The Rangers recently unveiled the Shannon and Cooper Stone statue, as a tribute to a father who died trying to retrieve a baseball for his son.

A bronze statue now stands in front of the entrance at the Rangers Ballpark. In honor of Shannon and Cooper, it depicts a father and son who are bonding over their love for the sport.

Sculptor Bruce Greene was inspired by the moment when fathers and sons excitedly discuss the play-by-play details after a game.

Last July, ,Shannon Stone, a Texas firefighter, fell headfirst while trying to retrieve a ball thrown toward him by Rangers player Josh Hamilton. After the fatal fall, Stone had a brief moment of consciousness where he expressed concern for his son.

“He said, ‘Please check on my son. My son was up there by himself.’ The people who carried him out reassured him, ‘Sir, we’ll get your son, we’ll make sure he’s OK,’” Brad Ziegler, the Athletics Relief Director recounted the story. Unfortunately, following that brief moment of consciousness, he died on his way to the hospital.

The family, together with the Brownwood firefighters, was present at the unveiling of the statue. “Shannon lived life to the fullest, doing the things that brought him and others joy. We hope this statue reminds people of doing just that,” the family said.