On The Sly

I think that age plays a great role in one's penchant for ball parks. My fondest thoughts are of the older parks. I think it is because of the uniquness of each park, each having their own personality. Ebbets Field (with the Cardinals in), The Polo Grounds (with Mays in center field), The Old Yankee Stadium ( I always rooted for the visiting team) or the best place I ever watched a ball game " Fenway Park." At the time of my attendence at these parks I was quite young. Later on I spent many days and nights at Shea Stadium. Had a string of nine straight home openers for the Mets beginning at the Polo Grounds, I believe starting in 1962. Was at the Polo Grounds also in August of 1952 for a double header when the Giants started their run against the Dodgers. Maybe these parks were not the most comfortable or had the most amenities, they were to us young lads just fantastic places to view major league baseball.

(Foxy's note: Thanks for sharing some great old-time memories, Tom!)

I have only been to a few ball parks, but two that are great to watch a game that I have attended is Energy Park, where the St. Paul Saints play minor league ball. A great atmosphere, kinda like Jerry Park, but with alot more fun! My favorite Major League Stadium is Fenway Park. It may be the history, or the size of the Green Monster, but there is just something about that stadium i like!!

Fox,

I haven't been to many parks and of the ones I have been to, only 3 have been major league parks. In the early 80's I went to Montreal to see the Expos play and in the mid 90's I went to Baltimore and saw the Ravens play. However, neither one of those compared to 1992 when I went to Fenway and saw the Red Sox play. My dad was born and raised in Massachusetts and had always dreamed of going to a game at Fenway. The price of a Red Sox ticket was X and the price of a hot dog and coke was Y but the look on my dad's face when we actually walked into the stadium was priceless. To be with someone, who you truly care about, when a dream of theirs is realized after more than 50 years is incredible. As you know, since that time I have gone blind but that sight will always stay with me.

(Foxy's note: Thanks for sharing, Kathy!)

Foxy,

Reading your comment about minor league baseball brings back some memories about Tinker Field here in Orlando. Back in the 80's it was home to the Minnesota Twins. We had $2 tickets to the "bleachers" which really were under the main canopy of the stadium.

My sons would bring their baseball gloves and when a foul ball was hit over the back of the stadium, off they would run to try to retrieve the ball. As parents we knew there was no way they would retrieve that ball but we couldn't dash their expectations.

Kirby Puckett was just one of the AA ball players during the summer months. He was called up quite early, but we can certainly say, "We saw him when ..."

The Atlanta Braves had a minor league team play at Disney's Wide World of Sports for a while but it just wasn't the same as watching the Minnesota Twins in old Tinker Field.

Good memories . . .

(Foxy's note: Nothing like minor league baseball. I agree, Elaine.)

I was at the game in 1978 when the Dodgers became the first team to draw over 3,000,000 at home. After the game, they let all the fans onto the field and had a big fireworks display. I can remember standing in left field and looking up behind home plate. There are about six levels with multi colors, mostly white. I then had a greater appreciation for a major league outfielder being able to pick up the ball coming out from that massive background. Dodger Dogs weren't that bad either, but nothing like a Yankee Frank, or as Luis Tiant would say, Jankee Frank.

Not a stadium, but I would have to say from a fan perspective I preferred Old Bailey to New Bailey Ave.
Kind of like Jarry Park vs the Big O. Well intentioned but lacking in atmosphere.
As for major league stadiums I would comment that it is soooo good that they aren't doing those cookie cutter stadiums of the 70's anymore.

