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Oakland Athletics bring blast from the past to Wild Card Game

By David Hill

Recording artist M.C. Hammer puts on his jersey before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of the Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim game on Sunday, July 17, 2011 at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. Today the Athletics gave out 15,000 M.C. Hammer bobbleheads. Hammer was a former A's batboy from 1973 to 1980. Oakland defeated Los Angeles 9-1. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff) (Photo by MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images)
Recording artist M.C. Hammer puts on his jersey before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of the Oakland Athletics vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim game on Sunday, July 17, 2011 at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. Today the Athletics gave out 15,000 M.C. Hammer bobbleheads. Hammer was a former A's batboy from 1973 to 1980. Oakland defeated Los Angeles 9-1. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Staff) (Photo by MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images) /
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The Oakland Athletics have brought a bast from the past back to the Coliseum for their Wild Card Game.

If one says the word “Stop” to someone that is passionate about music, they will inevitably have several lyrics come to mind. Would it be time to collaborate and listen? Or are they stopping in the name of love? Or is it Hammer Time? For the Oakland Athletics, the answer is the latter.

In need of someone to throw out the first pitch for the Wild Card Game, the A’s have brought in a blast from their past. MC Hammer will make the ceremonial pitch, a homecoming for a native son.

Since teams frequently bring in celebrities from the area, or players from the past to throw out the first pitch, MC Hammer makes perfect sense. He also has ties to the A’s beyond his hailing from Oakland, and being a fan of the home town team.

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Back in the early 1970s, Stanley Kirk Burrell (Hammer’s real name) used to sell stray baseballs and dance while accompanied by a beatboxing friend. A’s owner Charles Finley saw Burrell performing splits, and loved his energy. He hired the youngster as a clubhouse assistant and batboy, a role that he served in for eight years.

Burrell was also known as being a source of information for Finley, who lived in Chicago. Players would be quiet when he was around, and he earned the nickname ‘Pipeline’ for the information he fed ownership. Reggie Jackson gave him the more famous nickname ‘Hammer,’ as he resembled a young Hank Aaron.

Now, 40 years later, Hammer is back in Oakland. He has had quite the journey since those humble days in the parking lot, going from poverty to superstardom and back again before once again rising up. He dealt with bankruptcy and various lawsuits, but managed to find his former glory once again.

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The Oakland Athletics are bringing in native son MC Hammer to throw out the first pitch on Wednesday. Given his history with the team, he is the perfect choice.

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