That Championship Season

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.

Pop of the Mitt

Milwaukee Brewers v Boston Red Sox, July 30, 1988

Fenway Park, Sec 51 Left, Row F

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.

Another Day Down on the Farm

Indianapolis Indians v Richmond Braves, July 28, 1999

The Diamond, Sec 114, Row D

I don't think they refer to the "minors" as "the farm league" anymore.

Carlos Baerga was on the Indy roster that year.

ManU

FC Celtic v Manchester United, July 27, 2004

Lincoln Financial Field, Sec 213 Row 21

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