Rangers fans use Shannon Stone memorial as garbage can on Opening Day in Texas

Some fans who were heading into the ballpark to watch the Texas Rangers take on the Philadelphia Phillies on Opening Day in Arlington apparently had very short memories.

A memorial dedicated to father Shannon Stone, who fell to his death at a Rangers game in 2011 while trying to catch a ball for his 6-year-old son, was covered with beer cans, bottles, cups and other trash on Monday.

The Rangers dedicated the statue to the deceased firefighter in April 2012.

"We feel that this statue will be a most fitting tribute," Rangers president Nolan Ryan said at the time. "It will not only serve to honor Mr. Stone's memory but also to recognize Rangers fans and baseball fans everywhere."

On Monday night, the Rangers had to address the statue once again, albeit for a totally different reason.

“The Rangers certainly regret and apologize for the trash that accumulated on the Rangers Fans statue at the home plate gate this afternoon. With thousands of opening day fans, many of whom had been tailgating, entering the park in the 30 minutes before game time, large amounts of cans, bottles, and other items that are prohibited in the park, accumulated at all entrances,” the team said in a statement to the Sporting News.

“The debris on the statue was removed in a timely manner but it should not have been allowed to be placed there in the first place. The Rangers Fans statue is a cherished component of Globe Life Park in Arlington and the club will make certain this situation does not occur in the future."

The Rangers lost the game 14-10.

[The Sporting News]