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Jackie Robinson Stadium and Jarry Park
There's going to be another Yankee Stadium, a bright and shiny replacement for the legendary "House that Ruth Built." Movie sequels are never as good as the originals and, in most cases, modern baseball stadiums seldom have the feel and the atmosphere of the original.
What will they call the new stadium? "The House that Jeter Built?" "The House that A-Rod Built?" How about "The House that Uncle George Built?" Regardless, I just don't think it will ever have the feel of the real Yankee Stadium, the center field patrolled by Joe D and Mickey (that's Mantle, not Rivers!) and Bernie. The stroll from the dugout to the mound taken by Whitey and Gator and Mel Stottlemyre, and all those great Yankee pitchers through the years.
And now the Mets are building a new stadium and columnist George Vecsey wants it named "Jackie Robinson Stadium," in honor of the first African-American major league baseball player, who reached the major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. That creates quite a controversy. But Robinson never played for the Mets. He was retired from baseball six years before the New York Mets even existed. So, I say thumbs down to the Jackie Robinson Stadium idea for New York.
If the borough of Brooklyn, which now hosts a minor league baseball team, ever returns to the big leagues, maybe then, but not at some new stadium in Flushing.
Speaking of stadiums, my favorite major league baseball stadium of all-time is Jarry Park in Montreal, the original home of the Montreal Expos. Remember Jarry Park? During batting practice the players were side-by-side, eyeball-to-eyeball with the fans. You could get an autograph and actually carry on a conversation with the players.
That's how I met Joe Kerrigan, who was an Expos' relief pitcher in 1976. He was hanging around the Expos' dugout during batting practice and I asked him to sign his West Palm Beach Expos' minor league baseball card. We got talking about collecting autographs and baseball memorabilia, and ended up chatting for about half an hour. As game time approached he asked if I wanted to come back the next night for the game, and he offered two free tickets. Needless to say, I happily accepted, and Joe and I ended up friends during his stay in Montreal.
Kerrigan eventually became one of baseball's best pitching coaches, and he managed the Boston Red Sox for part of the 2001 season. He is now the Yankees' bullpen coach.
Jarry Park was a great place for fans. It was fun at a game. Remember "the Dancer" behind home plate, the guy who would dance up and down the steps between innings? Remember "Mr. Peanut," the peanut vendor, who would throw his bag of shelled peanuts at a customer two sections away, and the fan would toss two quarters through the air over to "Mr. Peanut"?
And the memorable players like Mack Jones, whose fans in the outfield bleachers called themselves "Jonesville," and called their beloved Mack "the Mayor of Jonesville." And Rusty Staub, "Le Grande Orange." And, just before the move to Olympic Stadium, Barry Foote beat out Gary Carter for the starting catching job, so Carter became the starting right fielder. The future Hall of Famer didn't complain, kept smiling, and, in a short time, Foote's .194 batting average earned a trade to the Phillies, opening the spot for Carter forever.
And many of my buddies will remember the bar across the street from Jarry Park, Le Canoe. You could skip batting practice and the first few innings of the game, and pour down Molsons at a low price before heading over to Le Park Jarry with thirsts quenched.
Then along came Olympic Stadium, "the Big O," and that started, as far as I'm concerned, the demise of the Expos. Honestly, I cried a tear or two on Opening Day at Olympic Stadium in 1977. Seated way up in the rafters, I could not even hear the crack of the bat, and could barely see the players. I trekked my way to the dugout area, got Joe Kerringan's attention, but we were so far away that we couldn't shake hands and had to yell to converse. In 1991 the Big O was remodeled to make the place more fan-friendly, but by then it was too late, for me, at least.
We will have to see what the new Yankee Stadium and the Mets' new stadium will be like. But I'll always remember the black and white film of Roger Maris hitting home run number 61 over that short right field fence at Yankee Stadium, and I'll always remember Jarry Park, the most fan-friendly major league park I've ever seen.
Comments
Hi Foxy..
Just ran across your site and was facinated by your comments about the Expos and of course, Jarry Park. I was a big Expo fan and attended games at Jarry Park and at the Big "O". I worked for a radio station at the time that was one of the first stations in Ontario to broadcast the Expos games. In 1972 I was presented with a sealed Montreal Expos signed baseball. Some of the signatures include Ron Fairly, Ken Singleton, Steve Rogers, Tim McCarver, Carl Morton and of course Gene Mauch, plus many more. Next year (2007) I will have had the ball for 25 years and I was curious as to what value something like that would have in the collectors market. I'm not a collector, but I have been told that this particular item would be worth a lot of money on the market seeing that it has been sealed in a clear plastic box for nearly 25 years. Anyway, I'm not really interested in getting rid of it but was wondering if you could point me in a direction where I could get an approximate value. I'm well into my 60's now and would like to pass it on to my son. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.
(Foxy's note: Nice to hear from you, Bob. You have a very unique item and I would guess it was be worth hundreds of dollars. I am an eBay seller and right now Expos' items are a hot item. Signed photos of Expos players, which would normally sell for about $5, now go for $20 or more. Also, of the names you listed, Carl Morton has died, adding value to the ball. You might try searching on eBay (you don't need to register to search), and try to find if a similar signed ball is up for auction. There is also a magazine called TUFF STUFF which lists values of autographed items.)
Posted by: Bob Matheson | November 12, 2006 9:51 AM
hey foxy,
there is a jackie robinson stadium, but it is the home of the daytona cubs. The cubs single a team in the florida state league.
Foxy's note: I didn't know that ... have you played a game in that stadium, Chris? Thanks for the info.)
