BallPark Tours’ Show-Me-State Ramble

June 19, 2014 by

Today was Day One of my nearly annual baseball trek with BallPark Tours – my 25th excursion with Julian Lescalzo’s traveling baseball festival.  This year’s trek (the first of two for BallPark Tours in 2014) has been labeled the “Show Me State Ramble” and is taking us from Saint Paul, MN to:

  • Des Moines – for an Iowa Cubs/El Paso Chihuahuas (now there’s an imposing team mascot) game.
  • Saint Louis – for two Cardinals/Phillies tilts.
  • Kansas City – for a pair of Royals/Mariners match-ups.

(For more information on BallPark Tours, click the BPT icon on the right-hand side of the page.)

As in the past couple of seasons, I thought I’d report on our progress occasionally, just  to give you a feel for the BPT experience.

Wednesday, June 18

Approximately 45 of us left Saint Paul on the coach bus a little after noon – renewing old friendships and making new ones (all based on a passion for our national pastime). The specially designed tour t-shirts were distributed (photo in a later post), as were the traditional baseball trivia “Kwiz” and entry forms for a contest based on predicting how many runs will be scored across MLB during our travels.  Beverages, snacks and lively conversation all flowed freely – and loudly – as we rolled on toward game one on the tour.

Jimmy Buffet made an appearance. Thanks, "rev."

Jimmy Buffet made an appearance. Thanks, “rev.”

About an hour out of Saint Paul, we were introduced (courtesy of a tour participant who has earned the title “Lunchmaster”) to the newly constructed “Jimmy” buffet – which made the rounds of the bus smoothly and tastefully.  We were required to sing a couple verses of “Lunchmaster, Lunchmaster” (to the tune of “Matchmaker, Matchmaker”) before being allowed to partake.

We arrived in Des Moines about 4:30, got our tickets and checked into the historic Hotel Fort Des Moines.  Once we were checked in, a good percentage of the group made their way to the Racoon River Brewing Company – conveniently located right next door to the hotel – and even more conveniently featuring (upon our arrival) a happy hour with microbrews Bandit IPA, Tallgrass Light, Homestead Red, Vanilla Cream Ale and Stonecutter Stout for just two-dollars a pint.  A good – and cost-effective – time was had by all.

From there it was on to the ball park, the 11,500 seat Principal Park, for a 7:05 game between the AAA Iowa Cubs and El Paso Chihuahuas (a Padres’ farm team).  Depending on your preference, you made the journey via a healthy (if somewhat hot and humid) walk, the free hotel shuttle or taxi. (I chose to walk to the game and shuttle back.)

It might have been the weather (hot and humid), day of the week (Wednesday) or the Iowa Cubs’ 34-35 record), but the park was less than half full (announced attendance 4,802).  And it was even Iowa Oaks night, when the team wore throwback Iowa Oaks uniforms and offered one-dollar hot dogs (of which our group consumed many). For those of you who care about such things, the Iowa team was known as the Oaks from 1969-81 (an Oakland A’s farm club 1969-71) and its most famous alumni from the period is new BB HOFer Tony LaRussa, who played for the Oaks (1969-71) and managed them in 1979.

Uninspiring Bloody Mary at Principal Park.

Uninspiring Bloody Mary at Principal Park.

 

I always like to review each stadium’s Bloody Mary offerings in this blog and the review will be brief for Principal Park.  First, the beverage of choice is available in “The Bottom of the Fifth” bar. Catchy name, but that’s as far as it goes.  As much as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers’ Bloody Mary Bar was awe-inspiring (see here), Principal Park’s offering was uninspiring  – vodka, mix from a bottle, with no pepper, Tabasco, celery, olives or pickles.  Hoping for better in Saint Louis.

Now to the baseball, the game offered a little something for almost everyone, as Iowa took an early lead and held on to beat El Paso 3-1.  The Cubs scored first with speed, as shortstop/leadoff hitter Arismendy Alcantara (one of several “name game” tongue-twisters in the game) drew a seven-pitch walk, then stole second (his 13th steal in 16 attempts this season), moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on single by C/clean-up hitter Rafeal Lopez. Alcantara would pick up his 14th stolen base after a fourth-inning single.  They added to the lead later in the inning, when Lopez scored on a single by 1B Josh Vitters (who came into the game hitting just .214, but would collect three hits).  For those who prefer a power display, Vitters scored and drove in the Cubs’ third run with a fifth-inning home run to left.

