Aug 08

ASU head baseball coach Tracy Smith continued his indoctrination into the Phoenix Valley on Aug. 7 at Chase Field as the Arizona Diamondbacks hosted him for an evening. 

Coach Smith hopped on the lightrail and after a 20-minute trip downtown, arrived at 3rd and Jefferson. 

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The night began by watching batting practice on the field, where he chatted with former Sun Devil and current D-backs catcher Tuffy Gosewisch (2002-05), and former Sun Devil and current Kansas City Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu (1982-85), as well as former ASU signee and current Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer.

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Photo credit: Jennifer Stewart/Arizona Diamondbacks

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Coach Smith also met with former Sun Devil and current D-backs baseball operations assistant Cory Hahn, and D-backs Chief Baseball Officer Tony La Russa.

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The next stop on coach Smith’s tour was the clubhouse and a pregame meeting with D-backs manager Kirk Gibson, as well as bench coach Alan Trammell, bullpen coach Mel Stottkemyre, third base coach Glenn Sherlock and pitching coach Mike Harkey. 

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D-backs President and CEO Derrick Hall then presented coach Smith a Sedona Red No. 13 Diamondbacks jersey…

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Photo credit: Jennifer Stewart/Arizona Diamondbacks

…and then it was time for the big moment. Coach Smith did a few arm exercises to loosen up, looked out toward the mound, and made his way to the rubber.

Gosewisch settled in behind the dish and lifted his glove. 

The first pitch was just seconds away. 

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Photo credit: Jennifer Stewart/Arizona Diamondbacks

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Photo credit: Jennifer Stewart/Arizona Diamondbacks

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Photo credit: Jennifer Stewart/Arizona Diamondbacks

With his family and the ASU community behind, coach Smith tossed a perfect strike right down the middle. Some say it was the greatest ceremonial first pitch in Chase Field history. The legend continues. 

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