Philadelphia Phillies v Washington Nationals, July 30, 2008
Nationals Park, Sec 104, Row T
31,798 on hand for a Wednesday night game. Many Phillies fans took the opportunity to travel down and see a new stadium.
Things got off with a bang in the Top of the 1st. Shane Victorino, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard all singled off of Tim Redding to load up the bases. Pat Burrell singled to left scoring both Victorino and Utley.
It didn't take Washington long to respond. On Jamie Moyer's first pitch in the 1st, Willie Harris tagged one over the fence in deep right field. Austin Kearns doubled later in the inning and was brought in by a 2 run home run by Jesus Flores, making it 3-2 Nats.
The Nats held the lead until the Top of the 5th when the Phillies opened the flood gates scoring 5. Jimmy Rollins doubled scoring Carlos Rios and moving Jamie Moyers, who walked, to third. Victorino singled in Moyer and was on base when Utley hit a homer to deep dead center.
Victorino hit one over the fence in the 7th. The Nats got back 2 in the 7th. Brad Lidge came in to register one of his saves in a season where he would blow zero games.
An audible was called late and a decision was made to go to this game. My girlfriend flew out of town for the weekend. I'm dateless for the weekend. So I decide to venture out on my own and jump on the T and go to Fenway with no ticket.
I ask the first scalper who produced 2 in the bleacher. I told him reluctantly I only need 1. To his amazement, I don't think he has ever seen a guy by himself with no friends at a baseball game. He reaches into his secret stash of tickets for unpopular guys and pulled out one on the 3rd base side. Much closer than the bleachers.
I went inside, bought a program and settled in under the shade on this hot day. Shortly after, an old guy approached me and asked if I was alone. Of course, I think he is poking fun at me because I am the only guy in the ballpark with no friends. He went on to say he had a heart condition and asked if I would swap tickets with him so he could sit in the shade. I had nothing to lose so I make the swap seat location unknown.
I make my way in search of my new seat location. An usher asked for my ticket and proceeds to take me lower and lower. Right near the wall at the on deck circle. Field level. Not only am I practically on the field but Fenway has next to no foul territory.
Roger Clemens steps on the mound and starts firing. Not only are you close enough to see stitches, but you also hear the pop of the catchers and pitchers glove every time a ball hits it. And see the dirt fly off the catchers mitt. The Brewer in the on deck circle stood immediately in front of me.
The game got started off with Clemens striking out both Paul Moliter and Robin Yount in the Top of the 1st. And 2 more Ks in the Top of the 2nd. Jim Rice led off the scoring with a home run in the Bottom of the 2nd with a shot over the Green Monster near the foul pole.
Clemens kept the Brew Crew off the board until the Top of the 5th when BJ Surhoff tagged him for a 2 run homer. The game went into the Top of the 9th tied at 2. With 2 men on Marty Barrett singled in the winning run for a Sox victory.
Both starters pitched complete games. Clemens finished with Teddy Higura getting the loss.
Based on the attendance of 33,964, it appears there was at least one other guy in the stands going solo.
We didn't stay in these seats. They were high behind the goal near the top of The Linc. So we went downstairs and found 4 seats together behind the other goal, not far off the field.
This is the second soccer match I ever attended. The first happened to involve Manchester United as well. It's hard to say how many foreigners were in the stands and how many American fans, but there is a different passion level evident that you normally do not see in American sports.
It was a night of firsts on the Champions World tour.
Celtic Glasgow's first win this year was Manchester United's first loss on American soil as Craig Beattie's goal in the 71st minute gave the Scots a 2-1 decision over the Red Devils on Wednesday night at muggy Lincoln Financial Field.
Scheduled to play a tour-high four matches, Celtic was playing for the third time in five days. It lost to Chelsea 4-2 in Saturday's tour opener in Seattle and to Liverpool 5-1 on Monday in East Hartford, Connecticut.
But facing the tour headliners in front of 55,421, the Scots played their most spirited match and dealt the first setback to Man Utd, which battled Bayern Munich to a lackluster 0-0 draw Sunday
Scranton Wilkes Barre Barons v Richmond Braves, July 27, 1996
The Diamond, Sec 110 Row H
I was living in South Jersey at the time. A Phils fan. I'm sure that is what attracted me to this game. The Barons were the AAA team for the Phils at the time.
A young Scott Rolen was on the roster this year for Scranton. Before he would rise, and fall in Philadelphia. As was Kevin Stocker.
For the Braves that year Andruw Jones, Mike Mordecai and Jason Schmidt.
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, July 27, 1981
The Spectrum, Sec J Row 15
Second concert of all time. Same guy as the first concert of all time. I have problems stepping out of my comfort zone at times.
I bought a great, long-sleeved white T-shirt that sported the logo of the heart pierced by the Heartbreakers' Gibson Flying V guitar. It may have been my first legit concert T.
I was moving up in the rock and roll world. Last year my seats were in the 2nd level. This year I was in the bottom level.
Some songs played during this period:
SHADOW OF A DOUBT ON THE RADIO FOOLED AGAIN HERE COMES MY GIRL SATISFIED I NEED TO KNOW CRY TO ME DON’T DO ME LIKE THAT HOMETOWN BLUES AMERICAN GIRL BREAKDOWN REFUGEE EVEN THE LOSERS STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT SHOUT ROUTE 66 ANYWAY YOU WANT IT I FOUGHT THE LAW LISTEN TO HER HEART TOO MUCH AINT ENOUGH
Ottawa Lynx v Richmond Braves, July 26, 2007
The Diamond, Sec 106, Row C
Dan Smith and four relievers combined on a three-hitter as surging Richmond blanked visiting Ottawa 2-0.
Smith surrendered two hits and a walk with four strikeouts over four innings. Zach Schreiber tossed a perfect fifth before Ryan Basner retired six consecutive batters, striking out two, to get the win.
Will Startup set down four straight batters and Manny Acosta yielded a hit before recording the last two outs for his 12th save as the Braves (59-44) won their fifth straight and shut out the Lynx (40-65) for the second time in four games.
Brent Lillibridge walked three times and scored both of Richmond's runs. The 23-year-old shortstop walked, stole second and scored on Carlos Mendez's sacrifice fly in the first. He led off the eighth with a walk, moved up on a sacrifice and a wild pitch and came home on Wes Timmons' bases-loaded walk.
