ttowntbird – Take Me Out To The Ballpark

Uncategorized

Great Moments in Bobble Heads: Patrick Corbin

July 20, 2015

What: Patrick Corbin Bobble Head Promotion

When: April 26, 2014

Where: Chase Field

This was a fun one for Mac and me. Patrick Corbin was coming off of an All-Star Season in 2013, but suffered an injury during Spring Training. He was not going to pitch at all during 2014. How was that good for us? Well, this meant Corbin spent a great deal of time signing for fans prior to the game. He even was present when the gates opened to hand out the bobble head to fans.

After getting our bobble head, we headed down to the third base line to see if Mac could get Corbin to sign a ball. Mac prefers the autographed ball over the signed bobble head. Can’t see the signature as well, plus the potential risk of damaging the item while at the game.

How many Patrick Corbins are in this picture?

Handing Mac back his ball.

We were in luck. Corbin was signing! Mac found a spot and waited his turn. It was great. Bobble head and autograph – not a bad day!

Bobble Head. Check. Autograph. Check.

Ballpark Memory, Uncategorized

Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox (Fenway Park)

July 4, 2015

Joey Bats talking with Mike Cameron before the game

When: April 17, 2011

Box Score: Blue Jays – Red Sox April 17

Who: Amanda, Mac and Me

Why: We headed out to Boston as I prepared to run the 2011 Boston Marathon. It was my third time running, but the first time Mac was able to travel with us to the race. We had a big Patriots Day Weekend planned. Some sight seeing, dinner with friends on Saturday night, Race Day and a Red Sox game.

This was building to be an emotional trip. First, the excitement of seeing Fenway Park was a quite exciting. Second, the reason I run Boston is raise funds and awareness for Hydrocephalus research as part of Tedy’s Team. Led by a friend from Tucson, this group gives me the chance to help my son and run a lot. I had run many times in Mac’s name, but this would be the first time he would be at one of these races.

The Set Up

Thanks to our awesome friends Anne Marie and Margaret, we were able to obtain great seats right behind First Base. Also through the kindness of our friends, they arranged a private tour of Fenway before the Sunday afternoon game. We met our tour guide, Sarah Applewhite, in the VIP area of Fenway. To say that Sarah was kind and informative, would be an understatement. Her and Mac hit it off immediately. Sarah took us out to the field where the visiting Blue Jays were taking batting practice. Mac ended up with a ball given to him by Jose Bautista. Not bad. Seeing these ball players up close was amazing.

Thank you Blue Jays

Got it!

Quick Pitch

George Brett’s Final Home Game (Royals Stadium)

July 2, 2015

George Brett’s Final Home Game

September 29, 1993 at Royals Stadium

Box Score

Indians – Royals September 29, 1993

Who: Jumping Jamie Plesser and Me

What: During my first semester at the University of Kansas School of Law, my roommate came into possession of tickets for the final home game of Royals Legend, George Brett. Jumping Jamie was (and is) a true Royal fan. No way were we going to miss this game. The previous year, we almost saw his 3,000th hit. We were a game late for that event. This night was not optional.

The game was pretty non-descript final weekend game for two teams headed in opposite directions. The Royals were on the slow descent to mediocrity while the Indians were ascending toward juggernaut status. However, every time Brett came to bat the place became electric. It was amazing to see the fans cheer for the unquestioned greatest player in franchise history. When the game ended, the third baseman gave a great speech. As an Arizona alum, the high point was Brett acknowledging former Arizona hoops player, Kenny Lofton.

The Moment: Following the emotional goodbye, Brett rode around the stadium in a golf cart before jumping off to do this:

One Last Good Bye

Check out this great article about the final game:

http://www.si.com/vault/1993/10/11/129484/thats-all-folks-george-brett-celebrated-his-final-home-game-in-kansas-city-with-a-few-last-laughs

Quick Pitch

My Night in the Rock Pile (Mile High Stadium)

July 2, 2015

July 18, 1994 at Mile High Stadium

Box Score

Cubs – Rockies July 18, 1994

Who: John Dalton and Me

What: This summer I was working in Denver for the ACLU Mountain Region Office. Luckily for me, an old friend lived in Denver near where I was working. John’s apartment was also near the city-wide bike path, so we would hop on our bicycles to head out to downtown.

The Rockies were still a new franchise that was playing their games in Mile High Stadium, whose primary tenant was the Denver Broncos. While Mile High was a great football stadium, it was terrible for baseball. Due to the unusual seating configuration, tickets were plentiful. On this evening, we rode our bikes out to the stadium to find seats in the Rock Pile. What was the Rock Pile? These were the seats furthest away from the home plate in Center Field. The best part – each ticket was only $1!

For a single dollar, we had an awesome view of what we thought was a professional baseball game. It was hard to tell!

Located in dead Center Field. Elevated above the field. That was the Rock Pile.

From our vantage point, we could see the McNichols Arena and, possibly, all the way to Wyoming.

Somehow, though, we still managed to have a good time.

Most Memorable Moment:

John and I were there on a random Monday night in July. Without a giveaway or other promotional event, there were over 63,000 fans in the stadium. That’s right, 63,000! It was insane. Here is a view from the First Base line.

Pinch Hitter

Now Pinch Hitting: Vandy and Me written by Robert Skead

June 24, 2015

Vandy and Me

By Rob Skead, Baseball Author

Robert Skead Web Site

They say records are made to be broken. After all, Cal Ripken broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game record. No one ever dreamed that would happen! Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa broke Roger Maris’ home run record. It seems logical that sooner or later someone is bound to come along and break every long-standing Major League record. Well… maybe. There is one record in baseball history that may never be broken! It may be tied, but broken… I, along with many other baseball fans, seriously doubt it.

The record to which I am referring is the back-to-back no hitters pitched in 1938 by Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds. It was a feat that earned the 23 year-old southpaw the nickname “Double No-Hit” Vander Meer. This amazing accomplishment, that I believe will never-to-be-broken, is one of the reasons I collect Johnny Vander Meer baseball cards. Johnny Vander Meer was raised in Midland Park, New Jersey – a small town settled by Dutch pioneers whose love affair with our national past-time takes priority only after love of God, family, nation and love of a job well done.

It was when my wife and I moved to Midland Park that I first learned about Johnny – and became fascinated with his story. Continue Reading…

Ballpark Memory, Pinch Hitter

Now Pinch Hitting: Meeting Eric Karros written by Blake Keathley

June 23, 2015

Meeting Eric Karros: Dodger Legend and My Hero

By Blake Keathley

Blake’s Facebook Page

For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. I grew up in Central California in a house divided; my dad is a lifelong fan of the Dodgers while my mom is loyal to the San Francisco Giants. So the first opportunity he got, my dad packed me in the car, put a Dodgers cap on my head and a Dodgers Dog in my hand, and in those moments, my allegiances were sealed forever.

I am very fortunate to have a wealth of memories that I’ll cherish forever, and I’ll always be thankful for the quality time that I got to spend with my father and friends at Dodgers Stadium. However, no individual game has been as memorable as the game I most recently attended at Dodgers Stadium on May 1, 2015. Even if the Dodgers had lost 100-0 to the Diamondbacks that night, nothing could have taken away from the excitement that I was fortunate enough to experience before the game.

In order to understand why this moment is so significant in my baseball fandom, I first have to say that Eric Karros has been my favorite baseball player since the first Dodgers game I attended in 1995. Throughout my own baseball career, I always wore #23 in his honor and even though he hasn’t played in the big leagues since 2004, I’m fairly certain no baseball player will ever come close to meaning as much to me as Eric Karros did in my childhood.