that ricocheted into the outfield.

Hamilton tossed it up, and Stone tumbled over the railing, landing in an area out of sight from the field behind the 14-foot-high outfield wall.

“Nobody’s at fault at all. Nobody should feel responsibility. Not anybody,” Athletics manager Bob Melvin said.

“Hopefully Hamilton is fine … hopefully his teammates and family and everybody help him,” Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said. “It’s not his fault. Hopefully we try to forget this day, but it’s going to be very tough to forget.”

When Hamilton returned to left field after the Rangers batted in the second, he went over to the fence and asked how the man was. Hamilton was told Stone had hurt his arms and his head but was talking and asking about his son.

“Immediately, I thought he was going to be OK,” Hamilton said. “But then found after the game that he had passed on. It’s just a shock. … It’s just a freak accident, so it’s pretty surreal. It brings things into perspective, how quickly lives can change, in a blink of an eye and very unexpectedly.”

Hamilton said he planned to reach out to the Stone family.

After getting home Thursday night, Hamilton said his wife and his kids stayed up with him for a while, talking to him and encouraging him.

Although Hamilton still expects to toss balls to fans in the stands, the tragic incident will make him think every time he tosses that ball now.

“You do it so many times, you just don’t think about it,” he said. “That‘s what the game’s all about. Fans come, they pay to see you play, they want to have a good experience at the ballpark and with player interaction, that’s part of the good experience. … You’ll look carefully at where the fans are, how high they are up, what’s the railing like. All these things will come into play now.”

Comments (42)

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  • moonpeace
    Posted on July 10, 2011 at 12:52pm

    I can’t believe someone sent a link to their online store, hoping to make a profit off this story.

    Report Post » moonpeace  
  • ThoreauHD
    Posted on July 10, 2011 at 11:53am

    Laces out!

    Report Post » ThoreauHD  
  • Charles
    Posted on July 10, 2011 at 10:29am

    Horrible accident.

    Report Post »  
  • Crazy Times
    Posted on July 10, 2011 at 7:31am

    This is a sad story, but think of Hamilton and how his life is involved in this. If it was any other baseball player who was out their and the same situation happend to him, it would of been any other story of a freak accident. But with Hamilton’s life experience and him changing his life, his story on how one person‘s faith can help overcome life’s tragedies was catapulted into the mainstream media.
    I dont know if Hamilton shared his life story so much prior to this event, but people who do not follow him (like me) surely know of his inspiring story now…

    Something good out of tragedy…

    Report Post » Crazy Times  
  • SIXFRIGATES
    Posted on July 10, 2011 at 12:41am

    Mr. Hamlin.. This is in no way your fault. However, this is an opportunity to make the boy‘s life better than his father could’ve ever imagined or wanted for his son. We all pray for you as well.

    Report Post » SIXFRIGATES  
  • LB
    Posted on July 10, 2011 at 12:21am

    Gods plan sometimes makes no sense, but the ball player needs to listen for the message

    Report Post » LB  
  • boone b
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 8:22pm

    sad but did he catch the ball ?

    Report Post »  
  • Totally Domestic
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:53pm

    So glad that Mr. Hamilton is going to reach out to the Stone family.
    He is the little boys favorite player.
    He will be a great help and comfort to little Cooper &
    a role model. Breaks my heart, but God will fill the void with his love
    and the love of others.

    Report Post »  
  • duckman1911
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:37pm

    When I’m called to duty,God,whenever flames may rage; give me strenght to save a life whatever be its age…
    Help me embrace a child before it is too late or save an older person from the horror of that fate..
    Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout, and quickly and efficiently to put the fire out..
    I want to feel my calling and to give the best in me, to guard my every neighbor and protect his property..
    And if,according to my fate,I am to give my life..
    Please bless with your protecting hand my children and my life..

    God Bless the Brotherhood!!!!

    Report Post » duckman1911  
  • clingingtogodandguns
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:26pm

    If you have a 20 ft. drop off then you need a larger railing.Id doesn’t really block their view.I feel for the family,and prey for them.Just fix the problem. Their has been several problems like this.

    Report Post »  
  • football lady
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:20pm

    This tragic accident certainly reminds us we all should live each day to the fullest. Prayers to the family and for Josh too. God bless you, Josh. Your home state is so proud of you for so many reasons.

    Report Post »  
  • PeachyinGA
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:12pm

    This whole event breaks my heart. A firefighter loses his life. A young son loses his father and wife loses her husband. And Mr.Hamilton is left with a haunting memory of tossing the ball to an excited dad who tumbled over the railing and lost his life. Terribly tragic all around. God Bless you Mr. Hamilton. You havebeen put on this earth for a reason and your path has not been easy.

