Josh Hamilton 'Distraught' Over Death of Rangers Fan; Shannon Stone Dies Trying To Catch Foul Ball

Texas Rangers baseball player Josh Hamilton is trending on the sad news that a fan died while trying to catch a foul ball that the all-star outfielder threw into the stands. Shannon Stone, a 39-year-old firefighter who was attending the game with his young son, reached out for the ball Hamilton threw and tumbled over a railing, landing on concrete 20 feet below. This is the second fatal fall to happen at a Major League Baseball stadium this season. In May, a fan attending a Colorado Rockies game died while trying to slide down a railing. Rangers President Nolan Ryan called Stone's death a "very tragic accident" and said, "I think, as any of us would be, Josh is very distraught over this, as the entire team is."

[OneOfRambosFriend]

This absolutely breaks my heart. :( Now that young boy will grow up without a father. My heart prayers go out to his family and friends.

[irishjohn]

The poor guy, terrible tragedy. You know he was reaching to catch that ball to share an experience with his son who he loved, while they both watched the team they loved together. Condolences from our family in New Rochelle, NY

[youngbutter]

That's so sad my God be with his family. I think more railing should come in to protect fans.

[mskhalifalove]

whats sad is how rude and unthoughtful you people posting these rude and triffling comments are. whether the guy has money or not has nothing to do with how guilty he feels that he's partly the cause of an innocent man losing his life and a son having to grow up without a father which is very hard in this day and time. show some concern for others

[Bane_Diesel]

What caused people to dislike the video? It is informative.

[deejay]

People should grow the fuck up. Stop calling Josh a murderer and disrespecting the life of Shannon. It was an accident. Accidents happen all the time. Damn kids need to grow up.

[DrShankWanker]

just horrific how could nobody have thought this possible

[joeyconwayy]

It wasnt joshs fault btw. i feel so bad for his son and hope his kid is alright. Father and son spending a day at a game together, and the dad wanted his son to go home with a ball to make him happy.. this can happen to anyone and they should definitly have more safety in the stadium. im sure that a new rule will be placed that players cant throw balls to fans anymore. and they should make that part of the stadium safer. this couldve been prevented with better safety in the ball park

[MrSHARKS]

I can't believe how much guilt the son is going to have to grow up with and how guilty Hamilton must be feeling even though it was neither of their faults.

[red]

if hamilton makes a better throw, the fan lives.

[lori]

Shannon Stone's fall was a freak accident, it could have happened to any of us.. Mr Stone was a very respectable Fireman in my town..Please dont put any blame on Josh Hamilton, he was just throwing a ball to his fan and Shannon was just trying to catch the ball and fell.

[BobsyourAuntie]

Damn that sucks really bad. A firefighter who protects and saves the lives of people dies in the most tragic way possible. I feel so bad for the son.

Please Thumbs Up in support of Josh, he showed great strength in turning his life completely around and now this very well could be his hardest battle yet...hopefully someone close to him will see the support we're giving him and to help him realize that by no means is he responsible for this tragedy...

[Jimbobular]

@highnrising not at all. Tommy John was the first to get that surgery done, but this isnt the first time someone has fallen and died from falling within a baseball stadium.

[ThePaulg]

I think as an extra precaution they should announce over the speakers before each game now to warn fans not to risk it just to drum it in their heads a bit more

[PlaneChasers]

wow...right infront of his kid. so sad. RIP

[nate]

I don’t think the man next to him realized he was falling over.

[cwjoe]

If Josh is a murderer then every outfielder that's thrown a ball in the stands is. He couldn't help that I pray he doesn't live with this the rest of his life...

[spartacusvikinga]

From across the pond I am really sorry to see that awful incident.

Some real health and safety issues though to be considered with the height of that railing and a 20ft drop onto concrete..

[A]

This was a tragic accident that is all. The greatest sadness here is for the little boy that saw his father die at a baseball game, probably trying to catch a ball for his son. There is no blame here only tragedy and sadness. Some of the cruel and tasteless comments here only go to show the poor moral state of this world. The best thing you can do for our children is to show maturity, love, compassion, and don't be drawn into the negativity of the miserable and disenchanted.