It had been eight years since their crazy night. Two names linked in major-league history, now inked on a minor-league scorecard. They were 30-somethings, hoping to return to the bigs, to turn back time.
Both Park and Tatis would return to the majors, sneaking in some at-bats or reliefs stints, capping off careers that, really, had already been defined in 1999.
It was 20 years ago Tuesday — April 23, 1999 — when the Cardinals’ Tatis experienced the inexplicable. The third baseman hit two grand slams in the same game … in the same inning … against, yes, the same pitcher.