Timmons started the second with a single to left field and Martin Prado began the third with a base hit to right for Richmond's only hits.
Lynx starter Fabio Castro (4-3) yielded a run on two hits and four walks with five strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Yoel Hernandez set down eight straight batters before Kane Davis surrendered a run on four walks and a wild pitch with one strikeout in the eighth.
Javon Moran, Chris Roberson and Carlos Leon collected the only hits for Ottawa, which has lost six straight.
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, July 26, 2003
Giant Stadium, Sec 312, Row 29
I've seen Springsteen several times in the past starting in 1984. But never have I seen him on the hollowed grounds of his home town. The excitement level was elevated, the expectations were high.
This was an eerie scene for me. It was the first time I was back in the area since 9/11. When I worked in the area, I always looked for the Twin Towers during my commute. I knew when it would emerge on the horizon. Some days it took longer to become visible due to weather conditions. But it was always there. But not on this day.
Everyone was juiced during the tailgating of several hours. Music was pumping, drinks were flowing and all I could do is look over the Hudson where the Twin Towers once stood.
Our seats were around the 50 yard line. A zillion rows up, or a few rows from the top. I was disappointed the entire end zone area behind the stage was empty (closed off). This was one of 10 sold out shows at Giant Stadium. I guess the stage configuration made it necessary to close off an entire section of the stadium.
The band came on stage during the daylight. The light show was not in play yet. I expected the band to be on their "A" game due to the fact they were in their hometown. But they seemed rushed to start the show and rushed to get through it.
The sound was horrible. It took several verses sometimes to figure out what song they were playing.
The crowd was rooting for a tour record 29 songs as Bruce led us all to believe this Saturday night show was special. We only got 23. We were wondering why Saturday night got the shortest show of the stretch. Perhaps the band was saving up for tomorrow night's July finale?
One the 10 show homestand, "Rosie" was 6 for 6 so far. Tenth Avenue as a highlight and Adam kicked things off.
Setlist: Adam Raised a Cain/The Rising/Lonesome Day/The Ties That Bind/Atlantic City/Empty Sky/Waitin' on a Sunny Day/Darlington County/Worlds Apart/Badlands/Two Hearts/No Surrender/Mary's Place/My Hometown/Into the Fire/The Promised Land
First Encore: Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out/Glory Days/Born to Run Second Encore: My City of Ruins/Land of Hope and Dreams/Rosalita/Dancing in the Dark
Pitching matchup between Willie Banks and Danny Darwin. No Nolan Ryan vs Steve Carlton today. But they both went 6 before a run was put on the scoreboard. In the bottom of the 6th the Sox manufactured the first run with an RBI single by Tony Pena.
The Twins responded with 3 in the top half of the 7th with RBIs by Chili Davis and Brian Harper.
Mo Vaughan for the Sox drove one to right to score Phillip Plantier in the 7th accounted for all the scoring in the contest. No long ball today at Fenway. A 3 hour plus game was witnessed by 34,420.
The first place Twins maintained their spot at the top against the 5th place Sox.
New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies, July 23, 1990
Veterans Stadium, Section 632, Row 4
Why was I at a baseball game on a Monday night? I have no idea. A 2nd place team was playing a 4th place team. The pitching match up was nothing spectacular. Frank Viola was going against Bruce "Two Minutes for" Ruffin.
It took until the 4th for anything to be put on the board. The Mets Gregg Jefferies hit a home run off Ruffin. Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds both knocked in 2 more runs for the Mets in the 6th.
The Phils responded in the bottom half of the 6th. Charlie Hayes batted in a run. Soon after Dickie Thon hit a 2 run homer. The Phils ended up scoring 5 in the inning going on to win the game 7-4.
They were SRO tickets so it must have been a good crowd.
You'd think with 2 rosters of future Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox that someone decent would have played in this game. Not so. Sure, Lou Merloni, Marlon Anderson were on their respective rosters that year.
Little known fact: The mud used to rub Major League baseballs by umpires prior to each game is dredged out of a creek near Trenton, New Jersey. For decades new baseballs are rubbed to remove the sheen, making them easier to see.
In 1938 an umpire complained to third base coach for the Philadelphia Athletics that the balls rubbed with mud from the playing field were in a sorry condition. The coach went on a mission the next time he went to his home in Burlington County, New Jersey to find some decent mud.
He brought some mud back to Shibe Park and it worked like a charm. So much so that every American League team began using the mud Lena Blackburn provided. By the time of his death in the 1950's every American and National League team were using this mud.
The wereabouts of where the mud is still dredged remains a mystery. But it is thought to be from the Rancocas Creek running near Blackburn's old home in Willingboro, NJ.
The next time you hear of "Mississippi Mud" you will know it comes from New Jersey.
Modesto Nuts v Rancho Cuchamonga Quakes, July 20, 2007
The Epicenter, Rancho Cuchamonga, CA
The Quake are the Class A team for the Los Angeles Angels. I can't find my ticket stub. But I know I was there. This was a night after a Dodgers game the same day as a day in Universal Studios.
The visiting Nuts jumped out in the top of the 1st with a home run by Christopher Nelson. The Quake responded in the 3rd when Nate Sutton drilled a RBI triple. The pendulum swung back in Modestos favor the next inning when Jose Valdez doubled, clearing the full base pads. Modesto added another in the 4th.
The home Quake got one back in the bottom of the 9th, but still fell short. Brandon Durden for Modesto was credited with the win. Stephen Marek suffered the loss for the home Quake.
A great little minor league park,very kid friendly with great mountain views. The mascots name is "Tremor" and his jersey number is 4.8. I couldn't help think if he was tempting the Earthquake gods. And I didn't want to be around long enough to find out.
Montreal Expos v Philadelphia Phillies, July 20, 2003
Veterans Stadium, Sec 509 Row 5
Had I known I would never make it back to The Vet in this final season for the Phils, I would have appreciated the moment more.
The Vet was the first place I saw my first 100 MLB games or so. And a laundry list of Eagles, Army v Navy and USFL Stars games. I just figured I'd make it back again. Never did.
