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Chicago White Sox v Boston Red Sox, August 12, 2005

Fenway Park, Section 5 Row 15

A night out with the boys. We ended up standing at the top of the section to have more room to move about. While in the beer line I heard some females talking in Polish. Growing up in a Polish neighborhood with Polish nuns, I reluctantly turned around in quivering fear to what I was about to witness. What I saw were 2 blonde Penthouse looking model types very pleasingly dressed.
I took the opportunity to greet them in Polish, which they pleasantly responded. And we chatted. Being I was 20 years past my prime and pitifully inadequate for them, there was no tension. We all knew our places. We chatted until we all got our piwa and departed ways.

So back to the seats where we told our teenage sons about what they missed.

Aaron Rowand got the Southside Sox on the board in the first with an RBI triple that scored Paul Konerko and Scott Podsednik . After Mark Buehrle shut down the sides in the bottom of the 1st, the Southsiders came back with 2 more.

A David Ortiz double in the 3rd got the home team within 2 of Chicago. Jason Veritek tacked on a home run in the bottom of the 5th to tie the score at 5. Ortiz added a solo shot in the 7th to pull the Red Sox ahead. And in the bottom of the 8th Big Papi hit another one out of the park with 2 men on.

The Red Sox brought in Curt Schilling from the pen to close out the game. And he let up 2 home runs. One a solo shot by Tadahito Iguchi and another by Paul Konerko with Chad Everett on base. Holding onto a one run lead manager Terry Francona opted to keep Schilling in. And he finished off the game by striking out Aaron Rowand looking to the delight of 35,132 on hand.

Somewhere during the later parts of the game we looked over the rail on top of section 5 and saw the same Polish girls down below talking to 2 other hotties. We pointed them out to the boys.
My friend issued a challenge; First one down there who put their face between one of the girls boobs gets 2o bucks. Without hesitation both boys sprint down the steps and emerge down below a short time later. As the girls departed I see the boys hurry in front of the girls where they stopped in their tracks. A few seconds later my son and one of the girls embraced and his face when face first into the the juggy target. Then they both sprint back, up the steps and he stood there with his hand out looking of his reward.

Record Breaking Evening

St Louis Cardinals v Philadelphia Phillies, August 10, 1981

Veterans Stadium, Section 725 Row 21 Seat 14

The 1981 Major League Baseball strike was the fifth work stoppage in Major League Baseball since 1972. The players latest hissy fit began on June 12 and forced the cancellation of 713 games in the middle of the regular season.

I was at home watching the 5 o'clock Action News with Jim Gardner on Channel 6 when the announcement was made that the strike settled. This was not news enough to raise my interest. But Pete Rose was one hit away from breaking Stan Musial's National League hit record of 3460 hits. And the defending World Series champs were playing Musial's old team, the Cardinals.

As I ran out my back door as my neighbor was running out his back door with the same idea. Go to The Vet and try to get a ticket. And we did. Not good seats, but we were inside the ballpark.

It was a Monday night. Not typically a popular night to go to the park. But the strike was over, the Phils were defending World Series champs and they were in 1st place when the strike began. Plus there was an opportunity to witness history. 60,561 felt the same way.

Larry Christianson took the mound for the Phils. He gave up a 1st inning home run to Keith Hernandez. Pete Rose stepped up to the plate to led off the bottom of the 1st. He hit a ground ball single but it was ruled an error. Musial's record remained intact. Mike Schmidt hit a double and Rose scored on a wild pitch while Gary Matthews was at bat.

Rose got another chance in the 3rd but grounded out to the pitcher, Bob Forsch to the disappointment of 60,000 plus standing fans. Rose had another chance in the 5th only to ground out to 2nd.

The Cards put 4 runs on the board in the 4th, 6th and 7th.

With St Louis releiver Mark Littell on the mound to start the bottom of the 8th, Rose led off which would most likely be his last bat of the evening. Tension grew. The Phils were already down 5 to 1. Rose hit a clean single to left to break Musial hit record with 3,631 hits. Rose acknowledged the crowd of 60,561. Play stopped and Stan Musial was marched out to congratulate the new NL hit king. Schmidt hit Rose as 2 more scored for the Phils in the 8th.

The visiting Cards ruined the evening with back to back home runs in the 9th by Sixto Lescano and Gene Tenace.

I still have the 8 1/2 x 11 placard they gave out to fans as exited the stadium that evening. I also have the seat plate from my seat. The plates were held on with 2 rivets. My seat, ironically #14, had one rivit popped. With a little tug, I was able to bring home an extra souvenir.

After the game Rose received a congratulatory phone call from President Ronald Reagan.

Kansas City Royals v Boston Red Sox, August 10, 1997

Fenway Park , Section 13, Row 2

A big game for rookie Nomar Garciaparra. He hit a 2 run home run in the 3rd and an RBI double in the 8th. Mo Vaughan also doubled in a run in the 8th as the Red Sox beat the visiting Royals 6-4.

It was a hot day at Fenway with 27,743 on hand. These were the days when the Red Sox were not selling out 500 home games in a row.

