The National Anthem always gives me chills, but never before like it did on August 21^st.  If you weren’t emotional when Ed Hoffman sang The Star-Spangled Banner on one of his son’s greatest days, then stop reading this and call a doctor because I doubt you can live much longer without cardiac muscle.

As tributes go, the retirement of Trevor Hoffman’s number 51 was about as far off the scale as night is from day.  Normally these kinds of ceremonies are described as “cute” or “nice”.  This wasn’t either.  I don’t have the words for what it was.

The start was predictable, but quickly turned memorable.  Trevor entered, from the bullpen, to “Hells Bells”.  Most everyone must have expected that.  But, as would be the theme of the day, we all got a surprise when his 3 boys and his wife joined him on the walk to the stage.  Think about this for a moment.  3 pre-adult boys got to enter a Major League Baseball stadium from a bullpen with their dad, while his song is blaring over the PA system.  A parent could only ever hope to give a memory like that to their child.

The video clips on Trevor’s history followed by his brothers talking were a bit of a lull.  Trevor also got to hear from former coaches.  Probably neat for Trev… no so much for the fans. 

Then came the former teammates and colleagues.  Ovations all around, but the strongest for Steve Finely, Jerry Coleman and Rickey Henderson.  I thought it was also very cool to see Dave Stewart again.

One big highlight has to be Brian Johnson of AC/DC.  I always wondered if the band every really knew that a pitcher for a baseball team created a phenomenon by entering the stadium to one of their songs.  Brian even said “we rocked the crowd, but you rocked the mound, mate.”  Awesome.

Bud Selig came on the screen… whatever.

I’d like to say I loved seeing all 4 other players with retired numbers greet Trevor’s “51”.  But that number 6 just grinds my gears.  Still, a cool image and a cool moment, as well as the moment the Hefty bag, or whatever it was, came off the new digits.

I could have done without hearing from Jeff Moorad, I’d rather hear from Rickey Henderson.  But, he did have a big job: introducing Trevor’s gift from the Padres: a 1958 Cadillac Convertible.  Um…  yes.

Again, Trevor impressed me when he had his family sit in the car before he did… he even held the door for his wife, I liked that a bunch.

I counted the ovation for Trevor at just over 2 minutes.  I was hoping for 10, but I’ll take it.  Trevor’s speech was what it was.  It’s not his fault that all the other stuff was so ridiculously cool that he couldn’t possibly reach that level.  But hey, he’s a pitcher, not Jerry Seinfeld or Teddy Roosevelt.

If you’ve never been electrocuted, but you were in the stands at Petco Park when Ed Hoffman sang to his son, then you’ve gotten close enough.  I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing.  My hat is off to the Padres for coming up with the idea to show that video clip, and for actually finding it.  I was speechless.  Even now, I am pretty much typeless.  To see his dad, who he lost 16 years ago, on his special day must have been magic.  Trevor lost it.  I lost it.  Most of the crowd lost it.  I’ve watched it 10 times since then, I still almost lose it.

One other item that may recaps of the event seen to miss was the first pitch of the game.  Trevor’s 3 boys each threw out the first pitch.  But each one threw to one of the Hoffman brothers and each one did the Trevor high leg kick, and I’m pretty sure they all threw change-ups.  As the dad of a baseball player myself, that would almost be as good as a Cadillac.

Almost.

Thanks Trev.