Major League Baseball

Raindrops fallin' on ALCS anthem cause commotion

Published Oct. 23, 2010 1:47 a.m. ET

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Yes, those really were raindrops fallin' on the head of B.J. Thomas as he sang the national anthem prior to Game 6 of the AL championship series.

Rain began falling at Rangers Ballpark about 15 minutes before the pregame ceremonies, then stopped, only to start again just before the introduction of Thomas, the Arlington resident who in 1970 topped the charts with ''Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head.''

Thomas sang through it and the grounds crew got to work, dragging the already unspooled tarp toward the infield. However, five flag-bearing Marines standing at attention in the middle of the grass - between the pitching mound and second base - weren't about to budge, not even after a groundskeeper asked them to scoot up.

Realizing they were stuck waiting, several of the youngsters closest to the color guard pulled off their caps. Others didn't.

Thomas was looking in the direction of all the commotion, but may not have realized what was happening because he sure didn't sing any faster.

When he finally finished, the grounds crew was antsy to finish dragging the tarp, again contrary to the Marines. They were trying to march off in a particular pattern, but wound up zigzagging their way off the field.

The game started only four minutes late.

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