Meanwhile, Iowa starter Dallas Beeler kept the Chihuahuas’ bats from barking, holding El Paso scoreless through six – thanks in part to (what later proved game-saving) a running/diving catch by Cubs’ right fielder Bret Jackson with runners on first and third and two outs in the sixth. Beeler, who evened his record at 3-3, left the game after being pinch hit for in the bottom of the sixth – and not too long thereafter, the fans who prefer a little “tension” in the contest got their wish.

BPTPrincipalThe seventh inning was pretty much uneventful, but when Cubs’ reliever Zac Rosscup (sporting a nifty 2.77 ERA) came in,  El Paso began hammering the ball. Although he gave up just one run on two hits, four of the five batters Rosscup faced laced the ball.  There was more excitement in the eighth, as Cubs’ closer Blake Parker came in to seek his 14th save. He got it, but brought the fans up out of their seats (which they were  stuck to by the humidity) by giving up two singles and a walk (after retiring the first two Chihuahuas he faced) to load the bases with two outs and a two-run lead.  He ran the count full on El Paso’s Jonathan Galvez (the club’s leading hitter at .316) before retiring him on a fly to right.  Good game. good night and – as we saw on some pale faces in the a.m. –  it was just beginning for  few of our group.

Now, about those names:  Three who took the field that BBRT found interesting – the previously mentioned Arismendy Alcantara, El Paso starting pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne, and Cubs’ LF Matt Szczur (pronounced See-Zer).

On a side note:  Manny Ramirez, signed as a player-coach on May 25, did not make an appearance and did not seem to be in the ball park. Appropriately, one of our intrepid touring group was wearing a “Manny being Manny” t-shirt (and she eventually showed up on the big scoreboard – much to our applause).

As is usually the case at AAA, a few players who have seen limited time in the big leagues were spotted on the field (like Iowa’s Ryan Kalish, Zac Rosscup, Chris Valaika, Josh Vitters, and Casper Wells.  The most notable former MLBer who played in the game was El Paso’s Jeff Francoeur (who appeared in a pinch-hitting role), whose nine-season MLB journey includes the Braves, Mets, Rangers, Royals, Giants – and soon, he hopes, Padres.  For all of the Twins’ fans in our group, former Twins’ catcher Brian Harper coached a perfect game at 3B

 

More tour posts to come – pardon any typos, hard to post on the bus.

 

I tweet baseball @DavidBBRT

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours

Ballpark Tours – Great Summer Trips

December 13, 2013 by

Time to plan that summertime baseball excursion.  Two great trips, details at http://www.ballparktours.net/

ballpark tours

 

 

Busch Stadium

Show Me State Ramble

Des Moines – St. Louis – Kansas City

June 18-22

Five great days of major and minor league baseball.

 

 Wrigley Field

Farewell to Wrigley

Chicago – Milwaukee

August 7-10

A weekend getaway celebrating Wrigley’s 100th Anniversary

and Milwaukee’s tradition of brews and baseball.

 

Visit http://www.ballparktours.net/ for more infor and sign up forms.  Cllick the Ballpark Tours hot link at the top of the page to get a a look at past trips and adventures.

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours

Final Day of Ballpark Tours Trip – The Minors

June 10, 2013 by

Final Day of Ballpark Tours’  first trip of 2013 (for info on the upcoming August trip see ballparktours.net) left Chicago just after 9:00 a.m. for a 1:05 minor league (Single A) game in Appleton, Wisconsin – the Mariners-affiliated Clinton Lumberkings versus the Brewers-affiliated Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.  The bus ride gave me a chance to make some progress on my reading:  “Summer of 68 – The season that changed Baseball, and America, Forever.”  Finished it on the finAL bus leg home, watch for the review.

Great seats and plenty of action in Appleton.

Nice little ballpark in Appleton and our tour operator got us great seats, right behind home plate.  Nice feature at the ballpark – where the food choices, by the way, were far better than Miller Park – you can order concession via cell phone right from you seat and then go to a Fast Lane to pick up your order.  Great, if you are keeping score and don’t want to miss any action while stocking up on food and beverage.

