Brave boy, 6, who watched fireman father fall to death trying to catch ball at Texas Rangers game throws emotional first pitch
- Cooper Stone throws first pitch before Texas Rangers v Tampa Bay Rays
- Rangers president Nolan Ryan and his widowed mother were by his side
- Father Shannon Stone toppled over barrier and plummeted 20ft in July
- Fireman fell onto concrete after trying to catch ball for six-year-old son
- Questions were raised about safety and tradition of throwing balls to fans
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With 50,000 fans on their feet and many with tears in their eyes, six-year-old Cooper Stone stood and tossed a ceremonial first pitch of the baseball playoffs to his favourite player, Josh Hamilton.
Cooper is the boy who saw his fireman father Shannon fall to his death while trying to catch a ball thrown to him by Hamilton during a Texas Rangers game in Arlington in early July.
This was his first trip back to Rangers Ballpark - and it came at the centre of a huge stage, with his widowed mother, Jenny Stone, and Rangers president Nolan Ryan by his side.
Emotional: Jenny Stone, centre, gets a hug from Texas Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton, next to Rangers owner and president Nolan Ryan, left, as Mrs Stone's son, Cooper stands at right before the start of their game
Wearing a Rangers jersey featuring Hamilton's No. 32 and ‘Cooper’ between the shoulders, the boy threw the ball on a line to Hamilton - crouched like a catcher about halfway to the home plate.
Tragedy: Veteran fireman Shannon Stone died after he fell from the stand in front of his young son
The outfielder - who has been through his share of personal struggles - stood to catch it, then pumped his fist, smiling wide the whole time.
Then he went to the front of the pitcher’s mound to meet Cooper and Mrs Stone for the first time.
Hamilton embraced the boy, then his mother. He held her for a while, speaking words that made it tough for her to control her emotions.
‘I just asked her if they were believers in Christ and she said they were,’ Hamilton said.
‘I said: “Well, we know where your husband is right now. Make sure that the little one knows who his daddy was and what he stood for”.’
Mrs Stone appeared to thank Hamilton. They hugged again, then Hamilton - whose wife gave birth to their third daughter only a few weeks ago - gave Cooper another hug too.
The reigning American League Most Valuable Player (AL MVP) started heading to the dugout, only to realize he still had the ball. So he reached back and gave it to Cooper.
A security guard met Cooper as he reached the dirt in front of the Texas dugout and gave him a fist bump.
Nelson Cruz was the first of many Rangers waiting at the steps of the dugout to slap hands with the boy. His mother wiped tears as she walked away with Mr Ryan.
‘They have turned a difficult return to The Ballpark into a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Cooper,’ Mrs Stone said in a statement issued by the team.
Big moment: Jenny Stone, left, walks on the field with Texas Rangers owner and president, baseball legend Nolan Ryan, before the start of Game 1 of their MLB American League Division Series baseball playoffs
‘Nothing could be more exciting for a boy than throwing out the first pitch to his favourite player. We are glad and grateful to be here to see the Rangers start their march to the World Series.’
Cooper, his mum and six more in their group sat in front-row seats one section closer to home plate than Mr Ryan. When Hamilton singled in his first at-bat, Cooper jumped up and down, twirling a red towel.
‘We're just honoured that they were willing to come out and do that and share the day with us,’ Mr Ryan said.
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ShareShannon Stone was reaching for the ball thrown by Hamilton when he fell headfirst about 20ft, landing on concrete behind the outfield wall.
Cooper was his only child, and the two were extremely close, with the nearly three-hour drive from their home in Brownwood to Rangers games among their favourite activities together.
The Rangers recently announced plans to build a statue of Shannon and Cooper Stone outside the home-plate entrance as a tribute to them, and to all fans.
Memorial walk: Family members follow the procession with the fire truck carrying the coffin of Stone after his funeral in Brownwood, Texas
Remembered: Brownwood Fire Department Lt. G. Nesom carries the helmet of Mr Stone as he leads pallbearers out of First United Methodist Church following a service for him in Texas
The team hopes to unveil it by the opening day next season. The club also is planning to raise the railing throughout the stadium.
'They have turned a difficult return to The Ballpark into a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Cooper. Nothing could be more exciting for a boy than throwing out the first pitch to his favourite player. We are glad and grateful to be here to see the Rangers start their march to the World Series'
Jenny Stone
A memorial fund started by the team on the family's behalf recently received more than $150,000 from an auction sponsored by Fox Sports Southwest, the team's main broadcaster.
‘I call (Jenny) periodically just to see how she's doing and see if they have any needs that we might be able to assist with,’ Mr Ryan said. ‘It's been on-going since the accident.’
Mr Ryan also discussed with Mrs Stone the best time for Cooper to return to the stadium.
The boy wanted to come sooner, but Mrs Stone ‘wasn't ready to deal with it,’ Mr Ryan said.
However, she realised that coming back ‘was in (Cooper's) best interests, because this is what he was wanting to do.’
Floral tribute: Wreaths and flowers were placed outside the Central Fire Station in Brownwood in memory of Shannon Stone of the Brownwood Fire Department
Help: Fellow fan Ronnie Hargis, who had been chatting to the victim moments before the tragedy, leans out to try and grab him but it is too late
A few weeks ago, Mr Ryan called to invite them for the final home-stand. Knowing the play-offs were likely, he also invited them to not only come to the game, but to throw out the first pitch.
The Rangers played the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of their American League division series, which also happened to be the first game of the entire postseason.
'We're just honoured that they were willing to come out and do that and share the day with us'
Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan
‘He represents what we believe we're about and he is a very dyed-in-the-wool Ranger fan,’ Mr Ryan said.
Mr Ryan also made sure Hamilton felt comfortable being part of this. Hamilton is a recovering substance abuser whose career nearly was derailed by his personal demons.
‘I went to Josh before we decided anything and asked Josh how he felt about it, because I didn't want to put Josh in any awkward position,’ Mr Ryan said.
Hamilton said he prayed to help steel himself for the moment, and to know what to say.
Convoy: A funeral processional for Stone makes its way along FM 45 on the way to the cemetery
Carried: The coffin of Stone is loaded onto a Brownwood Fire Department truck following a memorial service
‘The Lord gave me words at the right time,’ he said. ‘I'm not good with speeches. Not good with knowing what I'm going to say before. Because I rehearse it too much and it don't sound genuine.
'You could tell she was really emotional about coming back to the park. The little one, he's young enough where he understands but at the same time it's not as emotional for him as it is mom'
Texas Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton
‘So I just kind of let it happen. It worked out good. ... You could tell she was really emotional about coming back to the park.
‘The little one, he's young enough where he understands but at the same time it's not as emotional for him as it is mom.’
Cooper and his family sat near the Rangers' on-deck circle, and Hamilton gladly caught the boy's eye several times. It was a nice counter to the scoreboard in a game the Rangers lost 9-0 to the Rays.
‘Just to see the smile on his face and him enjoying himself,’ Hamilton said, ‘it was pretty special to see.'
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