Some kids dream of just making it to the big leagues, but Giancarlo Stanton had bigger goals.
He was going to hit a home run out of Dodger Stadium.
The Yankees slugger did just that five years ago Tuesday, fulfilling a promise he made to his father when he was just 10 years old.
Stanton, who was still with the Miami Marlins at the time, crushed a towering first inning solo home run off Mike Bolsinger that sailed over the left field bleachers. It was the only run for the Marlins in an 11-1 loss, but it was still a special moment for Stanton, and the 30-year-old slugger explained why it was something he will never forget:
I was 10 yrs old running after batting practice homeruns in the LF bleachers of this stadium. Fascinated by the woahs & ahhs of the crowd when they were hit....... pic.twitter.com/BNuZLygh7g
— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) May 13, 2020I told my dad that night I'm going to hit one completely out of this stadium so I can see their reaction. He laughed & said now that would be something. I said you WATCH!I hit 4 over the fence little league homers in my life at this point.
— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) May 13, 20203 people had ever hit it out of this stadium & I have 4 homers so I'll be the 4th was probably my logic --Kids say some wild things but I was dead serious. I thought about it everytime I'd go there after that.
— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) May 13, 2020Over the years, being boo'd for HR's in all opposing parks but especially LA always sparks a bursts of unique memories because it reminds me of the opposing hitters my pops would take me to see & want me to be like, as they would get boo'd rounding the bases as well.
— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) May 13, 2020So since I didn't see it land & i heard a buzz of cheering, I peaked to see if the ball got thrown back which usually sparks cheers. Then the realization Came around 3rd base of what I might've just done. I couldn't believe it, just put my head down with that memory replaying
— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) May 13, 2020in my mind, could barely jog straight.I got that crowd reaction 15 years in the making, & My pops was there to WATCH!I went straight to him after the game & we just started laughing!
— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) May 13, 2020So I hope there were friends , families, parent & child bonds that were there to enjoy that or any baseball experience as well!Just an awesome moment in my timeline. & thinking about possibly playing with no fans for a bit makes me appreciate this even more.
— Giancarlo Stanton (@Giancarlo818) May 13, 2020Stanton, like the rest of the world, awaits on whether or not there will be a baseball season in 2020. The Yankees slugger was rehabbing a calf injury when spring training was shut down in March, but Aaron Boone had recently said that Stanton has fully recovered from the calf strain, which is good news if a season were to start in July.
