gary's great american pastime trips thread

atlanta was #20 of 30, the next order in the pipeline is kansas city, #21, then 2015 trips so far, #22, houston, and #23, arlington, hopefully all to be posted within the next 2 weeks, then july sees me in toronto, and sometime this season, its a probable trip to new yankee stadium, for the 3rd yankee stadium for me as i was at the original yankee stadium as a child in the 60's although i barely remember the game, and quite a few indeed during the late 70's early 80's at the renovated stadium.
some of the many pennants won by those great atlanta teams of a few years ago
0_0_5cbc8ff127e7c26261a50154135eb51c_1



todays lineup
0_0_58d5bf305a4ef8b1f0e3219c57d8800a_1


the rockies did not have a fun day, this was a pretty frequent scoreboard announcement

0_0_20a7340a4c7c4d4587dafb1167d71a84_1


gotta shake the team hands as you cross the plate

0_0_2e90ba9ebe004d507238a4e1e0d58045_1


mascot vs something, not quite sure what, oh wait a minute it's a home depot paint brush

0_0_800fb2b8a129877f5deee4d775fb2a30_1


and i don't care in todays pc climate we have to live in, i still remember the tomahawk chop

0_0_3589cc16dd44268479536d9b7f634ce5_1


and this man was worth the ticket alone, a baritone star of the atlanta opera, and a full professor of voice performance at spellman college, doing a stirring rendition of america the beautiful

0_0_3ba18926aaeb429679df1129a6a68c85_1


?????????

0_0_92529c13897127e8d005d20b7151bfce_1


big corporate presence in atlanta

0_0_d25ab3fab8a11d4ca548058602863d6e_1


atlanta takes the win

0_0_4a2bb7beec2bafbec6f16ce948ae73be_1
 
independent leagues are good, they have a lot of nice stadiums, we have a 10 game ticket package at the local atlantic league long island ducks
good cheap entertainment
 
moving on from atlanta, next up is a trip to kansas city, i've already last year posted a lot of photos from my great midwest ramble, so now its time to go to kansas city, to kaufman stadium, when i originally decided to attend the national railroad historical society annual convention in northwestern arkansas, as i started looking for a gateway airport, the closest major city turned out to be kc, and when i discovered the royals were home the weekend before the convention started it was a done deal. i did not do the I-70 double as its called the year i did st louis, opting instead for the side trip to marceline missouri, to the walt disney hometown museum, so this was a good piece of timing. first up, the hotel i stayed at, got to love it when the stadium is within walking distance of your hotel, second best is a direct mass transit line move, 3rd best is a mass transit move with a transfer, my least preferred, having to rent a car and deal with the exiting traffic.
my hotel

0_0_3f9d85b9948cc3773abc6c45d4a1902c_1


and literally a 180 pivot and here's kaufman stadium

0_0_41f479389619d149a86a89c6eed5dd30_1


the layout

0_0_0717ed133def0fddf6dec6196b69070d_1


the famous fountains, which i actually saw before i had my traditional field view

0_0_02e9cc500cc4b92273498c7c83be5363_1


this guy could play, and i still remember the pine tar incident, one of the best baseball tantrums i ever saw, right up there with the best of earl weaver

0_0_3b4e6202a310e2d11a7c6f88fe834ee1_1


the Q was better than any other ballpark so far, but not on the level of the kc area places of renown, such as jack stacks, oklahoma joe's, gates, and believe me i sampled a few on that trip

0_0_15c72cb2e68d8830f4ae04e8f5fae687_1


and some miniature golf

0_0_5f6dbd5a7b62aa2f218b8d6b802c40d4_1


with unique holes

0_0_c5c60f93bdb667ca939f3b1e85fbf1e7_1


and obstacles

0_0_ca5ef0038f2ce545959d74f1af4fc557_1


and some kids entertainment

0_0_b7bebfdf8488f7a9201e25c67975c750_1


0_0_676e9a4111d1d27bf04f97d4bbe1df11_1


the kaufmans, who apparently deeply loved and were major benefactors to sports, art and culture in the kansas city area

0_0_70f1180da3840637e3ceaa8443a16e8c_1
 
continuing with kansaas city, here we look down into one the bullpens, starter warning up

