Early Buffett

Jimmy Buffett, July 7, 1984

Kings Dominion, Doswell, Virginia
Blue CCC

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.

1. Coconut Telegraph
2 We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us About
3 Pencil Thin Mustache
4 Boat Drinks
5 Grapefruit-Juicy Fruit
6 Son Of A Son Of A Sailor
7 Volcano
8 Why Don't We Get Drunk and Screw
9 Come Monday
10 Banana Republics
11 Fins
12 One Particular Harbour
13 Margaritaville
14 Brown Eyed Girl

The World's Greatest Bar Band

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.

Fleet of Feet Hershiser

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 Smoltz warmup. 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.

C'mon Meat, throw me that weak-ass shit!

Durham Bulls v Richmond Braves, July 5, 2001

The Diamond, Richmond, VA Box 110 Row O

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.

Born on the 4th of July

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.