The Oakland A’s left-hander threw a perfect game in the Athletics’ four-to-nothing victory against Tampa Bay Sunday. It’s only the 19th in major league baseball history.
Back in 2003 and 2004, Braden played at ARC. Doug Jumelet was an assistant baseball coach back then. Today, he’s the head coach.
“You get chills every time you see the replay of him pumping his fist and knowing that he accomplished something that very, very few people have. And knowing where Dallas came from, he used to sleep in his car when he was here, you know the kid stuck with it. And when you see interviews with him about how he doesn’t forget his roots, it’s not an act. He comes by and says ‘hi.’”
Jumelet says Braden keeps in touch and occasionally visits the American River College baseball team.
The 26-year-old Braden is a 2001 graduate of Stockton’s Alonzo Stagg High School.
Braden’s mother died when he was in high school. He credits his grandmother with keeping him on the ball field and out of jail. And his grandmother was at the park Sunday to watch him pitch the perfect game on Mother’s Day.
The 26-year-old Braden is a 2001 graduate of Stockton’s Alonzo Stagg High School.
Braden’s mother died when he was in high school. He credits his grandmother with keeping him on the ball field and out of jail. And his grandmother was at the park Sunday to watch him pitch the perfect game on Mother’s Day.