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One of top moments in Diamondback history happened on this day in ’99

The Arizona Diamondbacks have had quite a few unforgettable moments since their first ever pitch thrown by Andy Benes back in 1998. A World Series championship, division championships, Tony Womack on fathers day, Randy Johnson’s perfecto in Atlanta are just a few.

One instance in particular happened on this day (July 11)  back in 1999 at then Bank One Ballpark that I was present for and will never forget. The stage is set in the 6th inning of an inter-league game against the Oakland Athletics. The bases are loaded as a Jay Bell, who was hitless in 12 at-bats in the series against Oakland, stepped up to the plate.

At every Sunday home game since the Diamondbacks began playing in 1998, there was a contest where a fan wins tickets to the game, then picks a player to hit a grand slam and the inning. Before the game Gylene Hoyle of Chandler, who had never been a Diamondback game before, was the fan who won tickets and predicted that Jay Bell would hit a grand slam in the sixth inning.

Here is how it played out…

Was it a play that altered the course of the Diamondbacks season? No. Was it a play that clinched anything? No. Will that play go down in baseball history? Probably not.

But I think I can speak for those who were in attendance that day and also those who remember from watching it at home, it was a million dollar moment in the organizations history that they will not soon forget.

A born and bred Arizonan, Jared has had great passion for the hometown teams all his life. He now channel's that passion into covering the pro, college and high school teams around the state as a Multimedia Reporter for Sports360AZ.

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