This was a Sunday afternoon game. I had a personal rule I liked to follow. The perfect ballgame was to be played in the day, on grass in front of a packed house. I'd settle for any of the above. The Vet had the cheesiest turf and was usually not full for baseball. To the defense of Philadelphia fans, the place at 65,ooo. It's tough to fill a yard that size.
Jim Thome doubled in the 2nd followed by a Bobby Abreu single to put the Phils up 1-0. The score remained 1-0 until the bottom half of the 6th when the Phils struck again when Pat Burrell scored Placido Polanco, who was on 2nd at the time.
Phils starter Brett Myers went deep into the 9th with a shut out. With a man on, the Expos Brad Wilkerson hit a homer, pulling Montreal within one run. Jose Mesa came in for the save.
Phils won 3-2 in front of 37,522.
We hung out down stairs at a bar for a good portion of the game. The old MLB umpire Eric Gregg worked the bar. I was never a huge Gregg fan. He was one of those affirmative action hires at the age of 24. And walked around town (Philly was his home town) like his shit didn't stink. At one point I was listening to someone else to add to my drink order when Gregg got indignant and snapped at me for not being ready for him to take my order.
I stopped, looked him straight in the eyes and said "Do you want a fucking tip or not?"
I guess I came out ahead in that exchange. On June 4, 2006 I was cutting my grass sipping on a cool one . About the same time Eric Gregg dropped dead of a massive stroke. I should have held on to that tip.
Another first. My son's first trip to Fenway. Now, he was only a year old. So he has no recollection. We took him and a buddy's little girl with us. They spend the game hiding behind the pillar that was next to our seats. It was sunny and over 90 degrees at game time. The shaded seats were a welcomed relief.
What better game to pick to take 1 year olds but a 3 hour 53 minute extra inning affair? David West started for the Twins versus Joe Hesketh for the Sox. Both went a strong 6 innings.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the 5th when Tony Pena hit a lead off home run over the Green Monster. Jody Reed singled in Wade Boggs later in the inning. Kirby Puckett had an RBI double in the 7th to draw Minnesota within 1.
Randy Bush hit a solo home run in the top of the 9th off Steve Bedrosian sending the game into extra innings. In the top of the 11th, Medford native Mike Pagliarulo of the Twins was sent in to pinch hit with Chuck Knoblauch on. Pags blooped a single over Mike Brumley's head, scoring Knoblauch. The Twins took the lead into the bottom half of the inning.
Rick Aguilera was able to save the game for the visiting Twins in the bottom of the 11th.
Wade Boggs went 4 for 4.
Twins 3 Red Sox 2. 33,758 paid at the gate.
New York Mets v Los Angeles Dodgers, July 19, 2007
Dodger Stadium, Section FD Row AA
I must be in the front row!
I don't have many opportunities to take the little girl to baseballs games with me, so this was a special one. Our seats were front row at the left field foul pole. We were situated on ground level.
One of the kids with us saw Juan Pierre signing autographs during warmup so they went over. He was patient and signed everything for everyone. My friend's boy took my official MLB lid to signed as he didn't have anything for himself. When he came back excited about acquiring a real MLB players signature, he handed me my cap back. I couldn't dare keep the hat now since the kid worked so hard for the signature. I handed it back as told him he could keep the hat since he got the autograph on it. He replyed, "No thank you, I don't want a Dodgers hat". My friend is an Angeles season ticket holder.
We watched the TIVOed game afterwards. We got a lot of face time on TV that night. I never did burn a copy to DVD. Should have.
The 1st place Dodgers sent Derek Lowe to the mound to oppose Tom Glavine and the 1st place Mets. A decent pitching matchup. At least on paper.
There were fights at the bat rack in both dugouts this evening. Everyone was anxious to get into the batters box. David Wright hit a 2 run double to get things started. There were a combined 8 runs scored in the 1st inning alone. 6 runs were scored by the Mets off starter Derek Lowe.
Matt Kemp hit 2 run homer to right in the 2nd to close the gap to 6-4. Jeff Kent also homered right near us for the Dodgers in the 3rd. Beltran, Castro and Delgado went long for the Mets.
The starting pitcher lasted only a combined 5 innings, both giving up 10 hits.
In typical LA fashion the crowd of 51,651 was a late arriving one.
The visiting Mets took the first of this 4 game series 13-9. And I have a little Dodgers fan living here on the East Coast.
Charlie Daniels Band, July 18, 2001Innsbrook Pavilion, GA
In a brilliant outreach to the concert going community, the local police set up DUI checkpoints right outside the parking lot after the show.
Luckily I was able to convince Ponch that my eyes were red and speech slurred because I just downed a bottle of Nyquil in an effort to fight off that nasty summer flu.
I don't fancy myself a huge Bob Marley fan. I appreciate the music. I don't smoke pot so I never had a Jamaican flag hanging in my bedroom.
But I go see the Wailers at a small pavilion. Before the show I watch a skinny white guy in a t shirt conduct several sound checks on the lead singer's mic. He did this for like 10 minutes. Like all roadies do before concerts. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Soon, the guy comes out again, checks the mic. Leaves. So the MC comes out to introduce the band and this skinny white guy is still hovering near the lead singer's mic. This is definalty uncool because the roadies have to be out of sight when the band comes on. But skinny white guy is still hanging out near the front of the stage.
The band comes out, all black guys. They are the Wailers, so everyone knows they are black. The first song is cued and the guys start jamming. I'm looking to the side of the stage waiting for the Bob Marley look alike to emerge. Still, skinny white roadie guys is not leaving the stage. Do I alert security?
And THEN.......skinny white roadie guy starts singing. JUST LIKE BOB MARLEY!!! Who knew?? I was shocked. It was like watching an interview on TV with a black guy who has a real proper English accent. Nothing wrong with it. Just bizarre.
I've skipped over some minor league tickets because box scores are hard to find on the internet.
But if someone of significance is on a roster, or if I have a vivid recollection, I will post. These games were always with my boys. We became introduced to minor league ball when the MLB union ruined the 94 World Series. We stayed away from the bigs for a few years after that. Getting a taste of a quality minor league atmospheres, we never missed them.
