Nomar Before Nomar was No-MAH

Bowie Baysox v Trenton Thunder, July 16, 1995

Waterfront Park, Section D1, Row R

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.