I've had the pleasure of visiting quite a few stadiums through the years. It's amazing the vast differences you can find. For comfort, who could surpass visiting Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay...not always the best baseball, but you can watch the games from a section that instead of stadium seats, gives you leather recliners and access to the all you can eat buffet, unless of course you wanted it delivered to you. That was living. Then there were the games down in Miami.. something just doesn't seem right about a place called "Dolphin Stadium". However, since nobody attends the games you can drive almost up to the front door...and they definitely serve the best Pina Coladas in all of baseball. Course it's easy to get confused there... English is definitely the second language there.. so when you cheer in Englsh all 200 fans in the stadium stop and look at you like you are crazy. Lots of fun though! One of my earliest memories (other than the Jerry Park visit, which miss d said I could no longer mention) was a visit to Fenway Park. I was lucky enough to win an Air Force level award, and part of the award was visiting Boston...seeing the sights and actually going onto the field, meeting the players, and throwing out the first pitch. Was a definite highlight...even though I've never been a Red Sox man. I've been to other parks, but I'll close with my thoughts of the homes of my beloved Braves. I attended too many games to count at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium...but enjoyed them all. The highlight was the 1996 Game 7 of the NLCS. The Braves won that game and the series (clobbered them 15-0 behind great hitting by the Series MVP Javy Lopez and great pitching by Tom Glavine (now back home where he belongs). My youngest daughter and I were able to watch the game from the glass window in the left field fence...a perk due to my unit doing the honor guard for the game. Was an awesome sight and we got to walk out onto the field during the celebration. Then a security guard came up to us, and I thought we were toast..but instead he told us where to go so we could go meet the players by the locker room entrance. On the way, we passed Ozzie Smith, said hello, shook hands. He had left the game early and was already in street clothes..and just lost gave seven..but he saw my military uniform and stopped to shake my hand..a real class act! Oh..by the way, that same game, about an hour before game time, Ted Turner and Jane Fonda pulled into the area we were at inside the stadium awaiting the honor guard to begin their duties...Ted pulled up in an old Ford Tauras (really) and Jane in a limo (big surprise). They both walked by us like we were part of the sidewalk.. that also was no big surprise and to tell the truth, I 'm glad.. not sure what I would have said in response. Anyways...I loved that old stadium. Unfortunately, that stadium is now a parking lot. But there is a plaque where the real homerun king's record breaking homerun ball landed. That brings me to Turner Field...as much as I miss the old stadium, I love Turner Field. Not a bad seat in the house. Fan friendlly..great food. And I can leave my driveway and be there in 90 minutes. One of my favorite games was bringing my favorite oldest sister and my favorite brother-in-law there to watch a game..that's the day he became Braves fan over those old Mets...ok..two facts stated in that last run on sentence..."my favorite brother in law" and "now a Braves fan"...one of those facts is true. I'll leave it at that. ok...PLAY BALL!!!!!

(Foxy's note: Great job, Chief. Very interesting!)

How about the exhibition game Saturday between the Red Sox and Dodgers in the LA Coliseum. They are expecting 115,000 fans! Largest ever to see a baseball game. Still 201 ft down the left field line. Great article about:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/26/sports/baseball/26coliseum.html

Foxy:
I too have had the opportunity to visit several ballparks. I have to say, Yankee Stadium is still my favorite (being a Yankees fan may have something to do with it) followed closely by Wrigley Field and the old County Stadium in Milwaukee. Back in the 80's, a group of us from work took trips we dubbed "baseball mania." The object was to go to as many baseball games as possible in a short time.
The first year we flew to Pittsburgh to pick up a friend and saw a night game at Three Rivers. The next morning flew to Chicago for the one day of the year the Cubs and White Sox were both in town. Saw the Cubs in the afternoon (pre lights) and the Sox at old Comiskey at night. The next day it was back to Wrigley, then up to Milwaukee for a Brewers game. Day 3 started with the Cubs, then a flight to Pittsburgh for another Pirates game and home the next morning. We had such a great time we did a west coast trip the following year going to Dodger Statium, Candlestick, Oakland Alemedia, Anaheim Stadium and the old Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego. We only had two baseball mania trips but they were certainly memorable. I guess the credit card bills put a stop to our fun! Maybe now in your retirement days you can put together such a trip.
Have also had the opportunity to go on the fields of the Big O, Shea, Fenway, and the old Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Busch and the Big O were by far the biggest disappointments.

(Foxy's note: Vin, those baseball trips sound like so much fun. I would have loved that.)