Burning for Y.........

Blue Oyster Cult, August 8, 1982

Bader Field, Atlantic City, Gen Adm

With the Dixie Dreggs and Aldo Nova

These guys are still playing in Atlantic City.

Big-time rock 'n' roll... well, sort of... made its first appearance here in eight years yesterday, competing under bright sunshine with the more traditional lures of sand, surf and casino gambling. It drew a generally peaceful crowd of 7,100 to the Bader Field stadium.

With the heavy-metal group Blue Oyster Cult on hand as the headline act, the Dr Pepper Atlantic City Rock Bowl could hardly be called an artistic triumph. And since the promoter, East Coast Concerts of Philadelphia, was hoping to draw at least 7,500 to the 10,000-capacity field on Albany Avenue, the concert was not quite an economic winner, either.

"We lost a little money on this," conceded Greg Benedetti, spokesman for East Coast Concerts. "But all things considered, we're pretty happy with the way things turned out. The crowd has been simply beautiful. And we're encouraged enough that we'll be back next year" for at least one concert.

For the promoters, the concert was a big gamble in a city that knows something about gambling. The weather was a factor, to be sure. And then there is the "shore mentality" this time of year, when young people seem content to entertain themselves with radios on the beach and relatively inexpensive beers in the bars, where cover bands play music heard on the radio.

The weather was perfect, despite ominous predictions late Saturday. The bulk of those in attendance made the most of the weather, working on their tans as they sprawled on the grass in various kinds of beach attire.

Every effort was made by security personnel to confiscate alcoholic beverages at the gates and on the grounds, and there were few incidents. The mood, for the most part, was laid back.

Even the teenage boys and older types who wallow in the imagery and behavior synonymous with heavy- metal rock were forced by the weather to leave behind their black leather jackets and chains. They were far less ominous in cut- offs. From a musical point of view, the highlight of the day was provided by the first act, the Dregs, who once again impressively displayed their virtuosity and versatility. Despite the group's unfortunate name - they formerly called themselves the Dixie Dregs - this is a class act all the way, with a repertoire that ranges from electric bluegrass to fusion rock-jazz to classical- influenced rock.

But it was downhill from there. Next came Aldo Nova, a Canadian rocker with minimal talent, and then the crunching sounds of Blue Oyster Cult, who feel compelled - with good reason - to enhance their act with various dramatic touches, including a giant mechanical Godzilla monster that belches smoke, and sundry flashing lights and explosions. The impact of most of these effects was diminished in an outdoor, daylight setting.

Otherwise, the first major rock concert here since Crosby, Stills and Nash performed at the Atlantic City Race Track in 1974 provided a fine day for cruising in search of new summer romance, for soaking up the rays and for generally socializing under pleasant circumstances.

(from Philadelphia Inquirer 8/9/82)

By the time BOC did their encore of Born to Be Wild and Burning for You, the crowd started to rip down the plywood barricade in front of the stage. Buck stopped singing and playing. Eric Bloom came on the mike and said something like, If you see the guy next to you being destructive, beat the crap out of him.

They never finished Burnin' for You.

Fight at the Bat Rack

Chicago Cubs v Philadelphia Phillies, August 8, 1993

Veterans Stadium, Sec 240 Row 4

How ball games are won. Lenny Dykstra draws a lead off walk in the bottom of the first. Steals 2nd and is in position for a Charlie Hayes single to score. A passed ball led to another Phillies run on the first.

It was a small ball game with the Phils 11 runs on 12 hits. Charlie Hayes had 4 RBI's. The Fightins held the Cubs to 6 hits.

Danny Cox got the win with Danny Jackson being credited with the loss. 32,232 were on hand.

Reunion

Cleveland Indians v Baltimore Orioles, August 7, 1993

Camden Yards, Sec 372 Row A

This was the first year of Camden Yards. I had a friend in from Boston. We drove down to meet an old fraternity brother and his friend, who were coming up from DC.

Times have not changed. Not only was my fraternity brother as obnoxious as I remember, his buddy was amped up 10x. The night started with those guys spilling beers on the people below us and ended up in a bar room fight at one of the places outside the stadium. And then there was the drive back to New Jersey.

Cal Ripken was in the line up. No surprise there. The O's trotted out an aging Fernando Valenzuela. It was said Fernando was born in 1960. There was no 33 year old on the mound this evening.

The Tribe came out playing National League ball with lead off Kenny Lofton bunting down the 3rd base line. Albert Belle knocked in the first run of the game. The Indians manufactured another run in the 3rd with a bunt and an errand throw.

Then the hometown O's woke up. In the bottom of the 3rd the Birds scored 5, including a 3 run home run by Cal Ripken to deep left field. Under neath our seats.

That was Ripken's first home run of the night. He connected again in the 5th with another shot to left center field. Sandy Alamor also went long for the Tribe in this game.

VCU alum Jerry DiPoto came in relief to pitch hitless for 0.2 of an inning.

The Birds win 8-6 in front of 46,424.