BBRT did keep score and, as in so many low minor league games, there was plenty of action.  The hometown Rattlers led 5-2 after four innings, with the Lumberkings up 6-5 a half inning later.  After 7 ½ the visitors led 8-6, but Wisconsin scored six in the bottom of the eighth and eventually won it 11-9.  Clinton scored their nine runs on 14 hits, while Wisconsin plated 11 runs on just seven hits.  The game featured four home runs (the wind was blowing left to right) – as well as 16 walks, a hit batsman, 1 error and three wild pitches.  Needless to say, there was something going on every minute.

The star of the game for Wisconsin was centerfielder Tyrone Taylor, who went two-for-three (home run/ single) in three at bats and also drew a pair of walks.  It’s just the second season for the 19-year-old, who hit .387, with two homers and 11 RBI in 18 games (rookie ball) last year.

As with all minor league games, there was also plenty going on between innings: a cheese spread race, the firing of beef sticks into the crowd, various “skill” competitions that brought fans to the field, and the obligatory charity “50-50” raffle.

The sign says it all.

For the Ballpark Tours group, one of the highlight was the Sunday Bloody Mary bar, where you received a generous pour of vodka in a Timber Rattlers mug and then put together your own Bloody Mary using a wide range of available mixed and condiments.  Your truly went with Tomato-Horseradish juice, a bit of tabasco, pepper, a beef stick, two olives, an asparagus spear, a dick pickle slice, two peppers and a celery stick.  (There was plenty more to choose from.)  The popularity of the offerings was evidenced by the high volume of souvenir mugs on the bus as we left the ballpark.

 

For the last leg home, we relaxed on the bus and watched the documentary “Yogi Berra – In His Own Words” on the overhead video monitors.  All in all, another great Ballpark tours excursion.

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours

Ballpark Tours 2013 Trek Continues

June 8, 2013 by

The action was up close and personal at the Chicago Blues Festival

The 2013 Ballpark Tours trek is in its third day – and it was one filled with variety.  As always, our tour operator left us plenty of time to soak in the local culture.  For BBRT, it was a stop at the Art Institute of Chicago and the 2013 Chicago Blues Festival – both within easy walking distance of our hotel (The Palmer House Hilton).  Saw four solid Chicago Blues Rock bands at the (free) festival – highlighted by Liz Mandeville and the Blue Points and Brother Jacob and his Blues Crew.  Also had a chance to be assigned a “Blues Name” (based on your initials) for a mock “talent pass.”  I got “Old Bones Smith.” And, the opportunity for a free Blues Festival poster with your own image.  Great fun, all part of the typical Ballpark Tours experience.

Your own “blues name and poster” … all part of the 2013 trek experience.

Wrigley Field again the star attraction.

Later in the afternoon it was back on the subway/el to Wrigley for another Cubs/Pirates matchup.  Sunny day, decent upper deck seats (no really bad seats at Wrigley).  We saw the Pirates’ A.J. Burnett dominate the Cubs most of the game.  In fact, when Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle let Burnett bat (weakly) in the bottom of the eighth, we thought we were going to see an increasingly rare MLB result – a complete game shutout.  (Not so rare on the Pirates, who lead all of MLB with ten shutouts.)  After eight innings, Burnett had a 6-0 lead, having given up just two hits and three walks (with five strikeouts).  After one out in the ninth, he faltered giving up a single to Cubs first sacker Anthony Rizzo and a long home run to center fielder Alfonso Soriano before being relieved.

The game offered plenty for the fan.  The Pirates’ third baseman hit a truly out-of-the-park  two-run homer (his 13th of the season) that landed on Sheffield Avenue beyond right field, while Pirates’ catcher  Russell Martin hit his 100th career (and seventh 2013) round tripper to left.  There were also a handful of good defensive plays including a catch in the outfield ivy by Pirates’ right fielder Travis Snider, a tough diving catch by Cubs’ right fielder Nate Schierholtz and infield gems by the Pirates’ Pedro Alvarez (3B) and Neil Walker (2B).  History was served as the Cubs’ giveaway was a Hall of Famer Ernie Banks flag and Ernie himself led the seventh-inning rendition of “Take me out to the ball game.”   All in all a great day to be at the ball park.

