A double dose of stardom
Favre joins McGwire for batting practice in Milwaukee
Posted: Friday September 18, 1998 09:21 PM
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Garner on Brett Favre's baseball skills: "I'll tell you what, as a baseball player, he's a hell of a quarterback." AP |
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Fans arriving at County Stadium early to see Mark McGwire
take batting practice got a bonus Friday night.
Three-time MVP Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers took his cuts in the
cage while the St. Louis slugger was holding court in the Cardinals dugout.
The two stars of their respective sports met in the visitors clubhouse
before the game, but Favre wasn't looking for any tips.
"He asked me for a few pointers," cracked Favre, decked out in a Milwaukee Brewers
uniform and cap. "He wanted to know how to hit one out to right,"
Favre actually hit 16 home runs in high school but couldn't connect off
Milwaukee manager Phil Garner on this night.
"I'll tell you what," Garner said, "as a baseball player, he's a hell of
a quarterback."
Favre, who later accompanied his 9-year-old daughter, Brittany, to throw
out the ceremonial first pitch, said he had coach Mike Holmgren's blessing
to imitate McGwire.
"I told him this morning at practice. He thought it was a great
opportunity," Favre insisted.
Favre said Garner was "bringing it. He must have been throwing 70."
Favre hadn't been to County Stadium since December 18, 1994 AP | |
Garner said he had to throw inside "because he couldn't reach the pitch
away. He was bailing a little bit. So, I had to try to get it in his sweet
zone."
His sweet zone?
"I'm trying to hit his bat, in other words."
It's a good thing he didn't hit his noggin, in which case you can bet
Holmgren would have been wheeling down Interstate 94 to find Garner.
"No problem. Did he ever try to tackle Walter Payton?" Garner said. "He'd
better not mess with me. That's what it would be like trying to tackle me."
Favre, who attended the game with several friends, his wife, Deanna, and
center Frank Winters, hadn't been to County Stadium since December 18,
1994.
On that night, Favre's 9-yard touchdown scramble with 14 seconds and no
timeouts left gave Green Bay a 21-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in
the last game the Packers ever played in Milwaukee.
"It's hard to believe we played football games here," said Favre, as he
gazed at the $250 million Miller Park rising beyond the center field
bleachers.
Favre then took a look at his daughter warming up for the first pitch.
"She's a little wild," Favre said. "I don't know where that came from."
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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