The Stars shine at Toyota Field
MADISON – The line of autograph seekers and generally well-wishers seemed to be endless and continued for hours for the special appearance of Jose Canseco and his twin brother, Ozzie, who were a part of the celebrated evening at Toyota Field as the Rocket City Trash Pandas paid honor to the 40th anniversary of the Huntsville Stars baseball team, which took North Alabama by storm in 1985. Fans, young and old, flocked to the home field of the Trash Pandas to “welcome home” several of the former Stars’ players, including the biggest name of Canseco.
“It’s great to see all of these folks out here and brings back lots of memories for me,” said Jose Canseco, one of if not the biggest name players who suited up for the former team which called Huntsville home from 1985-2014. Ozzie Canseco added, “Being here with other players who helped make the franchise special is lots of fun and it’s good to see them.”
Numerous players and coaches associated with the former Double-A team affiliated with both the Oakland A’s and Milwaukee Brewers including some of the more popular players to wear Stars’ uniforms were in attendance and included players Rocky Coyle, Hunter Morris and Jimmy Jones and former manager Brad Fischer. Each were part of the pregame festivities which included throwing out a ceremonial first pitch and a specially produced video of other former Stars who were unable to attend in person, but gave a huge welcome via video on the large video screen/scoreboard at Toyota Field.
The Canseco brothers each sat for hours signing autographs for fans who wanted to see the two former Stars’ players and in a way relive those memories of when each brother stepped on the playing field inside the confines of Joe Davis Stadium, which opened the first night of Stars’ baseball. Jose was certainly the most celebrated of those former players, though only playing here for onehalf of the inaugural season where he was named the Minor League Player of the Year before joining the parent team Oakland A’s where his Major League Baseball career has become almost legendary. While in Huntsville that special season, he batted .318 with 25 home runs in just 58 games. A year later, he was named the American League Rookie of the Year along with being named the 1988 American League Most Valuable Player. He was six-time All-Star selection and won two World Series. Jose also became the first player in history to record a 40-homer, 40 stolen bases season.
Meanwhile, Ozzie played for the Huntsville Stars from 1988 to 1990 before reaching “The Show” with both the Oakland A’s and St. Louis Cardinals.
The evening of celebration, presented by the U.S. Army, had 5,000 in attendance with a host of local media following the every move of the special guests. Jose Canseco, who announced to the Madison Record during an exclusive interview back in July about a planned Hollywood movie on his life, was also shadowed by a video crew from the upcoming movie production company making video notes of the fans and their comments on Jose’s time spent in the Rocket City.
As for the game between the Trash Pandas and the visiting Columbus Clingstones, the Trash Pandas, wearing throwback Huntsville Stars jerseys, which were auctioned off on-line after the game, were defeated by the Clingstones 5-2, but the evening was a celebrated weather-perfect night of memories of what was once exciting times and set the tone for today’s professional baseball franchise with Rocket City.
