Darth Vader is a sucker for baseball poetry

The AAA Star Festivities at McCoy Stadium started tonight with the Celebrity and All Star Home Run derbies.

We got there about 4:30pm to grab a spot on the Right Field Berm to watch batting practice and hopefully catch a ball or two. I walked around and saw some recognizable people hanging around the batting cage like Doug Flutie, Sam Horn and Bill "Spaceman" Lee.

The Spaceman was all over the place, signing autographs, chatting with the fans and taking more than one turn at Batting Practice when the other celebrities didn't feel like it and then started to pitch batting practice to everyone else. He was having a ball, just like it sounds like he did when he was at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield, MA a couple of weeks ago for an exhibition game. In fact he was wearing the same 1890s hat he wore when he was there.

The ceremony started around 7:15pm with the introductions of the celebrity players and the All Star players. The celebrities ranged from former Red Sox players and managers to local celebrities and celebrities that are from the area. The best intros were saved for last..the introductions of Johhny Pesky, Dom DiMaggio and Bobby Doerr. They came together at home plate and gave each other a big hug surrounded by the players and fans. It was a moment very much like the Ted Williams Moment at the 1999 MLB All Star Game in Fenway.

Then I got the best surprise I have ever had at a ballpark other than Ray Charles singing at Fenway. Out comes James Earl Jones.

James Earl Freaking Jones!!! Needless to say, it was a wonderful surprise. He comes out on to the field and says, in the way only HE can say it, "Welcome to McCoy Stadium! Play Ball!" I hope The PawSox recorded that and play it before every game.

The Celebrity Home Run Derby was ok, but it running WAY too long as it was obvious they had too many people. It took forever. In fact they cut some people during it so we didn't get to see players like Dwight Evans take a few swings. It was supposed to end before 8:30pm and didn't end until 9:45.

And who one the Celebrity Derby? The Spaceman!!!

Between the derbies, James Earl Jones came out again, to recite "Casey at the Bat". Man, I wish I was able to record that. Seeing (and hearing) him tell that story was a wonderful surprise that was easily the best moment of the night.

By the time the All Star Home Run Derby started, it was already almost 10pm, almost 2 hours after the scheduled time and it was almost anti-climatic as it stated to lightly rain and the All Star players were not totally warmed up as they were sitting around for almost 3 hours between there batting practice and their event. Still, after a few of them got into a rhythm, there were some really hard hit balls including a few that flew over the center field scoreboard. Sadly we didn't catch any balls. We had a few come close to us, but the crowd was diving for them like it was Barry Bonds' 600th. I wasn't gonna squash some kid for a ball (although some other adults came close).

The next event was the RI Philharmonic a concert playing and some fireworks. I thought sure they would cut the night short as it was already 11pm. But sure enough they are started setting up. We were spent and decided to call it a night as most people did. They still had the concert and the fireworks went off around 12:45am (I can't see them from my house, but I can hear them especially so late).

It was a good night. Seeing Mr. Jones was wonderful and hearing him recite one of my favorites in person is something I'll never forget. Let's hope they can get the 2nd night off as there is rain in the forecast.