Flashback Friday: Home Run Derby with Mariners (1996)

As mentioned in Thursday's post on Rattler Radio, Ken Griffey Jr. was in Appleton for an exhibition game between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and the Seattle Mariners on July 29, 1996. However, the game was rained out moments before it was to begin. The solution was to have Home Run Derby. Jeff Sherry of The Post-Crescent has the details from the July 30, 1996 edition.

For more information on this event - and to see a photo of Griffey signing autographs - today's post at Rattler Radio.

Home run derby saves day
The weather rained on the Rattlers' parade, but fans still were able to see some big names take some big swings

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' exhibition game against the Seattle Mariners was rained out. Yet many people went home happy.

That scenario, as unlikely as it sounds, took place Monday night at Fox Cities Stadium. After a deluge of rain forced the highly anticipated game to be cancelled, the teams put together an impromptu home run derby. Seattle's Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. both hit in the derby.

The downpour didn't end up being such a downer after all.

"I think a lot of fans really wanted to see Ales and Junior," Seattle director of player development said. "If we'd played the game, they both would've had one at bat and that's it. So (the fans) probably got to see more of them this way than if we'd actually played. It worked out pretty well. We were able to turn a difficult situation into a positive."

Seattle catcher Dan Wilson ended up winning the derby. Wisconsin was represented by outfielder Luis Tinoco, first baseman David Arias (Ortiz), and hitting coach Joaquin Contreras.

"We did more with the home run contest than we would've in the game," Rodriguez said. "It was a little more fun. We got the chance to flirt with the crowd a little bit and just hang out and enjoy yourself."

The game actually came close to being played on two occasions. The rain began only five minutes prior to the scheduled 5:30pm start. It stopped about 15 minutes later, grounds workers cleared the infield tarp, and the field was nearly ready again by 6pm.

Timber Rattlers general manager Mike Birling said the teams were about to go ahead with a seven-inning game, but then the second round of rain came. The outfield was unplayable by the time it stopped, so they agreed to go ahead with the home run derby.

"This is a one-time thing, and we wanted to do something for the fans," Birling said. "The Mariners wholeheartedly agreed with us. I think the crowd enjoyed it. Considering the kind of day it was, I think they're happy with what took place."

But not everyone left the park feeling good about everything. For some people, especially the Timber Rattlers, the home run derby just didn't compare to the game they'd been hoping for.

Although Wisconsin's players thoroughly enjoyed meeting Seattle's players - they probably left the stadium with more Mariners autographs than the fans did - most of them were disappointed they didn't get to face the big-leaguers on the field."

"It's been my life-long dream to play for a major league team," Timber Rattlers pitcher Greg Scheer said. "Today was going to be my day where I could finally see what that would feel like. So it was pretty frustrating when it didn't end up happening. I may never get a chance like this again."

Wisconsin reliever Greg Jacobs was also upset about the game being cancelled. He was supposed to throw the third inning, which meant he had a decent shot of pitching against Seattle's regular batters.

"When that rain started, I got mad," Jacobs said. "This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'll just have to work my way up there I guess."