Tomorrow, it’s off to Appleton, Wisconsin for some minor league action.

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours

Ballpark Tours and Memory Lane

June 7, 2013 by

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.

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours, BB Fun Facts

Chilly Beginning to Twins Season

April 2, 2013 by

Baseball is back in Minnesota – “cooler” than ever.

BBRT was in the stands – on the very chilly third deck – for the Twins home opening 4-2 loss to the highly-compensated Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers.  BBRT survived a brisk wind and temps that my IPhone indicated dropped into the twenties during the game (other sources quoted the low at 34 degrees), but came close to not surviving the $8 price tag on a cup of vendor-delivered hot chocolate.  Among the keys to my enjoyment were long underwear, two pair of gloves, boots and earmuffs – all Opening Day firsts for BBRT. All around me I saw stadium (ballpark) blankets, hoodies, hats with earflaps – and, of course, truly “ice cold” beer.  And I could have sworn I saw a couple of hitters sporting mittens instead of batting gloves.

Still it was baseball and the well-bundled crowd enjoyed the atmosphere of Opening Day.  As for BBRT, I dutifully kept my scorecard up to date until my pen stopped  delivering ink in the eighth inning, when I retreated to the already crowded (Kent) Hrbek’s Pub to catch the final nine outs on the big screen (in a crowd that drew warmth from each other).

Overall, the 3 ½-hour game was less than cleanly played, as the players, at times, seemed to have trouble getting the feel of the ball (2 errors, three wild pitches). Twins fans did get to see a lot of new faces, including the starting pitcher (Vance Worley), who proved his Minnesota-worthiness by taking the mound in bare-armed short sleeves and new leadoff man Aaron Hicks (who helped justify Verlander’s new contract with three early strikeouts).  And, there were MVPs in abundance – Verlander, Miguel Cabrera (also last year’s Triple Crown winner), Joe Mauer (also a three-time batting champ) and Justin Morneau. And, there was the tension of a close game – the Twins left twelve men on base in a 2-run game and just couldn’t seem to get the big hit (or sacrifice fly).  Having twelve batters go down on strikes will do that to you.  For BBRT, the season was officially welcomed in the second inning, with the first (witnessed by me) 6-4-3 (Florimon to Dozier to Morneau) double play.  For BBRT, double plays are a thing of beauty.

In addition, the beer was cold, the hot dogs steaming (as was my breath), the ball stark white against green grass and blue sky, the crack of the bat as sharp as ever, the scorecard cheap and informative, the home team garb plentiful throughout the sellout crowd – and there was a full slate of games being reported on the scoreboard.

So, all in all, despite the cold, there was plenty to enjoy at Target Field.  Most important, however, baseball is back!  BBRT note: Also enjoyed a truly cold pre-game brew with Ballpark Tours operator Julian Loscalzo on Cuzzy’s Bar & Grill’s outdoor patio – a markedly Minnesotan way to precede the opener.  (See www.ballparktours.net for info on this year’s trips.)  Julian’s beloved Phillies opened in Atlanta, where it was reportedly in the 70s. 

Clayton Kershaw – a shutout and a homer on Opening Day. LET THE PITCHERS HIT!

While Julian may have envied the fans in Atlanta, I was envious of those in Los Angeles, who not only enjoyed the California warmth, but saw HOFer Sandy Koufax toss out the first pitch – and then enjoyed their Dodgers beating the long-time rival Giants 4-0, behind Clayton Kershaw’s complete-game shutout.  They also witnessed Kershaw becoming the first pitcher since Bob Lemon (in 1953) to hurl a shutout and hit a homer on Opening Day.  The result reminded me – one more time – of why I still oppose the DH.  A couple of other reasons:  On June 23, 1971, Phillies’ right-hander Rick Wise no-hit the Reds at Cincinnati 4-0 (one walk, three strikeouts) and also drove in three runs with a pair of homers (he would hit six dingers that year) – making him the only pitcher to hit two homers in a no-hit performance.  Another reason?  The first National Leaguer to hit two grand slams in a single game?  Atlanta Braves pitcher Tony Cloninger, in a July 3,  1966, 17-3 road win over the Giants.  Cloninger also added a single and had nine RBI in the contest.  So, I say, let the hurlers hit.