1995 was the year Nomar Garciaparra spent in Trenton. Nomar showed up in Trenton in 1995 sporting maybe 165 pounds on his 6’0 frame. He was the Red Sox first round pick in 1994, and big things were expected of him. He was solid in a Thunder uniform, sporting the best glove the young team had seen at shortstop. He had good speed, stealing 35 bases. But as a hitter, he was average, showing the occasional flash of power. In 125 games, he hit .267 with 8 homers and knocked in 47 runs. Not that anyone expected him to bat in runs; he was hitting at the top of the line-up. After all, this was a skinny, speedy 22-year-old shortstop with great leather, in only his first full pro season.
I spoke with the owner of The Ballpark Deli a few years later when I went inside before a game for a sandwich. The shop is located across from a parking lot from the stadium. On the menu he had a sandwich called "The Nomar". The owner told me Nomar came in once and asked him to make a sandwich which wasn't on the menu. It was a sandwich on a hoagie roll with roast beef and bacon, lettuce, tomato, etc. He liked it so much he came in every day the rest of the season for the same sandwich. To honor Nomar when he moved up and out he decided to put the sandwich on the menu.
Los Angeles Dodgers v Philadelphia Phillies, July 16, 1992
Veterans Stadium, Section 238, Row 3 A popular daytime Business Persons Special played at 12:35 on a Thursday. We were guests of a law firm who used such events to grease our palms. I'm not easily bought. So they took us to a bunch of strip bars after wards. Until we could be bought.
Tom Candiotti got the nod for the Dodgers while Terry Mulholland went for the Phils.
Both went 8 innings in a pitchers duel. It took 6 innings to get something on the board. And it took small ball to do it. Jose Offerman doubled followed by a Mike Sharperson walk set the stage for Darryl Strawberry. Strawberry hit a single up the middle to score Offerman.
The Phils responded in the bottom half of the 6th with a Dave Hollins 2 bagger. Candiotti then walked Darren Daulton. Wes Chamberlain found a hole between short and 3rd to score Hollins and tie the score. The Phils added another in the 7th with a sac fly by John Kruk scoring Lenny Dykstra.
Sharperson hit a 2 run homer in the 8th for the Dodgers. Reliever Mitch Williams came in for the Phils in the top of the 9th behind 3-2. Williams gave up 4 hits and 4 earned runs.
Down 7-2, the Phils had a rally in the bottom of the 9th against Dodgers relievers Roger McDowell, John Candelaria and Jim Gott scoring 3.
Dodgers 7 Phils 5. A small crowd by Business Person Specials standards of 34,566. The Phils were a 6th place team 14 games back at the time.
I had a fraternity brother working for a minor league franchise. He got tickets to this game. I used to work in a AAA stadium a few years prior. One of the current O's was a member of that team at the time and I knew him. It was good to see him in The Bigs.
This was an afternoon game. Our seats were under cover on the first base side. I have some great pictures of the old stadium from this day.
The Orioles and the Twins were both floating at the bottom of their respective divisions at the time. This game was similar to a Phils Red Sox game that I just wrote. After 3 batters in the top of the first it was already 3 nothing. Kind of takes the air out of the crowd. Kirby Puckett launched a 3 run homer with the top 2 batters on base. The Orioles got one back in the bottom half of the inning with 2 doubles by Phil Bradley and Randy Milligan.
It didn't take Kirby Puckett too long to hit his second home run of the day. He did it in the second inning when the Twins scored 3 more.
Kent Hrbek also launched one for Minnesota in the fourth. Sam Horn hit one long for the home O's. Cal Ripken, Jr, during his streak, went 0-2 this day.
Baltimore's starting pitcher Bob Milacki only lasted an inning and a third. Allan Anderson got the win for the visiting Twins.
42,817 were on hand at the old ball park on 33rd Street this wet afternoon.
My sister scored me 4 tickets at $35 bucks apiece.I was 250 miles away but rounded up 3 friends to go with me.One of the girls was from Philadelphia.
We left my parents house around 6AM because we heard of the traffic nightmares.Plus, the show was to start at 9AM.
We parked in FDRPark (named to honor the guy who prolonged the Great Depression by 7 years.), across the street from JFK Stadium for free (?).
JFK was an old relic in 1985.The doors were only opened a few times a year.The annual Army Navy game already moved 2 doors down into Veterans Stadium.
I was only inside here a few times in my life.A Philadelphia Bell WFL game and to see The Who/The Clash a few years prior.
The line we got in wrapped us between The Spectrum and behind the stage at JFK.
When we got near the front security was pulling bottles of booze, cases of beer and pouring anything confiscated into large metal 55 gallon drums.
Being it was expected to be hazy, hot and humid (95 degrees), we decided to not drink alcohol.It was going to be a LONG day.I don’t think when we decided to be responsible we knew we would be on the floor, with no where to sit down.
I can’t remember how we ended up on the left side of the stage, in front of the MTV set.If it was luck or if we were designated to go there.But we were close enough to recognize faces of anyone interviewed by the MTV VJs. Those MTV VJs were stars in the 80s.
As we entered the stadium, the UK portion was already well underway. We watched the UK feed up until the start of the US show. When a US group played, those in Wembley watched on a large screen with no one performing on their live stage. After 2-4 songs per artist, the live performance switched stadiums. So we got to watch U2, The Who and Queen on a similcast feed.
There appeared to be 3 stages to the day. The first was mediocre talent such as Joan Baez, Run DMC, The Four Tops.
Jack Nicholson came on stage to introduce Joan Baez, who sang the National Anthem.
It took time to wake up the crowd. It was early. The Wembley (UK) show was well under way. England was 5 hours ahead of us. The US show had some questionable performers early. The Hooters were local and beloved. They got some positive response from the crowd.
Black Sabbath, with Ozzy Ozbourne, was early and was a crowd pleaser. It was a reunion for Ozzy and Black Sabbath.
I remember it really wasn't until Crosby, Stills and Nash broke into Teach Your Children that a permanent sense of electricity filled the crumbling stadium. This kicked off the 2nd stage of the day. Now I felt I was at an event of historic proportions. George Thorogood, The Beach Boys, The Pretenders, Madonna. I even got a face shot in MTV during Bryan Adams Cuts Like A Knife. We were not aware of this until we got back home and someone pointed it out to me. I never saw the tape until years later.
The UK portion wrapped up before Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers came on stage at JFK. They allowed him to perform and extra song. He chose American Girl.
