Conference Call

Pawtucket Paw Sox v Norfolk Tides, May 29, 2003


Harbor Stadium, Sec 113 Row D

The stadium was a cut above the only other AAA stadium I have ever been to.  Richmond's Diamond was built in 1985 but had the character of a 1970's cookie cutter.
This is what AAA baseball needs to look like.
I recently started a new job and was in the Virginia Beach area working.  I decided to catch a ballgame but had a 8:00 PM EST conference call.  My home office was in LA and we typically had late conference calls.  Although I didn't expect anyone to expect me to be in an office at 7PM local, I was conscious of not letting it be known to the others that I was lounging out at a baseball game.
As the conference call progresses there were typical stadium noises I was trying to conceal.  At one point the moderator chimed in; "Who is at a baseball game".  I took a deep gulp and was about to "confess" when my counterpart in Houston yelled "I'm at an Astros game with ...........".  The moderator said "You sound drunk, are youhaving a good time".  He yells back "hell yeah".  And the call continued. So much for the stuffiness of my new company that I wrongfully assumed.
Notables on the Sox roster in 2003 were Kevin Youkilis and Bronson Arroyo.  Jose Reyes and John Franco were on the roster for Norfolk (Mets AAA).

Politically Incorrect Super Bowl

Cheesy 90's Pastel Logo

Syracuse Sky Chiefs v Richmond Braves, May 29, 1993
The Diamond, Sec 113 Row C

Since I have a ticket stub I have to believe I was at this game.  This was a time when a fraternity brother worked for the Braves and gave me good seats when I came into town to visit.
The Sky Chiefs were the Triple A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

The following season both teams would meet to play for the league championship.  Because the MLB players went on strike and abandoned their duties, ESPN covered the Governors Cup finals in 1994. 

The Three Ring Sign

Old Connie Mack Stadium, Philadelphia

Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies, May 27, 2004

Citizens Bank Park , Sec 130, Row 24

"Hey, get your cold beer! Hey, get your Ballantine!...Just look for the three-ring sign/And ask the man for Ballantine." That's how the jingle went.  Just ask Mel Allen.
Not many people know this;  the beer of choice of Martin Crane, Frazier Crane's character father in the sitcom "Frazier" was Ballantine Ale.  

I watched from afar the planning, design and building of the new Phillies ballpark.  I grew up in the Vet.  Not knowing any better, it was the center of the universe.  Until I got a taste of baseball played on grass.  Then I grew bitter that my childhood was robbed of real baseball.
I couldn't wait to see the Phils play a home game on grass.  This was their first season in the new Citizens Bank Park.
I read previously that the Phils were going to honor the passion of Philadelphia for drinking beer by offering every beer brewed within a 30 mile radius of the city.  In addition, the defunct Ballantine Beer recipe was purchased, and that beer would also be sold at the new ball park.
The reason Ballentine held a special place in the heart of the Phillies was they were the main sponser on the center field scoreboard at the old Connie Mack Stadium.
I was on a mission to drink a Ballantine.  I remember the commercials as a kid.  The cans in the fridges at the corner local tap rooms.  I may have even had a cheap 6 pack or two in my youth.  But not all local beers were available at each beer stand.  Understandable.  And, as far as I could see, no list available to show where each individual brand was sold.
Being I was on a mission, the beer took precedence over the Braves v Phillies on the field.  I was with my wife.  She knows when I act like a kid in a candy shop to just let me go.  So she patiently followed me on my quest for the golden nectar once known as Ballantine. 
Our seats were above 3rd base.  Pretty good for a kid who spent countless Phils games in the 700 Level (mostly 714).  But I was drawn back upstairs to my roots in search of a Ballentine.
Finally, I found the stand offering the beer which disappeared from shelves 30 years prior.  I don't know what I was expecting, maybe a can or bottle, but remember being disappointed when I got a generic disposable cup of beer from a tap handle that read "Ballantine".
I walked several sections anticipating my first sip.  I found it.  This was my moment.
I took my first much anticipated swig................Ahhhh........No wonder they no longer make this swill.
But I have to endure being I spent months anticipating and innings searching.  As I made my 2nd or third sip, a typical lughead Phillies fan bumped into me, spilling my Holy Grail in a plastic cup to the concrete below.
Normally, that's good enough reason to pursue a new beer from the other gentleman.  He stopped and apologized, then offered to buy me a new beer.  Being he actually did me a favor, I patted him on the back and said, "no problem" and walked away.  Right to the next stand to buy my own replacement of something other than Ballantine.
Somewhere along the line the Braves went on to manhandle the home Phils 6-1.

Nomar Comes Home

Boston's Jim Leyritz takes BP

Boston Red Sox v Trenton Thunder, May 27, 1998


Waterfront Park, Sec ?

A festive day in Trenton this date.  The parent Boston Red Sox were visiting for an exhibition game and bringing short stop sensation Nomar Garciaparra with them.  Garciaparra spent the entire 1995 season in Trenton.  On this night the Thunder would retire Nomar's Number 5.

The Red Sox became the first major league team to play in New Jersey since the Brooklyn Dodgers played part of their regular-season schedule in the state in 1957. It was the first appearance in Trenton by a major league team since the Washington Senators played the Trenton Senators in 1936.

The big team would go on to win the exhibition 4-3 in an evening when stars such as Pedro Martinez and ex Thunder Trot Nixon and Lou Merloni were on hand.

Nomar in 1995

Treadway Hat Trick

Jeff Treadway hit 3 home runs tonight

Atlanta Braves v Philadelphia Phillies, May 26, 1990


Veterans Stadium, Sec 617, Row 7

Prior to the Braves run at consecutive divison titles but many of the pieces were falling into place.
A pretty decent Saturday night crowd on hand of 56,789 on a cool night in a drizzle.  The Phils never held Saturday afternoon games in those days like Boston and New York.  It was too bad because The Vet always looked better in the sunlight.

The Phils jumped ahead quickly in the bottom of the 1st with a Von Hayes RBI single to center scoring Lenny Dykstra who drew a lead off walk.  Dykstra was moved to 3rd on a Ron Booker double.

The Braves rocked starting pitcher Pat Combs in the 3rd with a 3 run home run from Jeff Treadway and RBI singles from Jamie Presley and Dave Justice.  The Braves continued the fight at the bat rack in the 5th with a Greg Olson RBI double a Ron Gant sac fly and a 2nd Jeff Treadway round tripper to deep right field  to put the visitors up 9-2.

The Phils Dave Hollins contributed a little too late with a lead off home run in the bottom of the 5th off Braves starter Pete Smith.  That single run was negated by Jeff Treadway's hat trick 3rd dinger in the 7th scoring Ron Gant.  Lonnie Smith piled on his old team in the 9th with an RBI single to score the final run in this 12-3 slug fest.

Brew Crew Pounding

Milwaukee Brewers v Washington Nationals, May 23, 2008

National Park,  Sec 104 Row T

Milwaukee's Jeff Suppan faced Odalis Perez in the Friday night matchup.

Willie Pena hit a line drive home run deep to left in the bottom half of the third for a Nats 1-0 lead. 
Perez held the Brew Crew scoreless for 5 when the pitcher Suppan helped his own cause with an seeing eye RBI up the middle.

Willie Pena moves away from past ball

Suppan remained strong until the top of the Nats top of the order produced a Ryan Zimmerman double, Lastings Milledge sacrifice and a Jesus Flores double put them up 5-1.