Both have been in Boston for a similar motive. The 1999 Major League All-Star Game was set to unfold at historic Fenway Park on July 13. In addition to the conventional festivities, 31 of the best dwelling ballplayers could be launched as a part of an “All-Century Team” promotion to acknowledge one of the best gamers of the twentieth century. After the legends walked in from heart area, Williams would throw out the primary pitch in what would turn out to be a novel second within the sport’s historical past.
Damon, then 28, had already lived out a childhood dream. To put together for the All-Star Celebrity Challenge, he had been capable of take batting follow round midnight together with his dad and others at Fenway. He had grown up attending Red Sox video games, paying scalpers a couple of bucks for bleacher seats. Suddenly, he was taking cuts in the identical park that Yaz and Pudge as soon as referred to as residence.
“We actually mentioned as we have been coming residence on this van at 1 a.m., possibly we must always simply go to the highest of the Prudential constructing and bounce. It’s by no means going to get higher than this,” Damon advised The Athletic. “We couldn’t imagine they allow us to on the sphere. They have been portray the traces as we have been enjoying.”
Now he was about to fulfill Williams.
Damon was advised the Hall of Famer had simply completed a tv interview. Approaching 81, Williams was not in nice well being. But Damon immediately seen that the “Splendid Splinter” nonetheless had the booming voice. Still had a commanding presence. He launched himself and advised Williams that he had grown up in Boston. And that he had learn his e-book as a child.
“Bull—-! You didn’t learn my e-book,” Williams mentioned.
“I actually did,” Damon mentioned. “‘The Science of Hitting.’ I learn your e-book.”
“All proper, what do I say is crucial factor?”
“Get a superb pitch to hit,” he mentioned.
Williams jumped up and hugged the younger actor.
Leading as much as the occasion’s twenty fifth anniversary, The Athletic talked with practically 30 gamers, broadcasters and baseball officers who have been at Fenway that July night. Few remembered the ultimate rating — it was an All-Star sport, in spite of everything — however practically everybody remembered with nice fondness the pregame ceremony, which concerned maybe the best assortment of baseball expertise ever assembled.
Noted Massachusetts native Matt Damon watches the motion from the stands throughout the sport. (Ezra O. Shaw / Allsport)
Pregame actions are scripted. Everything runs on schedule. Yet the 1999 All-Star Game is remembered for its spontaneity, and never for causes you would possibly assume.
To begin, nobody knew for certain what to anticipate from Williams, ornery as ever in his later years.
Then-Boston common supervisor Dan Duquette had first invited the Red Sox legend and his son John Henry months earlier, a phone dialog Duquette mentioned unfolded like this:
Duquette: “Ted, we acquired the All-Star Game right here in July and we’d like to have you ever right here to throw out the primary pitch.”
Williams: “I don’t know. I don’t know if I’m up for it. I haven’t been up there in a very long time.”
Duquette: “Ted, you understand you have been the MVP of the final All-Star Game right here in Boston.”
Williams: “God—- proper I used to be. Let me discuss to John Henry and name me again in per week.”
This went on for a month.
Former St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire says the pregame ceremony was one of many best experiences he’s had on a baseball area, one thing he doubts might be duplicated. “It takes loads to get me in awe of issues. I feel that was one of many first instances I used to be in awe,” McGwire mentioned.
Former Boston pitcher Pedro Martinez, who would seize sport MVP honors after a dominating All-Star efficiency, says he might inform whereas warming up within the bullpen that the night time could be particular. The buzz was unmistakable. “There’s by no means going to be an All-Star sport like that one,” Martinez mentioned.
Former Colorado outfielder Larry Walker was so moved he took residence a patch of Fenway turf he had kicked up throughout his time in proper area. Walker slipped the grass right into a dishevelled and positioned it in a house fridge, including water to assist maintain it alive, a science experiment that in the end failed.
“I’m only a jock. I don’t maintain grass alive for a dwelling so I wasn’t certain what I used to be imagined to do with it,” Walker mentioned. “It simply appeared like a cool factor to do within the second.”
The All-Century crew walked out from behind a purple curtain in “Field of Dreams” fashion. Actor Kevin Costner, an enormous baseball fan, introduced the accomplishments of every member, a bunch that included Henry Aaron, Willie Mays and Stan Musial, baseball royalty.
The National and American League All-Star groups have been subsequent, lining up on the baselines. Donna Summer sang the National Anthem. Then got here the principle occasion.
Williams appeared from behind the purple curtain driving subsequent to longtime Red Sox worker Al Forester in a golf cart. Public deal with announcer Ed Brickley dealt with the introduction.
“He wore the Red Sox uniform for 22 years. He wore the uniform of the United States Marines for 4 and a half extra. …
“He was the final man to hit .400 in a season, and he did it 58 years in the past. He hit 521 residence runs, together with one on his final at-bat. Ladies and gents, please welcome the best hitter that ever lived, No. 9, Hall of Famer, baseball legend …”
Williams eliminated his hat and raised it together with his proper hand, acknowledging the group, one thing he famously averted as a participant due to his rocky relationship with Boston fans.