    Report Post » PeachyinGA  
  • thegrassroots
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:08pm

    God Have Mercy On All Involved! Fill them all with Your Strength and Your Peace that passes all understanding. Keep Josh knowing that it wasn’t his fault. In Jesus Name!

    Report Post »  
  • bosbes
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 5:51pm

    Sad beyond words.

    Report Post »  
  • South Philly Boy
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 5:18pm

    Very Sad

    Report Post » South Philly Boy  
  • Mil-Dot
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:55pm

    Josh,
    It is not your fault. You were being kind and throwing the ball so the guy could give it to his kid. You are a good man. Don’t knock yourself. Stuff like this happens. When the man calls your number, you gotta go up. You know this. Everything happens according to a schedule.

    Report Post »  
  • Florida_Freedom_Fighter
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:35pm

    I feel bad for the family, the boy, and Josh.

    Report Post » Florida_Freedom_Fighter  
  • hauschild
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:24pm

    Free will. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

    Report Post »  
  • P4cooler
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:23pm

    I hope this kid can have strength and love from somewhere. This was a dark horrific event. Accident of course but Lord…..this is a tough one.

    Report Post » P4cooler  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:19pm

    Our GOD is a HOLY GOD. HIS ways are not our ways and very often we are left in situations like this knowing only that GOD IS ABLE to keep Josh Hamilton, and little Corrie and his mom in HIS big, loving arms. This is a rough, hard and very sad road. We all should /could be in prayer for everyone involved, praying GOD’S protection and love around them all. We especially pray for Josh’s continued sobriety and deepening faith, the witness he and his family and the Rangers can be and are, and for Corrie and his mom and their family as they cry and suffer and one day, heal.

    May GOD shed HIS GRACE on each and everyone involved.

    Report Post »  
    • riverwomansdaughter
      Posted on July 11, 2011 at 2:25am

      Amen.

      Report Post »  
    • Goldline_scam
      Posted on July 11, 2011 at 6:32am

      Yeah, the sky-fairy has a grand plan that included this idiot killing himself trying to catch a baseball. What is wrong with you? And all the rest of you religious kooks that continue to believe in such nonsense? This guy was an idiot, plain an simple – and his passing will now improve the gene pool. Evolution in action.

      I can’t help but just feel sorry for so many ignorant and deluded individuals. Grow up, already.

      Goldline_scam  
  • AynRandLives
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:17pm

    Memorial Fund in Honor of Shannon Stone:
    https://secure.mlb.com/tex/community/shannon_stone_fund.jsp

    Report Post » AynRandLives  
  • supertas
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:11pm

    Accidents do happen. Sad for the family, sad for the player. Nice of the Rangers to step up. You knew it would happen with Nolan Ryan running things.

    Report Post »  
  • tersky
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:09pm

    Oh man, this is so sad. I’d rather be in the place of the dead guy than Hamilton. No matter how many times he’s told, no matter how logically he can look at it, he’s still gonna feel like this is his fault. So sad. I hope the little boy can get through this too. Sad. Sad. Sad.

    Report Post »  
  • grandmaof5
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:59pm

    Hamilton is a compassionate man and God will get him through this, along with his teammates and family. Just a very, very tragic accident.

    Report Post »  
    • sissykatz
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:15pm

      This was so sad it is hard to even think about. Just a simple night out at the ball game. Life can truly change
      in an instance.I will pray for the player and the man and his precious little boy.

      Report Post »  
    • grandmaof5
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:39pm

      Afternoon, SISSYKATZ, long time no chat. Hope all is well w/ you and yours. Losing an old cat to a cancerous tumor in her mouth; have tried to baby her along but think this weekend will be her last as I will have her put down next week – she’s 17. Hope all your kitties are fine.

      Report Post »  
  • AmericanLass
    Posted on July 9, 2011 at 3:55pm

    This is so sad for all parties concerned. Our prayers go out to the family of the firefighter and to the entire team of players.

    Report Post » AmericanLass  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 4:09pm

      You don’t think sometimes, in a case like this, that it also effects the ball player. Sad for everyone involved. Gotta be a tough load to bear knowing he threw the ball.

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • Stuck_in_CA
      Posted on July 9, 2011 at 6:33pm

      Josh Hamilton needs our prayers — big time. The Stone family’s loss is horrific. Please Lord, comfort and strengthen these hurting people. Take the guilt from Josh’s heart. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!

      Report Post » Stuck_in_CA  
    • tckid17
      Posted on July 10, 2011 at 2:34am

      my thoughts and prayers go out to Hamilton, Texas Rangers, and the fans’ family.

      Report Post »  
    • Professional Infidel
      Posted on July 10, 2011 at 8:55am

      Tough, no good deed etc..it was a loving jester for the fan. I look at is as “Struck by lighting”

      Report Post »  
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