In a final Opening Day thought – since April 1 was this year’s official Opening DAY (versus March 31, Opening NIGHT) – BBRT offers a tribute to late MLB umpire John McSherry, who suffered a fatal heart attack while working the plate at the Cincinnati Reds’ home opener (against the Expos) on April 1, 1996.  Seven pitches into the contest, McSherry called a timeout and began to walk toward the Reds’ dugout before stumbling and falling.  McSherry, a 25-year MLB umpiring veteran, had been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat and was scheduled to see a doctor the next day. It was reported that McSherry had cancelled an earlier appointment because he didn’t want to miss Opening Day.   McSherry was rushed to a hospital, where the 51-year-old was pronounced dead about an hour later.   (The game was postponed and played, from its beginning, the following day.)

Well-respected and well-liked, McSherry worked a dozen post-season series, including the 1977 and 1987 World Series, as well as the 1975, 1982 and 1991 All Star games. He was behind the plate for Larry Dierker’s July 9, 1976 no-hitter, as well as for the 1977 World Series contest in which Reggie Jackson belted three home runs. He was also behind the plate, doing what he loved on April 1, 1996.

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours, BB Fun Facts, News, Rants & Raves, Uncategorized

Cincinnati – Chicago – Home … Another Jam Packed Ballpark Tour Complete

June 26, 2012 by

The Great American Ball Park – another great stop on the tour.

The 30th Anniversary Ballpark Tours (BPT) trek is complete – and this will be my last tour-related post.  (Back to more traditional commentary, reviews, etc. – Coming soon a review of John Grisham’s “Calico Joe;” a recipe for “Tokyo Dogs;” and a look at mid-season standings, achievements and disappointments.)

 

Note:  To get the chronological “feel” of the Ballpark tours trek, scroll down and being the with initial post in this series.  

 

The final days of the 2012 BPT trek took our band of about 40 baseball fanatics to:

– Cincinnati … Where we saw our Twins slip by the Reds 5-4, despite a pair of Reds’ 2-run homers.

– Chicago … Where we witnessed a see-saw battle as the White Sox topped the visiting Brewers 8-6.

– Monroe, Wisconsin … Where we toured (and sampled the wares of) the Minhas Craft Brewery,

A few highlights of the final days/hours:

At our Friday game, Cincinnati was honoring the “Big Red Machine” of the ‘70s and we got to see post game interviews with George Foster, Dave Concepcion, Gary Nolan, Dan Driessen and Cesar Geronimo. Foster was particularly entertaining, as he reflected on his 1977 MVP season when he led the NL with 52 home runs, 149 RBI, 124 runs scored and posted a .320 batting average.  According to Foster, he could have plated a few more RBI if Dave Concepcion hadn’t “help up at third” so often.

The post-game interviews were followed by a fantastic fireworks show (the best most of us had seen at a ball park, or any other venue).   Other notables:  The Smokey Red Dogs made for great baseball fare; even the vendors in the stands featured steamed hot dog buns; the Twins’ young Ben Revere went 4 for 4 with a pair of stolen bases; and the Reds’ veteran Scott Rolen went 3 for 4 with a home run and a pair of RBI.   A moment to “rant” about.  In the fifth inning of a 4-3 game, Reds’ fans in centerfield tried to start “the wave,” a fortunately fruitless endeavor that they repeated in the sixth inning of a then 5-4 game.  BBRT remains steadfastly anti-wave, especially in a tight contest.

In Chicago, during Saturday’s final tour contest, we saw a combined 25 hits, 6 walks, 2 hit batsmen, 1 fielding error, 1 passed ball, 10 pitchers and 7 stolen bases in a less then cleanly played White Sox win.  On the plus side, we did witness two very well executed sacrifice bunts.

We also enjoyed another fireworks display – not up to Cincy’s standards, but still very good, well-timed to great music.   Among the food highlights were corn “off the cob” (I had mine with butter, salt and shredded mozzarella); loaded baked potatoes; and a variety of sausages (all available with grilled pepper and onions.)  On the beverage side, mango margaritas received some high praise. It was a beautiful night (some respite from the 90-degree heat) and, as usual, we had good seats (upper deck box behind home plate).  One of our group caught a T-Shirt in the between innings give-away and (as is BPT custom) quickly “gave it to a kid.”

