Baseball players are competitive people, and they don’t always like each other, but the tragedy at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Thursday night certainly showed their unity as ballplayers.
The terrible incident occurred in Texas, when outfielder Josh Hamilton flipped a ball to a fan in the front row. The man, identified as Shannon Stone, reached for the ball but fell over the railing. He fell roughly 20 feet, was conscious after hitting the ground but died on his way to the hospital.
MLB players heard about the situation after their games, and most of them took to Twitter to express their sympathy — both for the family of the man and for Hamilton.
Brad Ziegler (@bradziegler): “Hurting for the family of the man who passed away at our game tonight…words can’t express the sorrow I feel inside…praying for them…”
Darren O’Day (@DODay56): “Please keep the Stone family in your thoughts and prayers after the terrible accident at the ballpark tonight.”
David Aardsma (@TheDA53): “My heart goes out to Josh and the fam of the fan. Such a tragedy”
Shawn Kelley (@shawnkelly23): “my heart goes out the #texasfan”
Logan Morrison (@LoMoMarlins): “Very sad story. Thoughts & prayers 2 the Hickey family”
Michael Cuddyer (@mcuddy5): “I feel horrible for everyone!”
Matt LaPorta (@Gator4God): “I am sorry to hear what happened in Texas tonight. Our prayers are with the family.”
Justin De Fratus (@JustinDeFratus): “Unfortunate accident in Texas tonight. Thoughts & prayers go out to the family as well as Josh Hamilton. It could’ve happened to anybody”
Photo of the day
Leave your messages of sympathy in the comments section below.
Quote of the day
“RIP Dick Williams great baseball man my first manager in big league camp yuma arizona.”
–White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, via Twitter, paying respects to Dick Williams
Tweet of the day
Maybe Buck Showalter regrets those comments he made about the Red Sox in spring training, but even if he didn’t, he was probably in shock on Thursday night as the Sox went yard six times.
 Video of the day
Justin Timberlake hosted the ESPYs a few years ago, and it was pretty hilarious. Looks like he’s jumping back into the sports world again this year.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHzb-44jwuM&w=640&h=390]
