Salisbury University Sea Gulls baseball head coach Troy Brohawn reunited with his former Arizona Diamondbacks teammates during a celebration of the club’s 2001 World Series championship. The 25th-anniversary reunion included a formal dinner, a visit to a local firehouse, time with current Diamondbacks players and staff at Chase Field, and an on-field pregame ceremony.
“It was a great weekend. I’ve been to the 10-year, 20-year, and now 25-year reunions, and this was by far the best. They outdid themselves as far as taking care of us and giving us the chance to give back to the community,” Brohawn said.
Brohawn reconnects with former Arizona teammates
The festivities began with a formal dinner at the team hotel before Brohawn and his former teammates visited a local firehouse. The group later went to Chase Field, where it spent time with the current Arizona players and staff during batting practice.
Brohawn also spoke with longtime friend Aaron Boone, the New York Yankees manager. The two grew up playing against each other and became friends in high school.
“I’ve known him for pretty much my whole life. I grew up playing against him and became good friends with him in high school. I hadn’t seen him for a long time, but [since the D-backs were playing the Yankees] I got the chance to chat with him for a while,” Brohawn said.
The reunion continued with an on-field ceremony featuring members of the 2001 Diamondbacks team. Randy Johnson entered from the bullpen, and former manager Bob Brenly delivered the ceremonial first pitch after the team gathered for a photo.
Brohawn’s role in Arizona’s 2001 championship
Brohawn made his major league debut with Arizona in 2001 after seven years in the minor leagues. The 28-year-old left-handed reliever pitched in 59 games during the regular season and learned from fellow left-handed reliever Greg Swindell.
“It was like an internship, and [Greg] was my boss. He took me around and showed me the ropes, how to be a professional on the field and off the field. We were both left-handed relievers and he could have easily thought of me as a young kid coming up to take his job, but he was completely the opposite,” Brohawn said.
The Diamondbacks went 92-70 in the regular season, won the National League West by two games and captured the National League pennant. Arizona then defeated the New York Yankees 3-2 in Game 7 of the World Series on Luis Gonalez’s walk-off, bases-loaded single.
Brohawn pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Arizona’s 15-2 Game 6 victory over the Yankees. He also was in the bullpen during Games 3, 4 and 5 but did not enter those games.
“I was up in the bullpen for Games 3, 4, and 5, but didn’t get in. I wasn’t upset about it; someone else had a better matchup. Everyone had a ‘what’s-best-for-the-team’ mentality. You did your part when called upon,” Brohawn said.
Diamondbacks add another walk-off during reunion weekend
The current Diamondbacks produced another walk-off moment during the reunion weekend. With Arizona tied with the Yankees in the bottom of the ninth inning, pinch-hitter Pavin Smith hit a walk-off two-run home run in a 5-3 victory.
Brohawn said the reunion reinforced the connection among the members of the championship team. He has attended the 10-year, 20-year and 25-year reunions of the 2001 Diamondbacks team.
“I get asked all the time if I miss playing. I don’t miss playing at all, but if you ask anybody who has played professional sports, the one thing you miss is the locker room and the bus rides. With this team, it was like we just picked up right where we left off; the jokes were the same, there were guys getting on each other just like they did 25 years ago. It was just great,” Brohawn said.
Maryland Sports Blog Take
Brohawn’s reunion connected Salisbury University Sea Gulls baseball with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2001 championship team. His scoreless ninth inning in Game 6 was his only listed World Series appearance in the supplied material, but it came during Arizona’s victory that forced Game 7.
Salisbury University is an NCAA Division III institution with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference. Brohawn remains the head baseball coach of the Salisbury University Sea Gulls.
Source: Original report
