Cooper Stone’s Ceremonial First Pitch to Josh Hamilton Was Phenomenal

Cooper Stone is the 6-year-old son of the late Shannon Stone, the firefighter who tragically fell to his death at a Rangers game this past July. Before yesterday’s playoff opener in Arlington, in an incredibly touching moment, Cooper threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Josh Hamilton. If you don’t get a little choked up — or a lot choked up — watching this video, your heart is probably darker than Paul Bearer’s.

Hats off to the Rangers for the thoughtful idea and an even bigger salute to the Stone family for agreeing to do so in what must have been an indescribable, emotionally draining moment.

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9 Responses to “Cooper Stone’s Ceremonial First Pitch to Josh Hamilton Was Phenomenal”

Wide Word of Sport (?) Says:
October 1st, 2011 at 1:22 PM

I like where they didn’t mention anything about his father right then. No need to force that right then. Nice moment

/goes back to twitter meltdown about the Red Sox management

Wide Word of Sport (?) Says:
October 1st, 2011 at 1:24 PM

And I’m guessing that sunny or cloudy or raining, those sunglasses were staying on the mom’s face. That looked like it took every ounce of energy she had.

jekyll Says:
October 1st, 2011 at 1:47 PM

Cooper Stone’s Ceremonial First Pitch to Josh Hamilton Was Phenomenal

Really? I thought it seemed really forced and odd. I think it’s great that the kid has an open invitation to hang around the ballpark, and if the team takes him under their collective wing, great. But erecting a statue and making the kid the guest of honor seems exploitative and gross.

jekyll Says:
October 1st, 2011 at 1:51 PM

an even bigger salute to the Stone family for agreeing to do so

And that sums it up. None of this public show is for the Stones’ benefit, it’s for the benefit of everyone else who wants to feel better about what happened.

Tim Ryan (TheSportsHernia) Says:
October 1st, 2011 at 1:56 PM

Soothing take Jekyll.

TexansFan Says:
October 1st, 2011 at 4:05 PM

What an asshole. The Rangers didnt tell the family to get fucked or anything. They didnt pass off responsibility for the fall to his father and lawyer up

Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez has the highest WAR evah! Says:
October 1st, 2011 at 4:43 PM

And that sums it up. None of this public show is for the Stones’ benefit, it’s for the benefit of everyone else who wants to feel better about what happened.

oh, do tell. Who are the people who are looking to feel better about a guy falling to his death in a stadium in front of his little boy? Does Josh Hamilton say “now that the kid has thrown out the pitch, that’s a load off my back”!

heldover Says:
October 1st, 2011 at 5:56 PM

It was right of the Rangers to ask, and even more gracious that the family accepted. This doesn’t put a bow tie on things and I hope the Rangers do what they can for the family.

Nice vid.

Guess this take makes me Mr. Hyde then…so be it.

Bob Chipeska Says:
October 1st, 2011 at 6:03 PM

It was right of the Rangers to ask, and even more gracious that the family accepted. This doesn’t put a bow tie on things and I hope the Rangers do what they can for the family.
Nice vid.
Guess this take makes me Mr. Hyde then…so be it.

totally agree. It seems like everyone is trying to do the best they can with this situation right now