Jones powers Team Ozzie to Classic win
Despite a threatening forecast and some intermittent raindrops, it was a perfect day for baseball after a two-year absence of this event that for some marks the unofficial start of summer. In the end, with temperatures in the mid-60’s, Team Ozzie, led by Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, defeated Team Fergie, skippered by Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins, by a score of 10-7 during the Memorial Day Weekend affair played on May 28. Serving as coaches were fellow Hall of Famers Wade Boggs, Tim Raines, Ted Simmons, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell.
The victors were led the Jones, named the Bob Feller Player of the Game, who finished with six RBI to go along with his pair of round-trippers.
“I guess it was just muscle memory,” said Jones. “The first one, I knew was gone. The second one, I was a little off balance. But this is just the best place in the world, so I guess it was meant to be.”
Team Ozzie got off to a fast start with three runs in the bottom of the first, two coming Jones homer over the right field fence.
A single run in the second and a pair in the third helped Team Fergie tie it up 3-3 after three innings, Abreu’s towering solo shot down the right field line was a highlight.
David Freese, while visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was able to see his donated torn home jersey and a bat he used in the 2011 World Series.
“It’s just crazy coming here and actually seeing this place. It’s special. You’re surrounded by greatness,” Freese said. “As for my donations, it gives a lot of people a lot of memories to live on. Was it a no brainer when I was asked to come up here representing the Cardinals? Yeah, it was.”
Bill Francis is the senior research and writing specialist at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum