Rangers' Josh Jung hits 2-run homer for mom while facing brother Jace on Mother's Day

DETROIT (AP) — Josh Jung delivered a special Mother's Day gift to his mom, Mary.

The Texas Rangers third baseman hit a two-out, two-run homer in the fifth inning of his team's 6-1 win at Detroit on Sunday. Jung's brother, Jace, was in the Tigers' lineup at the same position.

Before the game, Mary Jung delivered the game ball to the mound and her sons joined her on the field.

“My heart is just exploding. I mean, I couldn’t ask for a better Mother’s Day gift,” Mary Jung said in an interview on the Rangers’ telecast. “We’re all in the same place, to begin with. But then to watch them live their dream, do what they love to do, I couldn’t be more proud.”

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time since the first national Mother's Day in 1914 that a major league player homered against his brother.

“It's a pretty cool feat, pretty rare,” Josh Jung said.

The Jungs' parents, Mary and Jeff, were in attendance throughout the three-game series. The brothers also started on Saturday when Texas won 10-3.

“To everybody involved — parents, my brother and I, his girlfriend — all encompassing, I think everyone had a great time, a great moment," Josh Jung said. “Any time we all get to be in the same city, which is kind of rare now, it's special. To be able to play against each other, I know my parents are super proud. All the emotions come out because of all the sacrifices they've made for us. There's no way to say thank you, but hopefully they were super proud watching us both going out there and playing the same position for these last two days.”

The Jung brothers gave their parents jerseys prior to the game — half with Texas blue, the other side with Detroit white. Their mom had already purchased a similar jersey.

The Jung brothers escorted Mary to the mound and she placed the ball there before Tigers starter Reese Olson's first pitch.

“Super cool moments, pinch-me moments,” Josh Jung said. “It will probably never happen again.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung throws to first base for an out on a Detroit Tigers' Zach McKinstry ground ball in the second inning during a baseball game, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Texas Rangers' Josh Jung hits a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Texas Rangers' Josh Jung rounds first base after hitting a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Texas Rangers' Josh Jung (6) slides safely into third base as Detroit Tigers third baseman Jace Jung, left, can't handle the throw in the second inning during a baseball game, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Texas Rangers' Josh Jung celebrates his two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Sunday, May 11, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)