Garth Brooks Sells Out Baton Rouge, Plays Ball with the Padres

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 16, 1998--Not many people can sell out three concerts AND play ball with the San Diego Padres in the same weekend. But that's exactly what Garth Brooks just did.

On Sunday (March 15), Brooks was in Phoenix for spring training with the Padres. According to Glenn Geffner, Director of Public Relations for the Padres, Brooks arrived at 9 a.m., suited up in his personal no. 7 jersey and met the team. Then it was on to the batting cages for practice with renowned hitting coach Merv Rettenmund, before heading to the stadium for fielding practice.

Brooks was not introduced prior to the game and sat in the dugout until the bottom half of the sixth inning. At that point, the Padres first baseman Wally Joyner scored a base hit, and Brooks was put in as a pinch runner. After surviving several pickoff attempts, he was finally forced out at second base on a double play. He jogged off the field to an ovation from the crowd of over 8,000 fans.

On Saturday (March 14), Brooks sold out three shows, scheduled for April 23-25, at the Maravich Center in Baton Rouge, La. In doing so, he tied the record for number of sold out shows at the venue, which he set himself in 1993.

Brooks performs on NBC's ``The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' on March 30 and on ``The Rosie O'Donnell Show'' on April 1 (syndicated; check local listings).

Return to Main � [email protected]