Standing beside his teammates, Philadelphia pitcher Paul Byrd thought in regards to the time he had met Williams eight years earlier. In 1991, President George H. W. Bush invited the LSU baseball crew to the White House to rejoice the Tigers’ nationwide championship. As it turned out, Williams and Joe DiMaggio have been additionally there for the fiftieth anniversary of the 1941 season, the yr Williams hit .406 and DiMaggio hit in 56 consecutive video games.
For Byrd, assembly Williams was like assembly John Wayne.
“There are sure moments you don’t neglect,” Byrd mentioned. “The first time your spouse tells you she’s pregnant. When you get that decision to the large leagues. Where you have been when 9/11 occurred. Some are good, some are unhealthy. But if you meet Ted Williams for the primary time and shake his hand, you don’t neglect that second.”
As Williams rode to the infield, Mets catcher Mike Piazza thought in regards to the day the Boston icon had visited his residence with a scout who was a pal of his father’s and watched a teenage Piazza hit in his backyard batting cage. Impressed, Williams told Piazza he attacked the ball higher than he did at that age. It gave Piazza confidence that he had a future in baseball.
Fred Lynn watched from the “600 Club,” a VIP space positioned behind residence plate. The former Boston Red Sox star had first met Williams after a house sport throughout his rookie season. In 1975, Lynn was within the midst of an MVP season, and Williams wished to test him out. They have been related, each left-handed hitters. Lynn positioned his fingers in another way however their swings had related arcs. Williams requested Lynn for his principle on hitting. “I see it, I hit it,” Lynn answered.
He might inform Williams was not impressed.
In the 600 Club, Lynn watched Williams and the cart cease close to the pitcher’s mound. For the previous two days, he had participated in All-Star occasions. Lynn knew how massive this night time was for Boston. He puzzled how the second was translating onto tv.
For years, it’s been mentioned that the All-Stars selected their very own to encompass Williams close to the pitcher’s mound.
In interviews for this story, a number of gamers mentioned that’s how they keep in mind it. A very natural second.
Michael Weisman, a producer on the Fox broadcast, advised The Athletic that he had steered in an advance assembly that the gamers and legends transfer in to congregate round one another. Steve Hellmuth, who was the senior vp of MLB Productions, mentioned an MLB official waved the All-Stars towards Williams.
“On paper, the plan was Ted Williams rolls in,” Weisman mentioned. “Standing ovation, Fenway Park, he involves the mound, the gamers congregate, he throws the primary pitch. COMMERCIAL. That’s the way in which it was rehearsed. That would have been terrific.”
Two issues occurred that delayed the sequence: One, Williams, with tears in his eyes, embraced the second and began speaking with the All-Stars. Two, Weisman mentioned, the ball for the primary pitch couldn’t be positioned. This brought on issues for the tv people, who have been below strain to maintain every thing on schedule.
Broadcaster Joe Buck was already emotional. Fox had come again from industrial as Williams had been launched and Buck was occupied with his father, Jack Buck, who had interviewed Williams all through his broadcasting profession. Joe Buck recalled Weisman in his ear, saying, “We’re again! We’re again!” however he couldn’t discuss.
“I used to be choked up,” mentioned Buck, recalling the second Williams tipped his cap. “Nothing would come out. I couldn’t converse. And I’m so glad I didn’t.”
As Williams talked with the All-Stars, an government producer pleaded with Weisman, “Go to industrial! There’s no ball!”
Weisman knew he couldn’t danger lacking Williams and the primary pitch. No means he was going to industrial. “The ball will present up at any minute!” he mentioned.
Buck and analyst Tim McCarver remained silent, letting the second breathe. Weisman cranked the mics on two handheld cameras he had on the sphere, permitting the nation to snoop on an unscripted dialog, baseball’s previous assembly its current.
“It struck me then and it strikes me to today, these are the heroes of the sport and so they have been like little boys in Ted Williams’ presence,” Weisman mentioned. “It was like a child coming as much as a present ball participant and saying, ‘Please, sir, can I’ve an autograph?’ It was so cool.”
Williams greeted Sammy Sosa, Cal Ripken Jr. and Boston shortstop Nomar Garciaparra. He referred to as out for McGwire and requested if he ever smelled smoke after fouling off a pitch.
“Of all locations, proper?” McGwire mentioned, laughing. “We’re on the mound on the All-Star sport in entrance of all people, and he’s asking me a private query. I mentioned, ‘Yes, it’s occurred to me on a regular basis.’ I assumed I used to be actually the one one who ever smelled that.”
Brickley, the PA announcer, requested gamers to return to the dugouts so Williams might throw out the primary pitch. But Williams stored speaking. Pittsburgh third baseman Ed Sprague mentioned it was like a grandfather telling tales on a sofa earlier than dinner. Atlanta outfielder Brian Jordan mentioned he simply wished to remain among the many legends and take in their greatness.