Sunday’s dash for home included a side trip off the main highway – to the small town of Monroe, Wisconsin, where we toured the Minhas Craft Brewery.  Great tour and great tasting – including the popular “Lazy Mutt” Brew and the tasty Huber Bock and Boxer Lager.  The stop in Monroe also included a visit to the Haydock Museum of Beer Memorabilia and time for lunch at one of the restaurants on the town square. I enjoyed a great burger with spicy garlic olives, Swiss cheese and horseradish mayo.  Of note, Minhas lays claim to being the oldest brewery in the Midwest (operating since 1845), now owned by the world’s youngest brewery owners (Ravinder and Manjit Minhas.)  We all received a Minhas “Damn Good Beer” glass for the tasting – with numerous refills available, as well as a five-pack (four beers and one root beer) of samples to take with us.  By the time we rolled out of Monroe, we had met and mingled with a host of locals – and several in our group were talking about coming back for Monroe’s Cheese Fest.

So, there you have it – in 9 days, a total of 205 ½ hours, my personal tally (which is representative of the group) included:

– 8 ball games … 5 major league, 3 minor league – in 5 cities in 4 states.

– 5 museums …  History, Science, Art, Bat Manufacturing, Beer Memorabilia

– 1 pregame tailgate party

– 3 fireworks displays

–  A host of freebies … A tour T-shirt; a Ball Park Tours 30th Anniversary windbreaker; a Roberto Clemente jersey; a Louisville Slugger mini-bat; a magnetic, baseball-oriented photo frame; a MLB.net mini backpack; a Minhas beer glass; a sampler five-pack (four beers and a root beer).

To wrap up BPT’s 30th Anniversary Tour, I had a great time with a lot of great people (old friends and new) who share a passion for the national past time.   How much fun are these tours?  At our Chicago hotel, a good share of the group was gathered in the bar laughing at tales of events from this trip (and a host of trips past), when the manager came over to our group.  Our first thought was that he was going to ask us to “keep it down” a bit.  Instead, he just wanted to comment on how great is was to see a group having such a good time in the lounge/bar.   That’s why Ballpark Tours is my choice for the premier baseball tour operation.

The Lazy Mutt Lounge – a highlight of the Minhas Brewery tour.

 

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours, Rants & Raves

Our Literary Group Moves On – Pittsburgh and our Twins

June 22, 2012 by

PNC Park – beautiful place for a ball game.

The programs and (dutifully completed) scorecards continue to mount up, as our BPT trek has moved on – through Pittsburgh to Cincinnati.  In addition, our band of bus riders continues to move through its on-trek reading material.  In this blog, BBRT will give you a look at the middle of this baseball tour, as well as what baseball fans (at least this group) choose to read.

In Pittsburgh, we witnessed a 7-2 Twins loss to the Pirates, followed by a 2-1 Twins win (on an eighth inning home run by Josh Willingham) and a 9-1 Twins loss on the final day (which prompted one of our group – in about the 7th inning – to proclaim loudly, “In the name of humanity, stop the game.”)  While we lamented the losses, we had plenty of company, as the stands held a large contingent of Twins-attired fans.

PNC Park, with the Roberto Clemente Bridge in the background, provided a beautiful setting for baseball.  We enjoyed different seats, with different vantage points for each game (down the third base line, behind the first base dugout and second deck behind home plate).  This gave our group a real flavor of the park and a chance to interact with a diverse range of Pirates fans.

Unique food flavors included stuffed Pierogies (dumplings with sour cream) and the delicious Primanti Brothers sandwiches (a meal between two slices of bread) that features your choice of cheese steak, ham and cheese and capicola and cheese – with the coleslaw and French fries mashed right into the sandwich.

Cold beer helped take the edge off the 90+ degree heat (and the Twins losses).  To add more local flavor, we were in Pittsburgh for “Pup Night” – lots of cute dogs at the ball park – and members of our group got their choice of a Roberto Clemente jersey or a Pirates hat as a group gift.  There were the usual between-inning stunts (still a sore spot with BBRT) including a Pierogi race, T-shirt toss and even the firing of hot dogs into the stands. All in all, a good ball park experience.

