<< <i>My father was a NYC detetctive and for World Series events he would check with the Sgt. on duty at Yankee Stadium and get the ticket numbers from the scalpers who were arrested. He would then bring my cousin and me in and give the usher a few bucks and told him the seats wouldn't be used that day and to put us in them. He would then go watch the game with his cronys in the Stadium Club. He then came down in the 9th inning to get us " so he could beat the traffic ". I watched the last out of Don Larsen's perfect game while being dragged down the runway. >>
Larsen's pitching a perfect game in The Series and your dad still wants to leave early to beat the traffic!!!
I think I was 12, maybe 13, and had been going to Ray Winder Field to watch the Travs a few times each summer since my family moved to Arkansas. Every game we went to, everybody got a scorecard, and every couple of innings I flipped it over to watch as the numbers on the back weren't called for whatever prize they were awarding.
Then we got to one that I really, really, wanted. I sat and stared at the numbers, since the prize - which would happen between games of the double-header that night - was pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
To make a long story short, between games I got to walk up to the plate in that great old stadium and take a cut against Bob Feller. It didn't matter to me that he'd probably lost something off his fastball (it'd been about 30 years since he retired) - it still felt great to bloop that ball into left field.
I went to my first game in 1960 at Connie Mack Stadium...I was 6 and my grandfather took me to see the Phillies versus the Cardinals. I can still see, smell and feel the mind-blowing sensual rush as we walked through the tunnel and there I saw a field with players IN FULL COLOR! All there was back then was black and white TV and the radio. I had never considered the fact that it would be so gorgeous. The brown/red clay, the perfectluy green grass and the beautiful red and white and grey and red uniforms of the Phillies and Cards!
It was a sight that is burned into my brain and 48 years later I can see it like it was yesterday. And the smell...well that's one of the more unique pleasures of going to a ballgame. It just says "there's baseball here!"
I also remember watching them warm up and my granddfather turning to me and saying, "see that tall guy number 6 in the Cards uniform ...That's "Stan the MAN!". And he proceeded to tell me how great he was, even inasmuch as he was a diehard Phil's fan. And to this day he was so right. Musial is the National League's version of Ted Williams in my opinion...and the stats will say so too.
It was a GREAT day in my life, one of maybe a dozen that I can say I will remember every detail until I die.
Metropolitan Stadium. Bloomington, MN. Period. Vikes, Twins ... didn't matter. Walking through the tunnel and seeing the green grass and the 70's Twins white uniforms was magical to this little kid.
Snow, ice, freezing temps, steel-gray day, Vikes generally winning. Elements were a huge home field advantage. Not really an advantage playing in a dome.
There's a hole in my head where the rain comes in.
Went to Burger King in 83, junior year in high school, did not want to go and was in bad mood. My mother made me fill out an entry form to "be batboy for the Orioles for a game", was mad and told her I wouldnt, she made me. A few days later got a phone call telling me I had won, I was like yeah right, turns out they were serious. Went there "Memorial Stadium" and got to sit in dugout, afterward they told me I could have shagged balls at batting practice, what an experience, remember Eddie Murray jumping on calls back on his way out of dugout at the begining of the game. Dennis Martinez being nicest guy, Rick Dempsey sulking because he was not playing, Al Bumbry telling me I could come back because they won and Tippy Martinez being not so nice.
Summer of 1988 - Mets at the Dodgers.... My dad, younger sister and I flew out to LA and saw the Dodgers, Angels and Padres play for the weekend. It was the bottom of the 7th inning all tied and my sister had to go to the bathroom. My dad, being the good guy he was, had to take her. As soon as he leaves Dwight Gooden hits a double off the wall and scored 2 runners to eventually win the game. Not too aften you see Doc hit a double off the wall! It was the best play the whole weekend and my Dad missed it. I would always grind him about that!
<< <i>Seeing Mark Fidrych in his first major league game back in 1976!! >>
Also was at the Tigers game back in 1984 when they were playing Toronto and it was the bottom of the 9th and Dave Bergman had fouled of about 8 or 9 pitches and then blasted a homerun to win the game.
I've seen two no-hitters in person (Kevin Gross in '93 and Kent Mercker in '94; both at Dodger Stadium), but the one ballpark memory that stands out in my mind is the one that didn't happen at the game:
We were seven, five, and three and my dad took us to Dodger Stadium. We found our seats and watched the first inning. Just before the second inning my sister said she had to go to the bathroom. My dad picked my sister up and told my brother and I to follow him up the stairs. My sister said, "Hurry!" to my dad and then vomited on the stairs. She vomited in the trash can at the top of the stairs. She vomited in the concourse outside the bathroom.
