Yesterday (June 6), BBRT took off on its annual Ballpark Tours Trek … aboard a coach with 45 other baseball fans and, Julian, our intrepid operator and Phillies fan. This is a shorter trip than usual (BPT has done as many at 13 games in nine cities in ten days). This year it’s a long weekend – four games, in three cities (Milwaukee, Chicago, Appleton) in four days.
Blogging from the lobby of the Palmer House Hilton … Ballpark Tours Travels in Style.
The theme, at least for BBRT, is Blues, Brews and Baseball – not necessarily in that order. We are in town for the 2013 Chicago (free) Blues Festival, in Grant Park, just a few blocks from the Palmer House Hilton. (I’m writing this blog in the lobby); our trek includes a brewery visit (Sand Creek Brewing Company in Black River Falls, WI); and there is, of course, the aforementioned baseball.
First stop – a brewery – makes sense to me.
We departed Saint Paul, MN at about 10:00 a.m. and reached the Sand Creek Brewery just before lunch time. Good tour of the history brewery – and good tasting as well. It was then a picnic-style lunch in nearby Field of Honor Park (a bit of a gloomy day), before heading off for a night game (Brewers/Phillies – I noted our tour operator is a Phillies fan) at Miller Park in Milwaukee. It was a gloomy day, and roof at Miller Park, was closed, giving you the feel of watching the national pastime in a warehouse or airplane hangar. It didn’t help that the crowd was small (announced at 21,851 but looking considerable smaller in the cavernous Miller) and subdued (the Brewers are in last place and fell quickly behind the Phillies. Still, it was baseball, the brats were tasty, the Bloody Mary spicy, we received free Norichika Aoki “fan masks.” We also saw ex-Twin Delmon Young take one yard and ex-Twin (and hot hitting) Carlos Gomez exhibit the warning-track power we so often saw when he was with the Twins – as the Brewer went down 5-1. (It was also BBRT’s first chance to see Brewers’ phenom Jean Segura – who looks like the real deal.
Johnny Logan … highlight of the Brewers’ ga,e.
The real highlight was the induction of former Milwaukee Braves’ shortstop Johnny Logan into Miller Parks’ Milwaukee Hall of Fame. Logan – known as scrappy ballplayer – remained feisty even at age 87. In his acceptance, he shared stories about such notables as Billy Bruton, Hank Aaron and Stan Musial with enthusiasm – until emcee Bob Eucker had to cut him off. Logan, whose MLB career stretched from 1951 to 1963, was a four-time All Star and a key player on the Braves 1957 World Championship team and 1958 NL Champs. For trivia buffs, he was the first batter to face HOFer Sandy Koufax (delivering a single) and – playing in Japan in1964 as a member of the Nankai Hawks – was the first player to play on a MLB World Series champ and a Japanese Baseball championship team. The return to Japan was a natural for Logan, who had played service ball (for the Army) in Japan in 1945-46.
Former Brave utility man Felix Mantilla was called upon to help present Logan’s honor not only shared stories about Logan’s exploits, but brought back some memories for BBRT. Mantilla, who eleven-year MLB career included only 89 homers and 330 RBI, made quite a mark in Boston. After six seasons with the Braves in Milwaukee (1956-61) and one with the expansion Met, Mantilla joined the Red for the 1963-65 seasons. In a line-up that included such sluggers as Dick Stuart, Tony Conigliaro and Carl Yastrzemski, Mantilla, in 1964, finished second on the team in homers with 30 (to Dick Stuart’s 33) and led the Red Sox in RBI with 94 in 1965 (earning his only All Star selection). In those two seasons, Mantilla hit 48 of 89 career homers and collected 156 of his 330 RBI – while playing 2B, 3B, SS and all three outfield spots. Mantilla was traded to Houston in after the 1965 season and was released after the season (and did not play in the major again). For trivia buffs, Mantilla’s groundball to Pirates’ third baseman Don Hoak leading off the 13th inning (on which Hoak made a throwing error), broke up Harvey Haddix’ May 26, 1959 perfect game. Mantilla was sacrificed to second by Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron was intentionally walked and Joe Adcock hit one out of the park. The elated Braves messed up the base running (Aaron ran off the field, and so was passed by Adcock) resulting in Adcock’s homer becoming a double and the final score reading 1-0. Still, after retiring 36 consecutive batters, Haddix ended up losing the “perfecto,” the no-hitter, the shutout and the game.
After the Milwaukee game, out intrepid trekkers were back on the bus, swapping baseball tales, as we rolled into Chicago – and a late check in at the Palmer House Hilton. A long, but truly enjoyable day. Thanks to Ballpark Tours.
Old stadiums, like Wrigley, have their faults … but are still the best place to see baseball.
Day two of our trek found us in Chicago, taking the subway/el to Wrigleyville, where we enjoyed a neighborhood of sports bars and baseball-themed shops before the Cubs took on the Pirates in the “friendly confines” – a great place to enjoy a ball game. It was a good one –with the Pirates winning 2-0. Ex-Twin Francisco Liriano started for the Pirates as was effectively wild (it didn’t seem that effective, but he went seven scoreless innings, with two hits, 5 walks, a wild pitch and eight strikeouts). We also got a look at NL saves leader Jason Grilli. The six-foot-four Grilli, who looks even larger on the mound, logged his 23rd save – but made it interesting. He notched three strikeouts in the inning, but also gave up two hits to bring the winning run to the plate. Oh yes, another freebie today – Cubs’ floppy hats.
Supper, by the way, for food geeks, was great. Decided to stay in tonight, at the Hilton’s lobby bar. Had a great grilled flat bread with Mergeuz sausage, Manchego cheese, smoked paprika olive oil and chervil with a very good Garnett Pinto Noir. Nice finish to the day. Next on the agenda – Chicago Blues Fest and tomorrow’s Cubs game.