Fox Man! Great blog, especially with opening day right around the corner. I've got my MLB extra innings package ready to go!!! As you know, I've been to tons more minor league stadiums than major league stadiums.

Although I am not a Yankee fan, I enjoy Yankee Stadium a lot. When i'm home in the North Country I make a trek down for a day to hear the great Bob Sheppard do P.A (is he still doing it?)

I can see your autographed Vin Scully picture sitting on the mantle. By the way will there be balloons and streamers for your 300th blog? Will there be a cake with a woman jumping out of it with the number 300 on it? If so i'll take my end of the season vacation early to partake in the fun.

Take it easy, talk to you soon!!!

(Foxy's note: Bryan Benway, the kid from the hamlet of Jay, is now in Texas, announcing hockey for the Laredo Bucks of the Central Hockey League.)

Although Fenway Park may be loved across America, I say its time for a new ball yard in the Back Bay.

Over the years, having been to around 100 games at Fenway. I have been lucky enough to be in the press box for WKDR, in the front row of the monster seats for a game against Chicago, in the seat right next to the Pesky Pole and just about every other section in the park.

The reasons for a new park are plenty. Parking is very limited and on opening day last year the independant lots were charging $80. As Foxy mentioned, the seats were not made for anyone over 250 lbs or over 6 feet tall. With the new Yankee Stadium opening next year with hundreds of luxury suites, the Sox will at some point need to get more revenue out of the ballpark just to compete with the "evil empire." Lastly, the average fan can't get tickets without paying double the price or winning in the ticket lottery. Last year I was selected for tickets to either a Yankee game or opening day. This year not so lucky, so we will be getting our tickets through a broker. A 60,000 seat stadium would allow a family to walk up on gameday and still be able to get a seat.

A new park along the Charles River modeled after San Francisco's AT&T Park would be much appreciated.

(Foxy's note: Rick K, great to hear the thoughts of a longtime die-hard Red Sox fan. Thanks!)

Foxy,
Being born and raised in Brooklyn during the 40's and 50's, I wasn't aware of the significance and celebrity of those ballparks that surrounded me.
Being a NY Giant fan in Brooklyn in those days was not an easy choice. In retrospect, however, it was fun.
My friends and I were frequent visitors to Ebbets Field (a short bus ride on Bedford Ave), Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium (a longer ride by subway.)
I saw all the greats who played for each of those teams in those days.
As we sat in those seats we would bring our cards and set them up according to the line ups of the home team and the opposition. We would reshuffle them as the lineups changed and read the stats in back of each card.
The zaniest ball park was Ebbets Field which abounded with characters. Dem Bums band played every game adding to the enjoyment of the game. Raucous boos and cheers resounded through the ball park with that inimitable Brooklyn accent. Oh what fun! Before the game we strolled through Prospect Park and zoo, copping a few hot bags of roasted peanuts for a nickel. It was close park and fan friendly. We were there for batting practice getting autographs from the players who were not as aloof as they are now.
I remember when the St. Louis Cards were playing the Dodgers and I wanted Stan Musial's autograph. I was too late. He was finished BP and went into the dugout. My cousin told me that Musial was Polish and that I should call out to him in Polish, so I did. Soon, Musial poked his head out and asked who said that? I waved my hands, he came over, spoke to me in Polish gave me an autograph and tossled my hair. What a thrill!!
Traveling to Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium was a longer subway ride, but once seated in the grandstands you could see the other park across the Harlem River.
Being local kids and savvy, we were able to get the seats we wanted in all the parks CHEAP.
Most games were during the day, and the Saturday doubleheaders were right after each other with only a 1/2 hour intermission.
After being in those old parks and Fenway Park, my only park I would really like to see is Wrigley Park in Chicago. These other ones (modern ones) don't hold those memories like the old.
Well, I'll be coming home soon and look forward to joining you at Senior Center for lunch. Take care, Skip

(Foxy's note: Skip, thanks for sharing so many great memories of days gone by. I wish I'd been there with you. What a book you could right about your days as a baseball fan.)