At one point we were walking around to get a reprive from the 95 degree heat. We went up to the concourse. I vividly remember going into the bathroom to find it full of people, men and women, with water/urine shin-deep.
MTV was king on the mid 80s. Unlike today. There were more rumors then confirmed artists it seemed. The Beatles were reuniting with Julian Lennon was part of the buzz. So when we saw Max Weinberg on the MTV stage it was only natural that local Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were going to come out at one point. As we walked around in the shaded concourse a Brazilian news girl stopped us and asked "What band did you come to see?". Like an idiot, I grab the mic and yell "Bruce Springsteen" for all of Brazil to hear.
Super liberal Bruce Springsteen never showed up for this huge charity event. And, of course, on the TV broadcasts they keep going over who was set to appear. It appeared to all of Brazil that I was the only one on Earth who was unaware Springsteen was not planning on playing.
The final portion of the day was when the US feed shifted from MTV to ABC. There appeared to be a production shift from good ole Rock and Roll to cheesy melodies in a made for TV variety show.
Phil Collins played in the UK, boarded The Concorde and flew across the ocean to play at JFK as well.
The network hype, with footage of the plane landing, to him boarding a helicopter, to him entering the stadium kicked off the variety show portion of the night.
One much hyped reunion was Led Zeppelin (with Phil Collins on drums) was played later in the night. Because it was Led Zeppelin, all was perfect. In reality, the tape of this performance revealed how bad they sounded.
Somehow Patti Labelle ended up with these legends like Mick Jagger, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Bob Dylan during this final portion.
And then the finale when everyone was brought up to sing "We Are The World" led by Lionel Richie,
Patti Labelle ended up with the mic and ruined the evening. At one point we were laughing at the faces Chevy Chase was making behind her back as she tried to monopolize the event.
It was a frenzy leaving the stadium. By the time walked to the top of the stairs to exit, I turned at the well lit field and saw nothing but knee deep piled trash and white stryofoam coolers all over the place.
Houston Astros v Washington Nationals July 11, 2008
Nats Park, Section 104, Row T
Tonight’s sunset over the Anacostia River turned the sky a beautiful shade of pink over the left field wall at Nationals Park.
A match up between a couple teams hanging on to bottom spots in their respective divisions. The Astros put Roy Oswalt on the mound while the Nats had Tim Redding starting.
Oswalt lasted an entire inning and left the game due to an injury. Haverhill MA's Chad Paronto came in for relief in the 2nd for the Astros. He quickly gave up 2 run shot to the pole in left field from Ronnie Belliard. This was Belliard's first of two homers tonight.
Austin Kearns went deep for home team in the 6th.
In the President's Race in the 4th, Teddy came out of the gate and ran towards left field while the other 3 presidents ran to right field, and the finish line. Abe won his 5th race in a row tonight.
Philadelphia Bulldogs v Chicago Cheetahs, July 11, 1994
The Spectrum, Section V, Row 12
There have been the Ramblers, Blazers, Fury, Firebirds, Bell, Stars to name a few. Minor league teams and teams from offshot leagues that have set up shop in Philadelphia.
With the exception of the Phantoms (AHL 1997-2009) and the LAX Wings, most do not have a rabid following.
Add the Roller Hockey International's (RHI) Philadelphia Bulldogs to that list. The Bulldogs played at the Spectrum from 1994 through 1996. They were a decent team as RHI teams go. The first two seasons they went 12-10 each year. In the final season before the entire league folded, they went 16-9.
As was the standard in the post bad clothes 80's, the 90's trend in sports uniforms and logos were neon colors. The Bulldogs had a decent logo but the unis were Teal, Purple, Black and Silver.
19 teams were in the league. On this day the Bulldogs played the Chicago Cheetahs. Yeah, the Cheetahs.
RHI hoped to capitalize on the inline skating boom of the early 1990's, but lost steam as the fad died down. Key parts of its success were its stance on no guaranteed contracts, instead teams would all split prize money. Teams were generally made up of minor league ice players playing on inline skates during the summer months between ice seasons.
I ended up with a team autographed stick, I think it was from a raffle ticket I bought at the game.
My first taste of the real world. A buddy just graduated college ( a year before I) and went to work at a huge computer company. Dark suits, red ties. And he had access to a condo on one of the greens where the sales guys entertained clients.
Free tickets, free food, free booze. And PGA golf.
Kingsmill used to be held the week before the British Open. Many of the big names used the weekend to rest for their trip oversees. This was Curtis Strange's home course, so he was always there.
It was my first experience standing next to the big boys who crank out 300 yard drives or who could lay up 3 feet from the hole from 140 yards out.
Mark McCumber won this year's event with a 267 (17 under).
Kingsmill, ironically, became the only course where I won a golf trophy years later. And I did it on the "river" course. A course that normally common folk do not have access to.
Concerts in Philadelphia always turned out to be events. Being this was my first concert, I did not realize that at the time.
Before radio died, the rival rocks stations 93.3 WMMR and 94 WYSP always hyped the bands who came to town. Playing songs while you were driving to the show and tailgating. They would have roving DJs in the parking lot interviewing concert goers. You just had to have on their station if you were going to a show. They really knew how to how to make an ordinary night into an extraordinary one.
Being this was my first concert, I was juiced. Tom Petty just exploded on the scene in the Summer of 80. Sure he had a few albums before Damn the Torpedoes, but this was his breakout record. He even made the cover of Rolling Stone that year. Back when that magazine was relevant.
I got my cheesy bootleg concert t-shirt. was sporting an Andy Travis, WKRP in Cincinnati hair style, the guys behind us were passing around doobies.........to us. High school kids. Our parents weren't there. The ushers didn't care. No one cared. And we weren't the only ones.
The ceiling was filled with a cloud of smoke. I've never seen anything like this. I was concerned the Flyers were going to get stoned the next time they played here.
Of course with your first concert comes your first opening act. I think it was Alvin Lee. We were too novice to be smart enough to stay in the parking lot and sip on our Schaefer quart bottles that we just bought from the neighborhood tap room that sold to all of us 15 year olds.
In case we got carded, I was prepared. I had a real PA license that said I was 26 years old. And black. No pictures back then. Luckily I didn't need to pull it out that evening.
Then Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers come on stage and belt out American Girl. It was the Damn the Torpedoes Tour so the album got heavy promo that night.
