When third base coach Al Newman returned from the shower, he immediately ordered the rookie to the middle of the clubhouse because the throng of media members had made his locker, and several others, inaccessible.  Morneau, knowing his place, quickly accommodated him.  Newman then yelled, "Hold your ball while you are talking," and tossed the baggie containing his first hit ball to the embarrassed youngster.

While Morneau continued to field questions, the teasing and razzing kept going. With Newman, Jacque Jones, Dustan Mohr, and Torii Hunter leading the way, the ribbing continued until Latroy Hawkins capped it off by stuffing a towel full of shaving cream into the unwitting rookie's face.

Morneau, to his credit, never lost his composure, wiped the mess off his face and continued answering questions with bits of shaving cream hanging from his chin and ears.  When the questions finally ended, he showered, spent a moment with his visiting father, and returned to his hotel for some well-earned rest.

Day 2: June 11, 2003

With Father's Day less than a week away, you didn't have to look around the Metrodome very long to find the world's proudest pop.  One minute, George Morneau was receiving an autographed line up card used in his son's first game from Ron Gardenhire -- the next he was talking to Rockies outfielder Larry Walker, who had the Rockies sign it.  After a pre-game meal  at the Dome, he chatted with fans who had already begun to adore his son.

"He called me at 4:00 p.m. on Monday (June 9), and said, 'Dad, I got the call to the Big Show,'" George Morneau said.  "I was just tickled pink; I just about started crying, I was probably more excited than him.  I told I was coming, but when I found out the price of the plane tickets, I just about went nuts, but I came anyway.  Yesterday just about made my whole life -- seeing my boy up at bat, getting a hit his first time up, and everybody giving him a standing ovation, I started crying."

George beamed taking the line up card, which is the latest edition to the shrine he has created in honor of his son's baseball career.  "I have his first hit ball (in the minors), his first bat he used for a home run...it's all his stuff, even though he gives it to me," he explained.  "I got his first hit ball from last night. Coach Al Newman gave it to me."

George, who lives in Kelowana, British Columbia, is "good friends" with Larry Walker Sr., the father of the Rockies star and British Columbia native, that Justin grew up idolizing.  Walker Jr., who has sent Justin autographed bats in the past, chatted with his admirer before the game.

"I got tears in my eyes again, when I saw my son talking to his idol, Larry Walker," George Morneau said.  Justin was less visibly moved about the encounter, simply saying it was "cool."  He did, however, acknowledge that the multitude of events that occurred a day earlier had taken their toll.  "I think yesterday kind of caught up with me," he admitted. "I was real tired, but I am sure when the game starts I'll be all right."

Unlike the previous night, he was able to sleep. "I went to sleep at midnight, which is early for me; usually I am not asleep until two or three," Morneau explained.  "Normally I get about eight hours of sleep, but last night I got a eleven and a half."

During batting practice the rookie hazing continued.  After taking a couple of cuts in the cage, Morneau was set to step out and let Jacque Jones take his turn.  Jones, however, informed the rookie had three more swings.  The unsure Morneau hesitated, and Jones yelled out again "you got three more," which finally prompted the rookie to get back in to the cage.  Jones, laughing, asked, "are you from Canada?"  Doug Mientkiewicz, who was standing nearby, said "only give him one (pitch); it took him a year to get in there."

In the lineup as the DH, batting clean up once again, Morneau continued to wield a hot bat.  He stepped to the plate against Rockies' righty Aaron Cook, with one out and Koskie on first base and Cristian Guzman on second in the bottom of the first inning. After working the count to 2-2, Morneau hit Cook's next offering to right field for a base hit.  Guzman scored on the play, giving the Twins a 1-0 lead and Morneau his first RBI.

When he came to the plate in the 3rd with runners and second and third, the Rockies decided to walk the left-handed hitting Morneau, and pitch to the right-handed hitting Torii Hunter.  To many in attendance it seemed strange to intentionally walk a rookie with five major at bats to get to an established hitter, who was an All Star last year. "They were playing the percentages," Morneau explained, "even though it was Torii (Hunter) hitting behind me, and he's a pretty good hitter."