I had been to Cleveland and Jacob’s Field some time ago and was not impressed with either one, so coupled with the fact that the sleep we were promised was still forthcoming, I was over today already!

Progressive Field had some improvements however and I have to say I did enjoy the ballpark.  There was a section in right field that had cocktail tables and a fancy looking glass fronted restaurant over-hanging left field.

We were part of a free “backyard patio bbq” but actually there was a huge variety of food available in the park.  Nothing specific to Progressive (don’t they make canned mushy peas?) or Cleveland however.  One employee claimed the mustard was famous but when I asked what kind it was she said “…just ballpark mustard.”    Okay then.

They had a few scoreboard complications and it was out for a couple of innings, when it resumed it had the Tigers line-up on the left but claimed they were the Tampa Bay Rays!  Despite the plastic beer cup claiming the Field was environmentally friendly the lights were wide on for the whole game, which started at 12.05pm ending at 3.20 pm!

I peered through the legs of Bob Fellers statue only to find it read…  “Robert William Andrew Feller was born in 1918… “  “…he signed with the Cleveland Indian when he was 16 years old in 1936…”

Progressive Field

Coopers Town:  Hall of Fame

I don’t think there is much to say here…  the Hall of Fame, I believe, is a completely individual experience for all of us.

I got a private tour from a friend that works there.  It is freezing in the vaults to enhance the life span of the materials and I had to wear special gloves before I touched anything – other than that I can’t really share on the internet I’m afraid.

The Hall itself is over-whelming and needs a substantial amount of time to view, which we did not have.  I included some fuzzy pictures of Padre stuff, partly do to the glass casing and partly fatigue…  we are promised more sleep soon!

Coopers Town is a giant t-shirt shop.  I was recommended a little bar “Cooley’s” on Pioneer Street that had a good burger and sweet potato fries and an “Old Slugger” made by the Coopers Town Brewing Company.  I heard the burger in the Coopers Town diner is giant and to die for but the place seats about 6 people so there is always a wait.

On a separate note but no real relevant place to put it…  along with asking locals and employees advice and recommendations, I have being using a book entitled THE ULTIMATE BASEBALL ROAD-TRIP by Josh Pahigian & Kevin O’Connell.  It has been a valuable source of information and ideas for places to eat and visit outside of the parks.  Highly recommended for those planning a similar kind of road-trip…

Hall of Fame

Yankee Stadium:  Baltimore vs. New York

Today we went to Yankee Stadium…

Okay fine!  I'll do it properly, jeez...

I took some pretty crappy shots of the new stadium, sorry.  I left them in coz its betteran nowt!  It looks like Cesars Palace.

There is a giant chimney outside the old stadium that has been disguised, rather uncleverly as the Babes bat.  I don't know if they'll move it or if they even need it.  People use it as a meeting point before the game, it might end up being in the middle of the parking lot now.

I didn't take any pictures of a $9.50 miller lite or generic hotdogs.  Most of the good stuff is outside the stadium but they will let you bring it in.

I also stole a piece of paint from the old stadium and used it to make my own porn moustache!

Yankee Stadium

In 1946 the headline in the newspaper simply read “BULLSEYE!”

Ted Williams hit the longest home run in Fenway Park’s history, 502 feet.  It is clearly marked in the stadium by a single red seat in a section of green ones in the right field stands.  “Ted Williams knocks sense into Yankee fan”.  Apparently, the New Yorker occupying that seat was not paying attention and it hit him on the head, rendering him unconscious!  Lol.  I’m sorry, a line drive foul of first base I can understand but 502 feet, you have a little more time to react!

I expected to be impressed with Fenway (it was another park on my list of must sees) by its history and venerability.  I was not expecting to be swept away by the atmosphere…

On the other hand the next time those bawdy sawx fans come to SD and hassle me about how we don’t know how to support our own team I’ll give ‘em what for!  Up and down, up and down all game long…  it’s uncomfortable enough sitting in those midget seats (and I wasn’t in the originals, which are smaller still) without having to sit and stand every two minutes coz they can’t go 3 minutes without a beer in their hand.  God knows how they lasted 86 years!!!

Unfortunately, we arrived late and almost missed our tour but we got a shortened version with tour guide Steve Meterparel.  Ask for him personally, a more animated caricature of his own self you will never find, the stuff cartoons are made of - awesome!

I did discover a wonderful locals bar a little off the beaten track but not that far from the park called BUKOWSKI, after the writer (one of my faves).  They have over 140 bizarre bottle and taps beers to choose from and a great looking kitchen.

Fenway Park

Citizens Bank Ballpark:  Atlanta vs. Philadelphia

I started by making an effort.  The line at the Liberty Bell, however, was extreeeeeeeeemly long, not sure what all the fuss is about that thing anyway!  (not that I’m bitter or anything).

 Instead I went to Franklin’s grave and came across a couple of other interesting ones too.  John Taylor the gravedigger himself and a gentleman named Gerald J Connelly, who, as his gravestone clearly states, was a “seaman, soldier, safecracker”.