Stevie Nicks came out. We were all stoned fighting over a pair on binoculars so we could see down Stevie's top.
Petty ended up being one of those bands I have seen numerous times over several decades.
New York Mets v New York Yankees, July 8, 2000 (7:30pm)
Yankee Stadium, BCLH
Who doesn't remember this one? The one where Roger Clemens lasered Mike Piazza in the logo of his helmet to lead off the 2nd? Who didn't see that? This was Round 1 in what would brew up to the World Series that October when the same two teams would meet.
Me. I didn't see it. I was in the pisser. I didn't see the replay until the next day. By the time I leisurely strolled back to my seats the fireworks were over. Piazza was knocked out of the game.
Luckily I didn't have to leak in the 5th when the Mets already had a 2-0 lead. With Dave Justice and Shane Spencer on base, Scott Brosius knocked in one. Chuck Knoblauch hit a homer to left scoring Spencer. Yanks up 4-2. And it would remain that way when Mariano Duncan entered the game in the bottom of the 9th for no runs and no hits. And a save.
Clemens went a 7 1/3rd giving up 7 hits and earning the win.
I just paid a grand total of $13 to watch 2 Major League Baseball games in New York against the two New York teams on a much hyped historic day for baseball. And I sat in no traffic. A combined 109,986 attended both games. How many others paid only $13 to see two games that day?
So now we're off into an adventure we did not anticipate. I was driving. I had no map. I never have driven from Shea to Yankee Stadium. We just planned to wing it. How hard could it be? We had like 4 hours to kill.
So I fight moderate traffic in the parking lot and go to turn on the entrance ramp to Grand Central Pkwy when a CHIPS guy blows his sirens and passes me on his bike. He stops at the bottom of the ramp, jumps off the bike and holds his hand up to stop my car. Holy crap! A DWI roadblock. We were feeling it a bit. All that I could think was the fact that I was only 2 miles away from Rikers Island. And still a virgin.
But Ponch stays there and never approaches my car. And I'm certainly not going to get out of my car to ask him to kindly move his motorcycle. So we sat patiently.
Just then 2, 3, 4 buses go by being escorted by a caravan of motorcycle cops. It was the teams. The route was closed so the teams could travel. After the caravan passed, Ponch jumped back on his bike and took off. I sat dumbfounded. I quickly realized we had a police escort to the Bronx if I could catch up to the buses. And we did. Full speed limit to the toll to the Deegan, to the stadium. If the entire trip took 15 minutes, I may be exaggerating.
Little did we know just about everyone else making the trip waited for hours, as many as 4 hours from what we heard.
And here we were almost 4 hours early, walking to one of my favorite spots; The Yankee Tavern. One of the first to arrive. The place was packed with people who watched the first game on TV and those who arrived early who attended the night game only. But I guarantee we were the first fans in the Bronx who was in Shea for the entire day game.
My single friend, always shopping, spots 2 girls at the bar and strikes up a conversation. Turns out there are from New Zealand and looking to go to the game. He has one thing in mind and continues to hang around them.
He finds out they do not have tickets but were planning of scalping a pair. He offers to negotiate for them. Which means I was volunteered to negotiate for them. I was always the designated smooth talker.
I just want to get inside and shake these girls. He has bigger plans for himself. He knows I'm married and always slip into the background when he goes on the prowl. He was working on both of them for himself.
I couldn't find any serious sellers. I was working it. There weren't enough available to work any reasonable deals. I'm down to $2oo each and couldn't get anyone lower.
I give up. I had no dog in this fight so what did I care? But he doesn't want to leave the girls alone. I just want to leave the girls alone. So I concoct a shitty scam to shake them.
I was at a NASCAR race recently and a 250 pound guy accidently went into the wrong gate. He was on one side, the rest of us on the other. He walked right out. We told him he couldn't re-enter once he left. He said no one bothered to check his ticket. The crowd rush was so great. He was so cocky, he walked through the next gate without handing over his ticket, walked out and then walked into our gate without handing anyone his ticket. He got away with it 3 times in a row.
So I recant that story and tell each one them to cling to our backs and walk right in with us. This way, I would be inside, my friend would be inside and they would get nailed and he and I could enjoy the game.
Showtime. This was a huge event. The police presence was kicked up a notch. There were no shanigans tonight. Nothing is going to slip by the men in blue this evening.
Except these two chicks! It worked! And who is now the hero? Me. Now there is no shaking them. They were like frickin puppy dogs.
New York Yankees v New York Mets, July 8, 2000 (1:30 pm)
Shea Stadium, Section 23 Row R
A monumental day for baseball. For the 1st time in modern history 2 teams will play each other on the same day, in different stadiums. This event was brought about due to a rain out from a previous Interleague game played the month prior at Yankee Stadium.
The teams would play the regularly schedule game at Shea at 1pm and the make up at Yankee Stadium that evening.
And New York was in a frenzy. I wouldn't know. I was working in Raleigh, NC with no intention of going. Until I got a call that Thursday with the challenge for driving to Shea (only) in an attempt to scalp tickets. The idea was to head back to Jersey to watch the night cap in TV at a bar.
So I trek up 95 and hookup in South Jersey with a friend. We get the stadium incident free. There was so much media hype and warning from the police that this series was going to be closely monitored. We prepared with plastic cups to hide our beers for the tailgate. We got there early anticipating a long search for reasonably price tickets. The goal wasn't "best" seats, just access to the inside.
The first group we meet when exiting the parked car were a bunch of guys sheepishly tailgating. We approached them as asked what the scalping situation looked like. One guys pulled out a citation for $150 and said he already go busted for trying to sell 2 tickets. We told him we were looking for 2. He reluctantly handed his two extra tickets to us and asked if we wanted them. Sure! No hunt. Instant tailgating. No worries. How much? ......Face value. Huh? The guy was afraid of getting busted again so he handed them to us for face. I think that was $5. I was barely able to find a five spot mixed in with all of the twenties and fifties I had in my pocket.
Granted, five bucks didn't get us in a luxury box.
The place really was whipped in a frenzy. The first place Yankees versus the second place Mets. Dwight Gooden returning home to face Bobby Jones.
54,165 on hand. A beautiful sunny day. My first time at Shea after watching games on TV there since I was a kid. And I still had no desire to go over to Yankee Stadium that night to see the 2nd game of the double header.