“He couldn’t have cared much less if there have been 40,000 folks ready, and the PA and TV networks,” Padres nearer Trevor Hoffman mentioned of Williams. “It was like, ‘You’re in my home and I acquired all of the pups round me.’ And he simply form of held courtroom.”
Ted Williams, second from proper, talks to Cal Ripken Jr. as Juan Marichal and Frank Robinson pay attention to the dialog. (Matt York / AFP by way of Getty Images)
Finally, the baseball turned up.
John Henry helped his father out of the golf cart. San Diego outfielder Tony Gwynn handed the ball to Williams and steadied the Hall of Famer as he ready to throw. The two had historical past. In 1994, Gwynn was linked to Williams as he chased .400, a quest halted in August due to a gamers’ strike. Later, the 2 had mentioned hitting throughout a memorable interview with Bob Costas.
“My dad revered Ted Williams, so when he was requested to be one of many guys to form of stroll Ted out, he was honored,” Tony Gwynn Jr. mentioned of Gwynn, who died in 2014 of most cancers. “He talked about that for years.”
Baseball officers as soon as requested Larry Cancro, a Red Sox official who was closely concerned within the planning of the 1999 All-Star Game, about the best way to create spontaneous moments similar to this, as if the magic on this night time might be duplicated. Amused, Cancro advised them: “Well, planning a spontaneous second is by definition not spontaneous.”
“There’s one thing about baseball,” mentioned the actor D.B. Sweeney, who performed Shoeless Joe Jackson in “Eight Men Out” and sat behind residence plate that night time in Fenway. “It simply attracts that emotion out of you, in contrast to some other sport.”
The All-Stars remained in awe as they returned to the dugouts. “It was like, ‘Holy s–t, bro. That simply occurred,’” Houston pitcher Mike Hampton mentioned.
Then actuality hit.
“It was time to get up and face Pedro,” Cincinnati’s Barry Larkin mentioned.
Although the Williams second couldn’t be topped, Martinez did his greatest to attempt. He had dominated the season’s first half, going 15-3 with a 2.10 ERA. Leading as much as All-Star week, Martinez knew this may be an enormous night time. Then earlier than the sport, he met Aaron, who advised him he regarded ahead to watching him pitch. If the Red Sox ace hadn’t been locked in earlier than, he was now. Martinez was decided to honor the legends and present them that baseball excellence might translate to any period.
“You look again at that yr, Pedro had one of the best fastball, one of the best curveball and one of the best changeup,” Ripken mentioned. “He simply had whole command.”
Larkin fouled off three 95-plus mph Martinez fastballs, working a 2-2 depend. “Then he threw me a changeup and I used to be like, ‘What the hell was that?’” Larkin mentioned. He swung, missed and have become the primary strikeout sufferer.
Martinez struck out Walker on 4 pitches. He fanned Sosa on 5. To begin the second inning, Martinez struck out McGwire, giving him 4 strikeouts in a row. After Arizona’s Matt Williams reached on an error, Martinez fanned Houston’s Jeff Bagwell, ending off one of many extra dominating pitching performances in All-Star historical past.
“All of these guys have been having unbelievable years, however McGwire and Sosa largely represented the offense of baseball, the home-run hitters, and I simply determined I’d see how particular (they have been) towards somebody who was additionally dominating,” Martinez mentioned. “I mentioned, ‘It’s expertise towards expertise. Mano y mano. Let’s see who comes out of it.’”
Pedro Martinez finally acquired Mark McGwire with a excessive fastball for his fourth strikeout of the night time. (Ezra O. Shaw / Allsport)
After a 4-1 American League win, Martinez was voted MVP, a storybook ending for an ideal night time in Boston. After speaking to information reporters, Martinez met with Williams up within the Hall of Famer’s field.
Williams teased Martinez about dealing with largely right-handed hitters throughout his two All-Star innings, avoiding a power-hitting left-hander like himself. Martinez laughed.
“You are one hell of a pitcher,” Williams mentioned.
Williams signed a sport program for Martinez. Along with the pregame dialog he had had with Aaron, the Boston ace thought-about it extra helpful than his MVP trophy. His jersey was later despatched to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown.
Martinez realized one thing else. The 1999 All-Star Game had unfolded throughout the steroid period. Whether he appreciated it or not, Martinez was part of this. That’s why it felt so good that night time to be round Williams, Aaron, Mays, Reggie Jackson and others.
“Because these guys did it in the proper means,’’ Martinez mentioned. “And I wished to do it proper as a result of I knew I used to be clear and I by no means did something. I wished them to see somebody that was for actual.”
The night time was stuffed with recollections. Damon and his father watched the sport from field seats on the third-base aspect. Late within the contest, they have been invited as much as go to with Williams in his suite. For an inning, they frolicked and ate sizzling canines with the best participant who ever lived.
When the night time was over, Kent Damon, who had performed collegiate baseball and coached highschool freshmen in retirement, advised his son that this had been the best weekend of his life. “My dad and I talked about all of it the way in which as much as his demise in 2017,” Damon mentioned.
(Top photograph of Ted Williams waving to the group: Ezra O. Shaw / Allsport)