My dad cleaned her up and told us we'd have to go home. All three of us (including my sister) whined and complained, but he was adamant. We piled into the van and ate the peanuts on the way home while listening to Vin Scully call the game. Dusty Baker hit a home run. We booed (my dad's from St. Louis). We sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" between the third and fourth innings and got home just after the beginning of the fifth inning. Those were the best peanuts I've ever had.
Great stories guys. Mine is a repeat but I will share anyway. I have been to hundreds of games over the years. I was lucky enough to see two no-hitters among them. One was Fernando at Dodger Stadium about 1991 and the other was Jose Jimenez at Arizona in 1999. That night, in 1999, I was at the game with a convention of people from around the country. We had a big party area in centerfield above the pool. I met a cute gal that night at the stadium... and married her two years later. Happily married, with 2 kids, today. Will always have fond memories of the ballpark in Arizona and Jose Jimenez. Oh ya, we were both from Sacramento so was a little odd to have met at a ballpark in Arizona!
Comments
<< <i>My father was a NYC detetctive and for World Series events he would check with the Sgt. on duty at Yankee Stadium and get the ticket numbers from the scalpers who were arrested. He would then bring my cousin and me in and give the usher a few bucks and told him the seats wouldn't be used that day and to put us in them. He would then go watch the game with his cronys in the Stadium Club. He then came down in the 9th inning to get us " so he could beat the traffic ". I watched the last out of Don Larsen's perfect game while being dragged down the runway. >>
Larsen's pitching a perfect game in The Series and your dad still wants to leave early to beat the traffic!!!
WOW!!!!!
Steve
Then we got to one that I really, really, wanted. I sat and stared at the numbers, since the prize - which would happen between games of the double-header that night - was pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
To make a long story short, between games I got to walk up to the plate in that great old stadium and take a cut against Bob Feller. It didn't matter to me that he'd probably lost something off his fastball (it'd been about 30 years since he retired) - it still felt great to bloop that ball into left field.
I went to my first game in 1960 at Connie Mack Stadium...I was 6 and my grandfather took me to see the Phillies versus the Cardinals. I can still see, smell and feel the mind-blowing sensual rush as we walked through the tunnel and there I saw a field with players IN FULL COLOR!
It was a sight that is burned into my brain and 48 years later I can see it like it was yesterday. And the smell...well that's one of the more unique pleasures of going to a ballgame. It just says "there's baseball here!"
I also remember watching them warm up and my granddfather turning to me and saying, "see that tall guy number 6 in the Cards uniform ...That's "Stan the MAN!". And he proceeded to tell me how great he was, even inasmuch as he was a diehard Phil's fan. And to this day he was so right. Musial is the National League's version of Ted Williams in my opinion...and the stats will say so too.
It was a GREAT day in my life, one of maybe a dozen that I can say I will remember every detail until I die.
I'm enjoying the moment right now.
Snow, ice, freezing temps, steel-gray day, Vikes generally winning. Elements were a huge home field advantage. Not really an advantage playing in a dome.
<< <i>Seeing Mark Fidrych in his first major league game back in 1976!! >>
Also was at the Tigers game back in 1984 when they were playing Toronto and it was the bottom of the 9th and Dave Bergman had fouled of about 8 or 9 pitches and then blasted a homerun to win the game.
We were seven, five, and three and my dad took us to Dodger Stadium. We found our seats and watched the first inning. Just before the second inning my sister said she had to go to the bathroom. My dad picked my sister up and told my brother and I to follow him up the stairs. My sister said, "Hurry!" to my dad and then vomited on the stairs. She vomited in the trash can at the top of the stairs. She vomited in the concourse outside the bathroom.
My dad cleaned her up and told us we'd have to go home. All three of us (including my sister) whined and complained, but he was adamant. We piled into the van and ate the peanuts on the way home while listening to Vin Scully call the game. Dusty Baker hit a home run. We booed (my dad's from St. Louis). We sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" between the third and fourth innings and got home just after the beginning of the fifth inning. Those were the best peanuts I've ever had.
-jhg
<< <i>You got a coin guy to make his first post in this forum with that reminisce.
I'm enjoying the moment right now.
Glad to hear from you again saintguru!!