Exh: July 26, 1999 (W: 11-8)
[ Previous Game | Next Game ]
[ Schedule Menu | Main Page ]

Game Commentary
Game Recap
Game Photos
Box/Line Score
Game Log

TX Rangers Media Notes
TX Rangers Post Game Quotes
TX Rangers Post Game Notes
Minor League Daily Report


Commentary (by me)

Well, this game wasn't broadcast anywhere, so it's hard to do commentary on it.  :)   Nice to see a bunch of home runs, and from the pictures below, it's wild to see the old uniforms again, especially on people that weren't here before when the Rangers wore them last. 

And Gregg Zaun pulling a Babe Ruth - that was quite amusing.  There's a pretty cute article about this here.

Game Recap

COOPERSTOWN, NEW YORK (TICKER) -- Playing on the field adjacent to where baseball's greatest are enshrined, it seemed all too fitting that Gregg Zaun pulled off an impressive imitation of a tale involving the sport's most legendary player.

Zaun called his shot today, achieving the same feat attributed to Babe Ruth in the 1932 World Series, as he hit a solo homer in the Texas Rangers' 11-9 victory over the Kansas City Royals in the Hall of Fame Game, called after eight innings due to rain.

It has become an annual tradition at Doubleday Field that during this contest, the fans in the right-field seats chant for the right fielder to call his shot. Zaun obliged with two outs in the fifth inning, stepping out of the batters' box and pointing his bat toward the right-field bleachers.

He thrilled the crowd by belting the next pitch from Double-A pitcher Jeff Austin to the spot where he pointed, one of 10 home runs in the game. Zaun raced to his right-field position in the top of the sixth and gave "hi-fives" to some excited fans in the bleachers.

Rex Hudler attempted the same feat in 1997 but settled for a triple.

Jason Grabowski hit two of the Rangers' seven homers and finished 3-for-3 to be named the game's Most Valuable Player. He was one of the replacements for the Texas starters, most of whom played three innings before sitting down.

All-Star Rafael Palmeiro, Lee Stevens and Royce Clayton -- all everyday players for Texas -- also homered and the 10 blasts overall by both teams matched the Hall of Fame game all-time record.

Larry Sutton hit a three-run homer and had three hits for the Royals, who did not play many of their starters.

Juan Moreno, a 24-year-old lefthander who plays for Double-A Tulsa, allowed two hits over 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. Robby Morrison gave up two runs and three hits in two innings to take the loss.

These teams also met in this contest in 1986 and Kansas City defeated Texas, 11-4.

Photos
(Click on any of them for a larger image)

0726_1.jpg (27268 bytes) 0726_2.jpg (14065 bytes) 0726_6.jpg (19750 bytes) 0726_7.jpg (17159 bytes) 0726_8.jpg (17242 bytes)
Fans look in over the fence Royals player Matt Whisenant signs autographs George Brett with Rey Sanchez before the game Nolan Ryan before the game First pitch ceremonies.  L-R: Robin Yount, George Brett, Nolan Ryan, Orlando Cepeda
0726_3.jpg (17831 bytes) 0726_4.jpg (19569 bytes) 0726_5.jpg (23098 bytes) 0726_9.jpg (24154 bytes)
Mike Morgan jokes with Nolan Ryan before the game Royce Clayton gets congrats for his home run Pudge congratulates Big Lee on his home run Royals outfielder Jed Hansen throws a ball back to the infield

Box Score

Not available, unfortunately.

Game Log

Not available, unfortunately.