Baseball Roundtable, reporting again from Bleacher Bums XL – The Tulsa Culture Tour. The trip will take our busload of 32 baseball fans and friends to six ball games (major- and minor-leagues), in five cities, in four states in eight days. Along the way, we’ll also take in a number of cultural/historical sights, visit a few breweries and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow baseball fans and friends. Over the next few days, I will continue to blog from the trip to give you an idea of what a Ballpark Tours trip is like. This post looks at Days Three & Four. Click here for Days One & Two.
Day Three – June 18, 2023
Day Three of Bleacher Bums XL -The Tulsa Culture Tour started early for many trekkers – with the Kansas City Crowne Plaza Breakfast Buffet: Scrambled eggs with cheese, French toast, sausage, bacon, American Fries, biscuits and gravy, oatmeal fruit, yogurt, assorted pastries … and ,more. Well worth the time (and money $14.95).
Our bus left the hotel for the ballpark at about noon – with the Royals again posting the Angels. We, once again, had great seats – upper deck, just beyond third base. Great sight lines. Good crowd – and it was Bobblehead Day – a Nicky Lopez/Vinnie Pasquantino double bobblehead for Fathers’ Day.
Did He Hit A Double? No, He Was Double Hit,
The fourth was an, at least slightly, painful inning for Angels’ 3B Luis Rengifo. With two-out and runners on second and third, Rengifo was hit by a pitch from the Royals’ Zack Greinke. That “hit” put him safely at first base. Then, Rengifo’s teammate – SS Andrew Valazquez – slapped a hard ground ball that hit Rengifo between first and second. That “hit” put Rengifo out and ended the inning.
Obligatory Ohtani photo.
The game was a bit cleaner (and shorter) than yesterday’s 3 hour-13 minute affair … with the Angels winning 5-2 in two hours and 31 minutes. The key blows were back-to-back home runs by Angels’ DH Shohei Ohtani (two-run) and CF Mike Trout (solo) in the fifth inning. Ohtani’s blast extended his hitting streak, which began June 3, to fifteen games. During those 15 contests, Ohtani went .446-9-20 and stole three bases in four tries. Jared Walsh also homered for the Angels in the top of the ninth. It was Walsh’s first homer in 26 2023 games.
Food Note: KQC made it again, as one of our trekkers raved about the Smoak Craft Barbeque’s Sampler Platter ( see photo below). KCQ features local BBQ Pit Masters from Chef J’s, Scott’s Kitchen and Smoak Craft BBQ on a rotating basis.
The Fans Ballpark Tours Creates
Back in 2016, Ballpark Tours’ veteran Nina Manzi spent some time on the tour teaching Joe Bliven the fine art of keeping score. Well, Bliven (who is on this trip) has since developed (and had printed) his own scorebook – and it’s a beauty. Not only, does it include the traditional “boxes” for scoring the action, It has spots for such topics as Game Start and End; Seat; Ball Park and City; Mascots, Food; Drink; Weather; National Anthem Performance; and Who’s With You? It seems like the perfect score sheet – proud that Ballpark Tours helped lay its foundation.
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Trekkers enjoying cocktails at Providence New American Kitchen.
After the game, trekkers went out on the town – focusing primarily on the Power & Light and Art Districts. One popular spot was the Providence New American Kitchen – noted for its uniquely crafted cocktails. The bar is located in the lower level of the Hilton in what was once “The Drum Room” – an entertainment venue that hosted such stars as ranks Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman and Sammy Davis Jr. Also popular were Tom’s Town Distillery, The Double Shift Brewery (and tap room) and the music at The Green Lady Lounge. One group travel a bit farther to the barbeque at Slap’s BBQ – a non-nonsense BBQ.
Slap’s BBQ
Day Four – June 19, 2023
Day Four was primarily a bus day – as we rolled from Kansas City to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The on-board Bloody Mary Bar was again open. “The Rev” provided some music and there (for some unknown reason) was plenty of talk about 1960’s sitcoms like Gilligan’s Island, The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, The Brady Bunch, My Three Sons, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis — and more. We did not, by the way, resolve the Ginger versus Mary Ann issue. Like so many trips, the primary sound was laughter.
We did make a brewery stop for lunch – at the Bricktown Brewery in Joplin, MO. The chandelier in the entrance proved particularly mesmerizing for our group. The photo should tell you why. Overall, the Bricktown stop provided good beer and good food and my tour companions prove good company.
We arrived in Tulsa on the heels of the weekend’s severe and tornadoes and in the midst of Monday’s 90+ degree heat. As members of our group prepared to head out for a look at what the area had to offer, they were cautioned to call ahead to make sure the facilities had power.
Big day tomorrow – museum by day, ball game (NW Arkansas Travelers versus Tulsa Drillers) by night – and who knows what else.
More to come.
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