ST. GEORGE – The Huntsman World Senior Games had a special presentation from former Major League Baseball MVP and home runs leader Jose Canseco on Thursday night at Snow Canyon High School.
Canseco currently lives in Las Vegas and is participating in the softball portion of the Huntsman Senior Games. He played for 17 years in the major leagues for seven different teams with a lifetime batting average of .266. He hit 462 home runs and batted in 1,407 runs. He is the last person to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in the same season.
He joined long-ball golfer and Utah native Greg Walker in a softball hitting competition. Both athletes cleared the fence around Snow Canyon High School’s baseball field several times. With a GPS tracker the actual distances were relayed back to the crowd for every ball hit over the fence.
Walker warmed up the crowd with several 400-plus foot hits, reaching a max of 407 feet. He would alternate several times with Canseco. Many fans, despite several cautions from Devin Dixon, ESPN radio announcer, failed to move their vehicles back from behind Snow Canyon’s left field fence. It was not long before Canseco was making them pay for their obstinance. He hit several home runs between 425-475 feet dinging vehicles in the process.
Fans were invited to also participate and local Corey Swenson took the plate and hit one over the fence for 395 feet. On Canseco’s final swing of the night, the ball sailed 501 feet, the farthest of the night.
“The softballs we were hitting were mush,” said Canseco. “The harder stadium balls would have sailed 500 feet continuously.”
Canseco has hit five home runs in his eight at-bats so far in the Games. He will play two more games in pool play tomorrow at the Canyons Softball Complex before tournament play begins.
Several people showed up for autographs. Canseco had played most of the day and expressed his need for rest to the event organizers. He graciously signed several softballs afterwards that were tossed to the audience after the exhibition.
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Canseco puts on a home run hitting exhibition at Snow Canyon High School, St. George, Utah, Oct. 13, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
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