Recently 9-year-old Garrett Shackelford, the son of Jess Shackelford of Brownwood, got the thrill of most kids’ lives by throwing the opening pitch of the Texas Rangers vs. the Baltimore Orioles game in Arlington on July 8th.
Although Garrett is a triple amputee due to complications of meningitis as a baby, he was still able to get a taste of being in the big leagues.
His mother (Tania Fisher of Weatherford), stepdad, dad, and the rest of the family were able to enjoy his pitch and watch the game from a luxury suite. The family also had a chance to tour the stadium and meet the Rangers’ mascot along with some of their players. All of the day’s activities were courtesy of Variety, the Children’s Charity of Texas and the Texas Rangers. Garrett was featured on the Channel 11 newscast and his pitch was noted in some of the Dallas-Fort Worth area newspapers.
In addition, Variety recently provided Garrett with a new, custom wheel chair that was designed to increase his ability to be mobile and give him more convenience. In September, more than 200 kids and their families will be treated to a Rangers game courtesy of the Texas-based charity.
To see pictures of Garrett’s pitch, please click the links below:
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/08/2323467/rangers-lose-to-orioles.html (Click #4 on the gallery images).
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/19/2345042/take-me-out-to-the-ballgame.html