The Pittsburgh front office staff showed a sense of humor, picturing Minnesota players on the big scoreboard next to snow globes encasing the Twin Cities skyline, and playing “Let it Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow” between innings.

As usual, we stayed at a hotel close enough to downtown to enjoy the culture of the city.  I chose the Andy Warhol Museum, but other BPT-ers took bus, boat and even Segway tours.  In our free time, trekkers also visited the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, the Phipps Botanical Gardens, the Heinz Museum and Pittsburgh Zoo (among others);  rode the popular “inclines” for a better view of the city and its rivers; took the water taxi to the game; and shopped and dined at spots like Station Square, Market Square and the Strip. My lunches (all three games were evening affairs) included a spinach salad with hazel nuts, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries and feta cheese on one day, and a baked stuffed clam on another.

Basically, we enjoyed not only a great ball park, but an interesting and hospitable city.

Now, for a little on-the-bus culture.  BBRT did a survey of our BPT group, to find out what’s being read on the bus.  The results back up baseball as the most literary game, with the most literate of fans.

Here’s the list (14 non-fiction / 9 fiction) – judge for yourself:

 Non-fiction

– Baseball in the Garden of Eden – Secret History of the Early Game (John Thorn)

 – The Lady in the Tower – The Fall of Anne Boleyn (Alison Weir)

– Big Russ & Me (Tim Russert)

– On the Ground – Illustrated Annotated History of the 60’s Underground Press in the United States (Sean Stewart)

– Freakonomics (Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner)

–  Bill Veeck – Baseball’s Greatest Maverick (Paul Dickson)

  Destiny of the Republic – A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President (Candice Millard)

– Moneyball (Michael Lewis)

– The First Girl Scout – The Life of Juliette Gordon Low (Ginger Wadsworth)

– Mayflower (Nathaniel Philbrick)

 – Health and Wellness Newsletter

 – D-Day (Stephen Ambrose)

– Lone Survivor (Marcus Luttrell)

–October 1964 (David Halberstam)

 

 Fiction

 –The Art of Fielding (Chad Harbach)

– Hold Tight (Harlan Coben)

– The Mangrove Coast (Randy Wayne White)

 – 63: A Novel (Stephen King)

 – Sherlock Holmes Mysteries (Arthur Cannon Doyle)

 – Good Omen (Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett)

– Alias the Saint (Leslie Chartiers)

– Crewel World Framed in Lace (Monica Ferris)

 – Kill Shot (Vine Lloyd)

Yep, no Fifty Shades of Grey.  Maybe they all read it already.

 

Scorecards piling up.

More to come.

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours, Rants & Raves

Ballpark Tour – Breakfast AND a Show!

June 18, 2012 by

What else would you do? Enter?

Where does a sign like the one pictured here generate the greatest level of enjoyment?   That’s easy.  On a Ballpark Tours (BPT) trek.  The bigger question might be – “What else would you do when you leave?  Enter?”

On June 16, I began my annual baseball trek with Ballpark Tours – 9 days of fun (thank you, Julian) with a busload (about 35) of baseball fanatics. The trip, as noted in the previous post, was headed for Kane County, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Chicago.  We’ve got Kane County and Louisville under our belts (or wheels – thanks, Dick) so far and, as usual, all is going well.  The “exit” sign, by the way, was outside Fifth Third Bank Park– the tour’s first stop and home of the Kane County Cougars.  In the next two or three posts, I’ll try to give you a flavor for what a BRT Trek is like.

We left St. Paul, MN, for Kane County (outside Chicago) at 9:00 a.m., our hands filled with a BPT 30th Anniversary T-Shirt, a special 30th Anniversary Windbreaker, the annual Baseball Triva “Kwiz” and a new twist – a competition to predict (guess)  how many runs major leaguers would score during our five weekdays of baseball nirvana.

Our first game was in Kane County (Class A ball), where we were treated to a pregame picnic (brats, hot dogs, burgers, chicken, potato salad, fruit and ice cream.)  The game was typical A-Ball, a 7-4 Kane County Cougars loss to the Cedar Rapid Kernels that featured a few too many hit batsmen, missed cut-off men, bases on balls and strikeouts – but just the right amount of drama and fun.