 Next, the EL VEZ Restaurant.  A little over priced but excellent food and drinks menu.  If you’ve never seen this guy check him out…  www.elvez.net

 I took a cab down to “Pat’s” which if you know your Phillie cheese steak is opposite “Geno’s”.  The two best cheese steaks in town.  Both have a line around the corner but you won’t have to wait long.  The reason for this is because next to the giant menu on the wall are instructions on how to order…  and don’t eff it up!  You have to say “wit”  not “with” and the word “onions” is arbitrary.  Be ready to order the SECOND they say “next” and have your goddamn money ready…

 Pats is where I ran into Willie, a Philadelphia native, who showed me how to get to the subway, steal newspapers from doorsteps and get free metro rides.  Despite all this awesome hospitality, my friends thought he was a mugger!

 Oh yeah, Citizens Bank…  I have been here before so coupled with just seeing PNC and Camden Yards the novelty had worn off.  I’ve had 5 hours sleep 3 days in a row, I’ve been drinking all day, the sun is beating down and they are playing the Braves – forgive me if I’m not as attentive today. 

Citizens Bank

 Totally forgot to mention the charming little attribute to this park...  you can kinda see it in the pics, between the batters eye and the out of town score board in right field is a little walkway (with concession stands) that overlooks the visitors bullpen!  You would think, in Phillie of all places, they would have thought of the consequences of that!

Shea Stadium:  St Louis vs. New York

Casey Stengel, when approached by the press “What do you think about the Mets execution tonight?” was said to have replied “Yes, I think that is a very good idea!”

Fortunately, today was not one of those games and included a sensational catch, that all of you no doubt saw on ESPN tonight by Senor Beltran and a HR by Fernando Tatis.  I guess it was no more phenomenal than any of the other HR's, I just like saying “fer-naan-doe tat-eeze”

I warned everyone that they were about to enter a giant orange bucket but even I had forgotten what a dump this place is…   when I asked the fans and employees of the local fare and beer, I was greeted with stares, “huh” ‘s and “what?  Brooklyn?” 

The new construction looks awesome.  I hope they put some thought into the concessions.

Shea Stadium

Camden Yards:  Angels vs. Orioles  

Another beautiful park and this time a game was played in it!

Earlier in the day I took a water taxi to Fells Point and wandered around the cobblestone streets, little boutiques and bars.  I came across a store selling “Boh” merchandise.  Still green to the scene I asked a bunch of questions including “what was the beer like?  To which the storekeeper replied “you got time to try one?”  He promptly removed a can from a cooler and we stood in the store chatting beer and baseball while I drank my complimentary suds and he greeted the occasional customer.  I like shopping in Baltimore!    www.nattybohgear.com

Camden Yards

btw  the nice gentleman that works at the Babe Ruth Museum works so hard and such long hours he has quite obviously been denied the over rated opportunity to attend charm school, poor bggr.

PNC Park:  San Diego vs. Pittsburgh 

I’m not saying a word about the game itself. 

Crazy John Wray is a man whose heart was obviously broken when they tore Forbes Field down but has found a fabulous way to relive a ton of memories by giving tours of its remains.  He even does a little impression of Yogi Berra bailing on an infamous home run…  Every year on October 13th people gather by the plaque and listen to a replay of the entire game; some pray that it won’t rain! 

I took a cable car up to a view point and found “Redbeards”, a very civilized establishment serving the local “Iron City Beer” and Primanti Bros was the fare of choice.  Good times. 

One of the reasons I took this tour was to see this particular park.  I was not disappointed.  It’s absolutely gorgeous.  The skyline looks like a cardboard cutout and reminds me of the NY,NY Casino in Las Vegas.  Check out the pics…

PNC Park

Great American Ballpark:  San Diego vs. Cincinnati

Great American Ballpark Pictures

Not an overly exciting ballpark as far as I’m concerned…  looked a bit too plastic and Disneyland for my tastes and so – much – red;  I thought I was getting vertigo at one point!

I tried me a Skyline chilidog and gave the other one away.  I am told if you walk 7 blocks down to their restaurant they will serve you that fabulous chili (with chocolate and cinnamon) over spaghetti noodles.  Not sure why… 

Down to the nitty-gritty.  I haven’t seen the Padres play live (or even on tv) for some time now.  Congratulations WG.  You are doing a fabulous job!  It’s not enough we can’t back up our poor, poor Maddog but we made several clumsy errors, the highlight of course being that pick-off between 2nd and 3rd.  We weren’t even trying, even before Khalil dropped the ball.

To top it off, as we were in PR country, I had a box in a pool that would win me first prize if the score ended up being 4-9.  At the top of the eighth we scored a run making my numbers a BINGO! 

We held the Reds in the bottom half of the inning and now to the ninth… which left me that debilitating decision all Fantasy Team owners are at some point faced with; do I root for them to win or for my cash?!  

Coffey loads the bases, E-Gon is up.  Even a slam still loses us the game and I don’t get my money.  He strikes him out and Cordero takes over on the mound. 

The entire stadium is rooting for his retirement long before he walks in the 5th Padre run and even after he gets Hairy. 

 Lose, Lose for me...

 I called the Valentino HR off Maddux and a 6 run inning off of Thatcher; should have bet on that instead!

 I saw Wes and Wonko, who looked thoroughly unenthusiastic to see a fellow GLB-er.  Either my flies were undone (AGAIN – sorry ‘bout that) or they had just been caught on the "kiss cam" and didn’t realize I had missed it!

 It’s going to be a horribly long ride to Pittsburgh…