Oklahomans' Triumphs Over Health Challenges to be Honored with INTEGRIS Health "Home Run For Life" Celebrations

OKLAHOMA CITY – Five Oklahomans who have overcome significant health challenges will be celebrated on the field at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark throughout the 2025 season as the Oklahoma City Comets and INTEGRIS Health continue their impactful and uplifting “Home Run For Life” series for a 14th consecutive season.

With the support of their families, physicians and health care professionals at INTEGRIS Health, these Oklahomans have persevered through medical hardships. To symbolize the end of their health struggles, honorees take a home run “lap” around the bases during an in-game ceremony. They also receive an OKC Comets jersey, a commemorative baseball bat and enjoy the baseball game from an entertainment suite.

“Our ‘Home Run For Life’ celebrations bring our players, fans and staff to their feet as we all pause during these special games to honor incredible Oklahomans who have overcome so much,” OKC Comets President/General Manager Michael Byrnes said. “These on-field recognitions provide emotional and inspiring moments for all in attendance while allowing us to thank the talented and dedicated staff at INTEGRIS Health for helping make these celebrations possible.”

The season-long series kicks off Friday, April 18 with the recognition of Declan Thomas, an Oklahoma City three-year-old who had his tracheostomy removed in late 2024 after suffering a vocal cord injury during open-heart surgery at just six weeks old. The specialized care Thomas received at INTEGRIS Health Children’s led him to this key milestone and to resuming a fun toddler lifestyle filled with dancing, running and gymnastics.

To read the full story about Thomas’ journey, please visit the OKC Comets “Beyond the Bricks” website at: medium.com/beyond-the-bricks.

Also during the first half of the season, Mary Stack of Oklahoma City will be honored Friday, May 23. Stack survived a major stroke last fall thanks to the quick actions of her husband Stan who recognized her symptoms and to the speedy care she received at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center. Doctors quickly administered a clot-busting medication and performed surgery to remove the clot that was depriving her brain of oxygen. Following the procedures, Stack was able to move, talk and did not experience any residual effects, allowing her to soon resume her normal routine and lifestyle.

Three additional INTEGRIS Health “Home Run For Life” honorees will be recognized during the second half of the Comets’ season July 11, Aug. 1 and Sept. 12. Full feature articles about each recipient, including Stack, will be posted on the “Beyond the Bricks” website prior to their respective recognition dates, along with photos.

The Comets are in the midst of a six-game home series against the Tacoma Rainiers, which continues at 11:05 a.m. today with a Field Trip Day game and at 7:05 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark with fireworks scheduled to follow Friday’s game.

Saturday is First Responders Night on the 30th anniversary of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Prior to the 6:05 p.m. game, first responders who assisted in the aftermath of the bombing will be honored on the field and representatives from the Oklahoma City Police Department, EMSA and Oklahoma City Fire Department are scheduled to throw out first pitches.

During a pregame ceremony alongside representatives from the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, the No. 168 will be retired at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in recognition of the 168 lives lost in the Oklahoma City bombing and 168 seconds of silence will be observed in their honor. A parade of emergency vehicles will travel around the field’s warning track pregame and additional vehicles will be on display throughout the evening at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Comets will then take the field wearing the team’s City Celebration jerseys and 405 hats.

The Comets wrap up their home series with a 4:05 p.m. game on a Family Sunday. Select Oklahoma City players will be available to sign autographs for fans prior to first pitch, and following the game, kids can take the field to run the bases.

Single-game tickets for 2025 Comets home games are available now, as well as group and season ticket packages. To purchase tickets, view the complete 2025 game and promotion schedule, or for additional information, please visit okccomets.com or call (405) 218-2182.