Chuck Knoblauch got things started in the top half of the 1st with a single to right. Derek Jeter doubled next to score Knoblauch. Tino Martinez doubled to drive in Jeter for a quick 2-0 lead. The Mets got one back in the fifth.
Martinez went long off Jones in the top of the sixth. Tino wasn't done adding another RBI single in the 8th driving in Jeter.
Mariano Duncan sat the sides down in the bottom of the 9th.
Game over. Great day for baseball. Time to get back to Jersey and catch the night game from the comforts of a bar. Until my buddy issues the challenge to go over to Yankee Stadium and scalp ticket for the night game. I had no desire. But he did remind me that we saved over hundred bucks (anticipated scalper's price). So money couldn't be used as an excuse.
I offered a compromise. If he could scalp two at Shea, I would go to the night game with him at The Stadium. He had to do all the work. I would sit and relax. If he couldn't buy two while we were at Shea, I was going home (I was feeling a little homoish that day).
Before I even settled for a long anticipated wait, he come running over and said he found a guy who was going to a wedding. We ran back to where he saw the guy, at the entrance to the train. By the time we got back the guy bolted. But my buddy saw him with his girlfriend through the bars and called him over.
The story was he went to the original game but had a wedding to attend that night. He couldn't go. The tickets themselves had a previous date on them (I wasn't aware of the date so had no way of verifying if they were legit rain checks or not). My buddy assured me his ticket was from the correct game.
How much? Face....... Huh? Yeah, the guy was going to throw them away if he couldn't sell them and confessed he never tried to sell them. I was somewhat hesitant handing over my 8 dollars to a guy behind bars that I had no quick access to. Just kidding. Who cared if the guy stiffed us. It was only 8 bucks.
This was a bring the boys event. It was only 80 degrees for this afternoon but I had a overheated kid on my hands. We were crammed in the bleachers.
A knucklehead seated behind us tapped one of my boys on the back and said; "Hey kid. You know what Mets stands for? Ah, no........ "My Entire Team Suck!" Ah, that's pretty funny guy. The kid is like 6.
The first place Yanks were facing Kevin Appier and the cross town Mets in another edition of the Subway Series. We were in the middle of the roll call guys in the bleachers. I heard the infamous roll call from afar many times. It was cool being in the middle of it.
How many of these have you been to? 0-0 after nine. There were only 10 hits in first 9 innings combined. Mussina struck out 10 in his strong 7 innings. Appier pitched 8 innings 8 K's himself. There was a combined 4 batters walked.
A classic pitching battle. And you'd think once the Sandman entered, it was lights out. But Mariano gave up 4 hits in the top of the 10th. With the Mets Desi Relaford and Edgado Alfonso on base, Mike Piazza singled to right scoring Relaford. Perez and Todd Zeile followed with consective hits scoring 2 more.
That was all the Mets needed as Armando Benitez came in the home 10th and shut the sides down.
A low key New York, New York echoed throughtout the cathedral as we exited.
Plenty of neo-Buffett fans out there. Check the date. This was the band's Feeding Frenzy Tour. So I ain't no Johnny Come Lately.
This was a theme park concert. But no ordinary theme park show. This theme park had tailgating on this day. Which ultimately lead to Jimmy's demise at this family friendly park. Beer was sold at the show but later banned at future KD shows in the late 80s.
Currently, Kings Dominion has a roller coaster called The Volcano. This coaster was not there when Buffett used to stop by here.
Here is a setlist of what Jimmy was playing back them.
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, July 7, 1983
Grand Opera House; Left, Row E
Hundreds of artist can claim to have been part of The Jukes at one time or another. Bruce Springsteen, Max Weinberg, Little Steven, former Miami horn Richard (La Bamba) Rosenberg and Jon Bon Jovi have been known to show up to play with the band.
A Jersey Shore staple for almost a decade at this point played at the refined Grand Opera House in Wilmington to promote the Trash It Up album. The Opera House was built in 1871 but has hosted many rock and roll bands.
Atlanta Braves v Los Angeles Dodgers, July 6, 1991
Dodger Stadium, Section 56 Row L
I took several trips to LA around this time to hang with an old college roommate. He was living in Hermosa at the time. Several of these trips were around the 4th of July.
I remember on the way home from this trip seeing Bob Uecker in the same terminal as myself in Cleveland. I watched several people approach Mr Sunshine. The douche bag blew all of them off. Including kids. He came across as the most miserable people I ever watched. I only bring this up because I told the story several times over the years. Uecker was the last ballplayer on the face of the Earth you would expect to be a douche to his fans.
This game was played on a Saturday night game. We arrived early (not an LA thing to do) and tailgated in the left field parking lot.
Not a bad pitching matchup. John Smoltz v and Cherry Hill, NJ product, Orel Hershiser. Our seats were in left field along the wall that separates the visitor bullpen. So we got to lean over the wall and watch Smoltzwarmup. Smoltz was already 2-10 for the year. Not a good start.
A nice weekend crowd of 47,207 were on hand.
Lenny Harris got things started for the Dodgers in the 1st with a single to right that scored Brett Butler and Darryl Strawberry. Butler was on of the best bunters in the league. I don't remember another who has come along since who has mastered the art like he did. He lead off the game with a bunt to Smoltz's right side.
Mark Lemke drove in a run in the 2nd to close the gap. Until the Dodgers exploded in the 2rd with 3 more. Hershiser helped his own cause by walking and then stealing 2nd. You don't see that too often. Strawberry tripled, scoring both Hershiser and Butler, who walked. Eddie Murray singled in Strawberry.
A short outing for the night by Smoltz's. The Braves exploded in the 7th scoring 4 to move within one of the Dodgers. Kevin Gross came in for the save.
We got to talk a lot with Braves reliever Marvin Freeman in the bullpen during the game. He was a former Phillie and a pretty decentguy. He carried on a conversation for a long time with us.
Greenville Braves v Carolina Mudcats, July 6, 2000
Five Country Stadium, Section 211 Row 11
New, little ballpark on the outskirts of Raleigh surrounded by corn fields and a cinder parking lot. As you would envision for a bush league park in the Carolinas.
