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Beavers pay tribute to legendary blooper

August 4, 2006 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Portland Beavers News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - Simply stated, it is one of the most famous sports bloopers ever captured on film and arguably one of the most memorable sports moments in the 80-year history of Portland's PGE Park.

Indeed, when Vancouver Canadians outfielder Rodney McCray crashed through the Flav-R-Pac sign in right-center field in a Pacific Coast League game at Portland's Civic Stadium on May 27, 1991, he became a permanent fixture on the sports-blooper landscape.

Fifteen years later, the famous play is being remembered as the Portland Beavers are paying tribute to McCray's wall-crashing episode with "Rodney McCray Bobblefence Night" at PGE Park when the team plays host to the Tacoma Rainiers, Saturday, Aug. 12. Gates open no earlier than 6 p.m. for the special event, which is presented by Liquid Planet Organic Coffee, and the one-of-a-kind bobble collectibles will be limited to the first 2,000 fans through the gates. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.

McCray will be on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, meet and greet fans in attendance and sign autographs on the main concourse at PGE Park, known as Civic Stadium when the speedy outfielder went through the wall. In honor of McCray, the Beavers will dedicate right-center field as "McCray Alley."

It will be McCray's first visit to the stadium since the fateful series against the Beavers in May 1991.

"I'm honored and tickled to death," McCray said of the event. "I never get tired of talking about (the crash). It's kind of like the skier who epitomizes the 'agony of defeat' - I'm the guy who 'crashed through the wall.'

"Usually it's the big league superstars who get their own bobblehead, so I'm very excited."

The limited-edition "bobblefence" collectible was created by Bensussen, Deutsch & Associates (BD&A). It features a bobbling head of McCray's likeness and a swinging Flav-R-Pac fence panel, modeled to match the details of the famous episode.

The incident happened in the seventh inning of the game between the Beavers and Canadians. Portland second baseman Chip Hale lofted a hard-hit fly ball to deep right-center field. McCray gave chase at full speed, never realizing the proximity of the fence as he powered toward, and eventually through, the wall.

"I couldn't feel the warning track," McCray said. "Next thing you know, I'm through the wall."

The plywood fence panel "flipped up" as McCray hit it face-first at full speed. The individual panel gave way at the bottom, and McCray ultimately wound up on the other side of the fence, momentarily out of sight of the local television cameras and the shocked fans in attendance. Hale reached on an RBI triple as the ball hit off the wall and fell back into play.

"I was not having a good year, so when I hit it I thought, 'I'm going to hit a home run here," Hale said. "I saw Rodney going after it, and I'm thinking, 'you got to stop, the fence is right there.'"

The fact that it was Rodney McCray involved with the most unusual play didn't seem to surprise Hale, who was quite familiar with McCray's aggressive style of play.

"I played against Rodney for a long time," said Hale, now the field manager of the Tucson Sidewinders in the PCL. "He's one of the toughest players I've ever been around. Whether it was hitting or defense, he would never give an inch. You knew he was going to do everything he could to catch the ball."

McCray suffered only minor injuries, including a cut lip and tongue and an abrasion on his forehead. He stayed in the game but was replaced in the eighth inning before his next at-bat.

After the crash, McCray, who was lying on his back with his feet in the air on the other side of the fence, was first checked on by Canadians outfielder Aubrey Waggoner, while the team's trainer and others sprinted to his aid seconds later.

"They asked me what time it was," McCray remembered. "It was about a quarter to eight, so I knew I was still in civilization."

As for his place in blooper history, McCray wouldn't have it any other way.

"I might not be a hall-of-fame player, but I made it to the hall of fame with a film clip. Not too many guys can say they're in the hall of fame, some way, some form. It's still pretty cool."



Pacific Coast League Stories from August 4, 2006


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