Posted by: Chris Burdo | September 11, 2006 11:59 AM
My very first autograph was acquired in Jerry Park! I remember sitting down along the left field line and Tom Seaver was warming-up to start the game. A bunch of us kids were there with our dads and he came over and signed our souvenir programs. It was awesome! What? Awesome wasn't a word back then? Oh sorry…REALLY KEEN!
(Foxy's note: Yes, Jarry Park was the perfect place for autograph collectors! For your info, a signed Seaver photo books at about $50, so a signed program might be worth about $30.)
Posted by: Kern | September 7, 2006 9:44 AM
Speaking of Jarry Park, we used to have a 1st Friday club at the Champlain K of C that went to the games on the 1st Friday of the month that the Expos were home. One night, Jim Bouton of the Astros was warming up down the 1st base line and we were talking to him and bet him a six pack that he couldn't strike out the side. Well, Jim goes in, strikes out the side, and as he was leaving the field I held out $5.00 and he took it!!!!
(Foxy's note: Great story, Ross, and sounds like something Bouton would do!)
Posted by: Ross O'Loughlin | September 6, 2006 11:28 PM
Fox: Two weeks ago, I went down to Tampa Bay to see the Indians win two. What impressed me was that the domed stadium was only a mile off I270 and you drove right into the park. FREE!!
For $8, you could sit in right or left field which were very nice seats. I sat on 3rd base for $22. No wonder a losing team still draws 15,000 or more each game. Last week, I went back to Ohio State to march once more in the alumni marching band. Seats in hog heaven were $62 and parking 115 miles away was $20. Of course, this almost 70 year old got free parking and game tickets for marching in the pregame and halftime. Super times--both of them.
(Foxy's note: Nice to hear from you, Ken! For those that may not know, Ken was the "Founding Father" and "lifetime President" of the North Country Sports Collectors Club. Oh, those were the days!)
Posted by: Ken Hoeltzel | September 6, 2006 4:44 PM
Foxy,
I agree with you, Jarry Parc was the most fan friendly stadium. I have many warm memories. The first being "cold" memories of April games in 30 degree weather. While other players were just about wearing parkas, Rusty Staub was in short sleeves.
I got to see many of the all time greats come through Jarry Parc in the early 1970's. Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Bob Gibson, Frank Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Tom Seaver, and Willie Mays. I got to see Mays' last regular season game of his career there in September of 1973.
Another pleasant experience was the PA announcer saying John Bocabella as well as Angel Hermosa rolling the R's in Hermosa's name.
I also recall a game seeing Ron Hunt get hit by multiple pitches in one cold April game. Ouch. I don't know how he handled all those HBPs. Thanks for stirring the memories, Foxy.
(Foxy's note: Craig, thanks for the comments, and, oh, yes, thanks for adding that John BOC - A - BELLLLLLA name! Sure was fun there! Olympic Stadium just never had any personality.)
Posted by: craig mathews | September 2, 2006 6:11 PM
Foxy, Jarry Park brings back many fond memories for me as well. Dad and I took "Grandpa Vaughn" to an Expos game there many moons ago. As we sat behind first base we heard the crack of the bat and we all looked toward right field. In that moment I looked up and saw the ball coming right at Grandpas' head while he was still looking in right field. I didn't catch the ball but it did bounce off my left hand and roll down the bleachers. Man....did that smart. LOL We talked about that all the way home.
Yankee stadium is a whole 'nother story. At the age of 12 I had the opportunity to see Mickey and Roger play against the Sox' in a triple header. A trip I will never forget. Actually got to talk with Joe D. in right field.
On the subject of parks Fenway is still one of my favorites and no I am not a sox fan. Have a great day.
Posted by: Randy Vaughn | September 2, 2006 12:05 PM
As for naming the new Mets ballpark, I couldn't agree with you more. There are no ties whatsoever between Jackie Robinson (a baseball institution in his own right) and the Mets. I was at the home opener in the Polo Grounds when it all began for the Mets, I did not miss a home opener for 15 years. Saw on the average about 40 games a year. Best ball park for me to see a game was Fenway. Did enjoy Jarry Park. The worst park (and I only went once) was Olympic Stadium in Montreal. I guess others will have different feelings about other ball parks. I enjoyed Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds. Remember 1951, in August hitchhiking to New York with a buddy. Had no tickets and there was a double header at the Polo Grounds, Giants v Dodgers. I was a Giant fan at the time. Giants were coming from 13 games back. The only seats we could get were in dead center field. The only ball player we could see from there was Willie Mays (The Best). Giants won two that Sunday. Quite a trip for two seventeen year olds from Plattsburgh.
(Foxy's note: You are so fortunate to have been in some of the great ballparks like Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds. I have several great photos of Ebbets Field in my "Fox Museum." A Brooklyn Dodgers game at Ebbets would be tops on my "If Only..." list.)
Posted by: The Old Timer | September 1, 2006 8:24 AM
Yes I remember going to Jarry Park. Expos v. Cardinals. Lou Brock was playing then. It was a double header and in between the two games the Expo wives did a fashion show while sitting on convertibles driven around the park. I have also been to the Big O, and agree with you, Foxy the atmosphere isnt very fan friendly. Seats couldnt be any farther from the players and the crowds were not the same either. I miss Jarry Park.
Posted by: Chris Heckard | August 31, 2006 10:26 PM
this really brought back the memories..we use to go to montreal to watch the expo's play alot in 73-75...jarry park was a fan friendly stadium and very cheap entertainment for the air force guys..
Posted by: bill glasscock | August 31, 2006 7:47 PM