In perhaps the most emotionally charged moment at Rangers Ballpark this season, Cooper Stone, the 6-year-old son of Brownwood firefighter Shannon Stone passed away from injuries sustained in a fall at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington tossed out the first pitch prior to game one of the playoffs.
Cooper wore a number 32 jersey to the mound and was accompanied by his mother and team owner Nolan Ryan.
Josh Hamilton caught the pitch. Following the toss, Hamilton and Stone’s wife embraced near the pitcher’s mound.
Cooper was at the ballpark with his father the night Shannon reached over the left field rail to catch a foul ball thrown to him by outfielder Josh Hamilton. Stone fell approximately 20 feet and died later that night.
Following that tragedy, the Rangers announced safety changes that included raising the railings throughout the ballpark. They plan on raising them to 42 inches in the front rows, an increase of as much as 12 inches in certain areas.
The club is still working on a design with some engineering firms and plans on having the new rails installed this offseason.
The club is also planning to erect a statue of Shannon and Cooper at the ballpark.