The configuration is odd. The 1st level is field level with the 2nd level cantilevering above. The lower level is totally enclosed and dark. I think it was a neat design on paper, and a disaster in practice. The 2nd level, first row sits right up to field level. The upper level has a huge net between the seats and the playing field. I suspect when the place opened a few foul balls careened off some noggins in the upper level due to the close proximity of the seats.
Juan Pierre was a Rockies prospect playing for Carolina in 2000. Pierre stepped up big time in Los Angeles filling in for Manny Ramirez, who served a 50 game suspension for steriod use.
Greenville was managed by Paul Runge, a Richmond Braves player in the 80's when I worked at the restaurant in the Braves AAA stadium. The team also had on the roster Steve Avery, Rafeal Furcal and Marcus Giles. All who went on to have decent careers in Atlanta.
The Bulls sent eight men to the plate in a three-run second inning and a five-run eighth inning as Durham pounded the Richmond Braves 12-5.
The AAA Bulls got on the scoreboard first in the second inning scoring three runs highlighted by a 2-run triple from 2B Mike Caruso. Richmond took a 4-3 lead with four runs in the third inning, but Caruso struck again with an RBI-single to tie the game 4-4 in the fourth inning.
Leading 7-4, the Bulls tacked on five runs in the eighth inning capped off with a two-run home run from 3B Jared Sandberg. The Bulls took three-of-four games in the home/road series with Richmond.
LHP Cedrick Bowers (6-3) picked up the win in relief with three shutout innings allowing four hits and no walks. RHP Ismael Villegas (2-5) took the loss allowing five runs (earned) on seven hits and three walks.
The Bulls were 42-44 for the season. The win moves manager Bill Evers (286-230) into a tie for third place on the Bulls all-time list for victories with Grady Little.
New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies, July 4, 1983
Veterans Stadium,
The Phils were still fielding the core of their 1980 championship team. A team that would win another pennant in 83 (before falling to the Baltimore Orioles in the Series).
52,710 were on hand at The Vet for Fireworks Night with the rival Mets in town. Steve Carlton faced Walt Terrell.
Left fielder Jim Lefebvre went 2 for 3 with a double and triple for the winners. Lefty Carlton pitched a full game with no runs scored on 4 hits. That's a Hall of Fame outing kids.
Other notables taking the field; Mookie Wilson, Keith Hernandez, George Foster, Dave Kingman, Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt and Von Hayes.
New York Mets v Philadelphia Phillies, July 4, 1977
Veterans Stadium, Sec 314 Row 3
This date, out of all, will be under represented. I remember in the 70's-80's going almost annually to the Phils Firework Nights. Being able to step on the same lush green turf (while wearing the rosy glasses of a kid in the 70's) to lie down in the outfield and watch the fireworks show. Most Firework Nights were sellouts, which was rare in this 60,000 characterless bowl.
Some of the explosions were so big they would totally engulf the top of the stadium. And the sounds that reverberated through that huge, concrete structure.
But I could only find 2 ticket stubs as proof of my attendance.
How about this for a managerial match up; Danny Ozark, the skipper for the Fightins and Joe Torre for the Mets. Yeah, Joe Torre.
And how about Jim Lonborg and Jerry Koosman matchup? It took the Fightins' to the third to get on the board. Shortstop Larry Bowa singled followed by a Mike Schmidt double. Both were knocked in my a triple by Downtown Ollie Brown. Brown was knocked in by Gary Maddox (Sr.).
The 6th place Mets, already 18 1/2 games back went down 3-1 to the 2nd place Phils. Ron Reed picked up the save for the hometeam.
This was a Monday night game after I spent the previous day in the sun at Dodger Stadium. Mondays traditionally suck for attendance. The game had an announced attendance of 29,614. The stadium was still enclosed in the outfield to accommodate NFL Los Angeles Rams.
The stadium at the time lacked character, but at least had natural turf. It looked nothing like it does now, after a 2nd major renovation.
The Rangers had both Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro in the line up.
One handed Jim Abbott started for California with Mike Jeffcoat taking the mound for Texas.
With all of the suspected juicers in the lineup you would expect some longball. But there was none. California's Wally Joyner got things started for the home team in the 3rd with a double that knocked in Dick Schofield and Devon White.
Lance Parrish and Sammy Sosa both doubled for their respective teams.
Rookie Jim Abbott went a strong 8 with 5 hits and 2 runs earned. Abbott was inserted in the Angels starting rotation this season without ever pitching a game in the minor leagues.
Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band, July 3, 1990
Mann Music Center, 30 Loge Box
1990 in Philadelphia was a time when Buffett was not widely known. Jimmy was already extremely popular down South, where I first was exposed to his music.
I have seen him already down South. I think we had to beg people from work to get tickets for this show and to go with us.
As always, it was a good tailgate scene. I know we turned on 2 other couples this year. Our tailgates grew with several more in the upcoming years as our salty piece of asphalt in the parking lot grew
This was Jimmy's Jump Up Tour. And some songs played:
Norfolk Tides v Richmond Braves, July 3, 2000The Diamond, Box 111 Row O
Ottawa Lynx v Richmond Braves, July 3, 2006The Diamond, Sec 214 Row A
These were 4th of July firework night game. The Braves always put on a 1st class firework show.
Since the city forced the Braves out of Richmond to Gwinnet, GA, I am unaware of any fireworks scheduled in Richmond this 4th of July.
Good job Mayor Douglas Wilder, City Council and Governor Tim Kaine for blowing that one.
If I found 2 ticket stubs from fireworks night from 2000-2006, I lost several others.
Bryan Pena drove in two runs to help Richmond double up visiting Ottawa, 8-4, on Monday.
Pena's two-run single in the second inning gave the Braves (30-53) an early 4-3 lead. Gregor Blanco, Carlos Mendez and Jonathan Schuerholz each drove in a run for Richmond.
Braves starter Ricardo Rodriguez (4-7) allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings, fanning four without issuing a walk. The 6-foot-5 right-hander posted his first win since an 8-2 victory over Syracuse on June 2.
Lynx starter Cory Morris (0-5) lost his fourth straight start, surrendering four runs on five hits in four frames.
Adam Tracy launched his 16th homer, a two-run blast that staked Ottawa (41-44) to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
Philadelphia Phillies v Washington Nationals, July 30, 2008
