Pink bats don't clash with Bill Hall

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

May 13, 2012, 5:16am

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Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there, and to the dads who serve both roles. Yes, I include you, as well. Bill Hall made his Orioles debut a special one last night with a home run in the eighth inning, which was followed by a shaving cream pie to the face that still had his eyes burning hours later. Hall may not be in the lineup today against Rays right-hander James Shields if manager Buck Showalter is playing matchups, but this day tends to bring out the best in him. OK, I'm going back six years, but in case you forgot: Hall hit a walk-off home run on Mothers' Day 2006 while playing for the Brewers. He was using a pink bat for the occasion, and to make the moment even more special, his mother, Vergie Hall, sat in the stands cheering enthusiastically. He dedicated the home run to her, and the bat later was auctioned to raise money for breast cancer research. As the story goes, Brewers owner Mark Attanasio purchased the bat, with the final bid exceeding $25,000, and he gave it to Hall's mother. The following year, the Brewers lost to the Mets on Mother's Day, 9-1. Their only run scored on Hall's solo homer in the ninth inning. When it comes to deciding whether Hall should play, it's wise to think pink.