0_0_a23d0af196a812d268e4fe3dab390182_1


the view of the field

0_0_0e92d1d243711ef19bf077d310aaf0db_1


the royals hall of fame

0_0_42f3dca49175757c678f6675fed5bef7_1


the royal pig

0_0_99d25bd5d7a0eb8ac8146f72f4b54878_1


and craft beer, mmmm beer

0_0_71138bcedd89c98ddaa7606012b0fdaa_1


pork rules, especially in the midwest

0_0_7a72e9bfa1bed069347636fefceffb34_1


yankees lineup

0_0_8cad0925c55e9d455d7ad36f56152ef4_1


starting fielders for the royals
0_0_50bd5b0a77ffc8bcb024653f2634e27c_1


decent view from my seat

0_0_a4796f4278a7358bbddcac861601e59e_1


and this, well i'll let it speak for itself, i'm not quite sure i have words for this

0_0_1a06759255cb1842feb56ea5bb9d037a_1


i believe he was out

0_0_c05811f3dc84b0f05b75dd454611553a_1


good fielding, and good pitching, i like those games,

0_0_5489954bf5c5d8de2e17af4071965301_1


pitching change, the line on the new pitcher atop the hall of fame

0_0_4389cfed1c761831aff1e093a61585a0_1


those guys in the cat outfits are still at it

0_0_4035314a1e17b2e9459d659e83f9395a_1
 
the royals win, 2-1, it was right about then that they started the run to the world series

0_0_db8b9dfa642a7dffb3ed3bd2581b7694_1


final line on the game

0_0_f9c382e3e6646997ebcbd4c553e21f98_1


the fountains again

0_0_30ebbdbb2b6d2193a73462454784f757_1


and i haven't been including it here, but i make sure i get the paper the next morning and bring home the box score, i have most of them from my games, and i scan them in at the tail end of the online gallery

0_0_0a82450380df7b82e0273029c70a4e6c_1
 
Gary, not sure if you saw this interview, but I guess this is the newest "game" for athletes. Was based off a scene from the movie "Super Troopers". So that would explain the cat tank tops and subsequently the signs that say "right meow".

 
so its time to get a move on, get along little doggies, get along to texas, first up houston, home of the surprisingly good astros, and the really nice minute maid park. first up photo is from my hotel room window, i stayed right across the street in the downtown westin, and while it wasn't cheap, the ballpark convenience certainly made it worthwhile
from my window
0_0_b7f7dee0fdca7410e75a4ce1735b764d_1

home plate grill, where i had a great burger and a great kolsch style craft draft before the game, its that building across from the far end of the park in the above photo
0_0_e99b2a047a2007a9396df6266ddb5fc2_1

entrance to home plate
0_0_065f328d70e7178b859a40b0d853e1b2_1

welcome plaza
0_0_b5c01ee49df24e9b9ba8c20251a92c96_1

pitcher
0_0_d0cf4089c385d7bd4818bc1460dfb075_1

catcher
0_0_5d69767cd8fb541ec43e55b1d8ad4627_1

and we will see this train later from inside
0_0_d86f089d380a0c9cf8000c5819079b7b_1

my first view of the field
0_0_b16101338c2de32463ced6efc75296db_1
 
Last edited:
no, the wretched astrodome is just a memory
mickey made it to houston
0_0_2c372d1b5b756191cc275436ed00e457_1


and i tried to win this car, but haven't heard from the raffle people, unless it goes at the end of the season
0_0_de4866e16f9ed23c4cc74fa0b7dfacc1_1


i quite often arrive early enough to watch the grounds crew go through the final prep for the game, the crisp white new looking base covers, the smooth infield dirt
0_0_cda647da5f9d0ad32e9d08a65e60a505_1


the limeing of the base lines and the batters box

0_0_9d674af2019afa47ec480c0960df8279_1


some kind of talking head doing a tv interview/commentary
0_0_c62c02f8f14e444972ee0e22e4e22c8a_1


something to do with eating more chicken thing

0_0_b69c62c08cba67cbd55b3040435e6471_1


the astros did have a few great players, including smithtown ny's own craig biggio

0_0_d552962d53a266b0c0ceeae2e2543dd2_1


all the games i've attended, and i have yet to catch a t shirt fired into the crowd

0_0_1d56353e93b0fd3dcbafda0604bc2ef9_1


tonights starting lineup, seattle mariners vs houston astros, and i have to give props where due, altuve is one hell of a ballplayer, the only other 5 tool player that comes to mind with him is andrew mcutcheon of pittsburgh

0_0_ba8adf04f9358411656c45c22db99ca3_1


and we'll close tonights post with this shot of that weird little hill up to the left field foul pole, which i understand is gone as of next season, does add a little character