As is usual in lower-level minor league ball, lots of crazy entertainment in between half-innings.  “Mackerel Jordan” – a large fish in a basketball uniform who devoured everything in sight (including the bat boy) to the “Eat It!” parody of MJ’s beat it – seemed to be the tour favorite.  There was a vote or two for “Harry Canary,” prompted, apparently, by the trademark black-rimmed glasses.  In addition to filling up at the picnic, the group also fill up on souvenirs and beverages (probably in reverse order).

Day two, featured a stop at the Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum (after the Illinois-to-Kentucky bus ride), where we all got free (we love free on BPT) mini-bats and, in honor of Fathers’ Day, all the dads got special “Happy Fathers’ Day” versions.

That night’s game was Triple A, and much more crisply played (a 7-4 Rochester Red Wings win over the Louisville Bats.) Rochester is a Twins farm club, so all of us Minnesotans saw a host of familiar faces (Valencia, Nishioka, Thomas, Rivera, Waldrop).  Among minor league stops, AAA games are especially interesting.  You get to see young “risers” on their way up, current major leaguers rehabbing and waiting to come off the major league Disabled List, former productive major leaguers who have seen better times and are looking for one last shot, and players who love the game, have had a taste of the show and are giving it their best to get back.

A particular favorite in our section of the stands was 36-year-old Corky Miller (Louisville catcher) – in his 15th professional season.  Going into the 2012 season, Corky had gotten a taste of the major leagues in parts of  ten separate seasons – totaling 199 games with five teams   (Cincinnati, Minnesota, Boston, Atlanta, Chicago/AL).   He also had chalked up more than 900 minor league games with 9 teams including parts of 8 seasons (including 2012) with Louisville.  His numbers?  Doesn’t matter, he was there to play.  He’s puting his heart into the game.  And, we appreciate it.   By the way, on this particular night, Miller had two walks, a single, a fly out and an RBI.

Now, while BPT tours are about baseball, they are not all about baseball.  We stay in nice hotels, close the the local culture and night life.  We are seeing not just the ball teams, but the people and the cities.  As I awaited tonight’second game in Louisville, I also took in the Louisville Science Museum, The Frazier History Museum (saw at least 7 other “tour-ees” there) and lunch at Kentucky’s only urban winery (River Bend Winery) – a great Buffalo Chicken sandwich, homemade potato chips, a nice Meritage and a pleasing atmosphere of well-balanced “rustic elegance.”

Breakfast AND a show.

Oh yes, our first hotel featured the pictured pancake machine – looked like a copy machine, but turned out two pancakes in sixty seconds, at the push of a button.  Breakfast AND a show, gotta love that.

So much is happening, I almost forgot, we’ve also been treated to a spectacular fireworks show.

More to come. (This blog falls into the “rave” category.)

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours, Rants & Raves

Ballpark Tours – 30th Anniversary

June 15, 2012 by

Ballpark Tours 30th Anniversary Trek Hits the Road

Tomorrow a.m. (Saturday, June 16), I’m off on Ballpark Tours 30th Anniversary Trek … 9 days of baseball and bus rides on what BBRT considers the premiere hard ball touring group.  Ballpark tours offers the perfect combination of structure and freedom to freelance.  “Trekkies” enjoy not just our national pastime, but also the tastes, sounds and culture of major and minor league cities.  In addition, there’s the unique “on-the-bus” baseball-saturated culture and camaraderie. I know in advance that “a good time will be had by all” – and there’s even a trivia competition and an awards ceremony.

This year’s schedule:

June 16 … Ceder Rapids Kernels at Kane County (IL) Cougars, with pre-game picnic.

June 17 … Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum Tour – Rochester Red Wings at Louisville (KY) Bats.

June 18 … Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees at Louisville Bats.

June 19 … Minnesota Twins at Pittsburgh Pirates, with pre-game “Meet and Greet.”

June 20 … Twins at Pirates.

June 21 … Twins at Pirates.

June 22 … Minnesota Twins at Cincinnati Reds

June 23 … Milwaukee Brewer at Chicago White Sox

June 24 … Wisconsin Brewery Tour and home to Minnesota.

 

 

Filed Under: Ballpark Tours, Rants & Raves
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