0_0_25c85fe46735bc032a71b4f7f941f518_1
 
Last edited:
so of course we have the mandatory character race, astronauts instead of hot dogs or hamburgers, at least something different
0_0_930def7f0208bd9b0ad44d3e83a260ac_1


another sidearm pitcher, i'm still waiting for one of them to have his arm just fly off towards the crowd
0_0_f224d48f86161d6aa7308db15b235e84_1


and the mascot and the mascot harem, for lack of a better term, and the lighting got a little weird for awhile, this was the first major league game for me using the sony A6000, plus the new to me FE 24-240, and houston has a retractable roof, which they left open tonight , so some of my images were a little dark until i figured it out
0_0_39952370d11d10a9860230491e02649c_1


every time a houston player hits a home run, the train moves right to left, parallel to the left field baseline up on top of the stadium, the tender is filled with oranges, and there is actually a person dressed on old railroad engineer overalls, bandana and hat riding it waving to the crowd, pretty neat, and due to houston scoring all their runs on home runs, i got to see the train a few times
0_0_5ce50d763abfd384a9a85d664087a0b5_1


oh happy day, the home team wins, some good baseball, nice pleasant evening, and 20 minutes after the last out, i'm relaxing in my hotel room, tonights box score

0_0_5c98c4593e283de54a6aebb50a1aa3cb_1
 
Last edited:
so we continue with the texas two step as i like to think of it, moving back up the road to arlington texas, to global life stadium, home of the texas rangers, open air, thus the only team in major league baseball allowed to have an 8:00 pm start on the sunday game of the week. and that is why this trip took place when it did, no way was i going to an outdoor game in texas after june 1st. another easy transit, if you stay in a hotel along the arlington shuttle route you do not have to drive to the game, although you cannot stay for post game concerts when they have them, in this case i had to miss out on trace atkins, bummer.

arriving at global life
0_0_f5de193624ee914090a8f8a03826b7ac_1

window by the entrance to the team store
0_0_d23b65e98addc0111449a5e26a6f4295_1

and it was a fundraiser day for the local animal shelter
0_0_d1ae18a26b0e260d75f4e71decbc5e67_1


they have these neat sandstone relief scenes over various portals around the stadium
0_0_5bc1b0f4f84721b67747d718e296eb9e_1


first view of the field
0_0_97d8db7b3d2562e108147ec4d0d0e522_1


they have a pretty large diamond vision
0_0_96f7eadcb873a212912e177d51eb0e50_1


my doctor would not approve, but hey, he wasn't there, some sort of frito pie/barbeque thing. sinfully delicious
0_0_bf321bb44fc497eb35b50f6bf42724cf_1


and i did not have this, but the counter worker was gracious enough to hold someone else's up for my photo, the true 2 foot long hot dog, $26.00
0_0_8cf1c7b8aba0a6bcce4a36431967d7f3_1


wish i could remember who this commemorates, maybe nolan ryan??
0_0_d5ffe716231f982e0e616a7faddf16c8_1


and the view from my seat, once again stub hub gets me where i want to be
0_0_4128449fea13624809a23507cef8ceed_1
 
ok, so i just realized i am behind on posting on this thread, so since 6/10 i travel to toronto, for park #25 of 30, let me catch it up. 8/8/15, toronto blue jays vs ny yankees, at what for me is my 3rd yankee stadium, although i can no longer remember the original, according to my mother i was there when i was about 9, yankee stadium #2, my favorite memory, 1978, red sox vs yankees, luis tiant on the mound for the yankees, pitches and loses a 1 hitter, hung a slider that i believe dwight evans tattooed into the seats. and now new yankee stadium, yanks lose 6 - 0, john smoak hits a grand slam. great sunny warm day, mass transit all the way, in fact made such great time getting the D train after the game, 45 minutes after last out, i was on the LIRR train home towards ronkonkoma.
first view of the stadium walking from the subway stop
0_0_f6ba28371a8372274f61dc6c97482df0_1

nyfd, 44 truck, the local truck company for the neighborhood
0_0_ea94a857c8bfdf4c0b58815bd71a0fa1_1

walking up to the facade
0_0_672a769638dfa16684f2545e0cb8bc46_1

my traditional first view of the field photo
0_0_1078c1476933d9f8b31b2c2d837deaef_1

and it's warm, i'm not driving, and i can afford 1 ny priced beer, except i forgot this one was blurry
0_0_d020c37f80a01c76c6973f79306af047_1

view from my seat, and it was pepsi cowboy hat day
0_0_e132dbab29d9582dc56e8d53e5ec12ef_1
 
Back
Top