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| Triple-A Baltimore Orioles affiliate Norfolk Tides playing the Durham Bulls on an extraordinarily pleasant summer evening. (click to enlarge) iPhone 8+; Edited in Lightroom Classic |
For a guy who was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, baseball was a big part of life. Soccer didn't exist in the U.S. (at least not anywhere I knew) and football was largely a distant sport since there was almost no football broadcast on television. We only received three channels on our black and white television and sports wasn't a priority. (I'm sounding old. Get off my lawn! LOL) Going to a baseball game, especially on a professional level, was a reason to be very excited.
The first professional baseball game I saw in person was one in Cleveland, August, 1963 when the Cleveland Indians played the New York Yankees. Our Little League Team made the trip. I remember sitting in the outfield stands and saying to my Little League teammate, "That's Mickey Mantle! Right there in front of us. Mickey Mantle!" It was a big deal and even today I really enjoying watching baseball in person. Not so much on television, but in person, yes. The slow pace of the game allows plenty of time to talk between pitches and enjoy the atmosphere.
Tuesday, my family and I had the opportunity to attend a Norfolk Tides Tripe-A professional baseball game in Tides Stadium in Norfolk, Virginia. The Tides are the Baltimore Orioles Triple-A affiliate. It was "Law Enforcement Appreciation Night" and we were given free tickets. For only $1 more, we upgraded to box seats just right of home plate. Wonderful seats.
The weather was spectacular for this time of year in southeastern Virginia. The temperature was in the 70s F (24 C), the humidity was low (for a change) and there was a slight breeze out of the North. A gorgeous summer evening for the family to enjoy a baseball game. My two granddaughters (8 and 11) were probably more interested in what was available to eat more than watching the game, but baseball allows all kinds of interests to be met.
The game was enjoyable. Norfolk prevailed over the Durham Bulls (of movie fame) 4-1. Norfolk hitters blasted out two home runs and scored another run on a slow big hop to shortstop. For the 'blooper reel,' a Bulls hitter hit a slow roller just inside the 1st base line. Both the Norfolk pitcher and 1st baseman ran toward it. The pitcher reached it first then, as they both realized one of them had to get to 1st base to force the runner out. Instead they collided, got their feet intertwined and both tumbled to the ground! We thought it humorous. I'm sure neither of them did. Oh! I've never been able to get a foul ball but 6 of them came within 20 ft. of me that evening. Maybe next time. (I've been saying that since I was 12) One came flying by within 3" of my older granddaughter's head as she was looking away from the field!
The image at the top of this post show Tides hitter, Ramon Urias, hitting a deep fly ball to center field in the bottom of the 4th inning. You can see the ball over the infield dirt between the pitcher and the shortstop. Unfortunately, the Bulls centerfielder caught it. But it was solidly hit. You could hear the crack of the bat. That kind of auditory stimulus to go along with the overall environment is what makes attending a game special to me.
I didn't want to bring my X-T4 with me to the game. So what do I do as I knew I wanted to make some sort of record of the evening? In my last post, I mentioned that I use my mobile phone as a visual notebook. Making an image at the game is typically how I use my camera in my iPhone, a visual notebook documenting my activities or helping me to remember products in stores, etc. The image above is an excellent example of that kind of use.
This image doesn't come close to replicating the detail and quality of a 'real' camera with a much larger sensor. But this image is fine for what it is and understand that. Next year I may upgrade to the latest and greatest camera phone when the next round is introduced. I'm sure they are much better than my old iPhone 8+. As the cameras in phones become better and the manufacturers continue their march with computational photography (Where are you Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fuji?), using the camera in a phone will become more attractive to me.
All in all, for a kid that grew up in a small town idolizing 'big league' baseball players, collecting baseball cards, playing Little League and one day hoping to be ball player myself, I had a wonderful evening.
Thanks for looking. Enjoy!
Dennis A. Mook
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My first “pro” baseball game was the St. Joseph (MO) Saints a class A team for the Cardinals, I think. The first “Major
ReplyDeleteLeague”-the term is only technically true-was the St. Louis Browns. Satchel Paige was on the team but didn’t pitch that day; however, the had a chaise lounge set up outside the dugout with his name on it.
Thanks for your story Bob. When I was around 12, the Harlem Globetrotters came to town. My father and I went and saw their amazing performance but another highlight was Satchel Paige was also with them. I knew who he was and how good a pitcher he was but did not have the pleasure of ever watching him pitch.
DeleteDennis, living in Toledo, very familiar with the Tides as they frequently played the Mud Hens. But with the realignment of divisions that doesn't appear to be the case anymore. What's uncertain to me is whether the realignment is permanent, or if it was a cost-cutting measure during Covid times, and will eventually return to normal. I'm guessing the new divisions are here to stay.
ReplyDeleteI've been pretty much a lifelong baseball fan, and remain to this day a fan of the Cincinnati Reds, coming of age in the 70's when the team was very good. I enjoy going on short trips to other cities, in part to see how their stadiums look and how those teams honor their past.
One word of caution: check any team's site before making a trip. Many are only allowing medical and diaper bags, and clutch purses. But not camera bags, at least for 2021. Additionally, I've run up against restrictions on lenses, one team had a max 100mm restriction, and another had a max 4" length restriction.
You may find this interesting Dennis. Down in Cincinnati, I had to take the lens caps off both of my m4/3 lenses. A security guard told me that someone removed the glass and inserted a small explosive device in the lens casing, so now they have to check everything.
Jim, thanks for your comment and very good information about what you can and cannot take into a stadium.
DeleteI grew up in western PA, about halfway between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. My loyalties to sports teams was always divided as I liked teams from both cities. Going to Forbes Field with my dad or Cleveland stadium with my Little League teammates are fond memories. On my ‘bucket list’ is my effort to see a MLB game in every stadium. I now have 18 under my belt. One interesting note. I received my undergraduate education at a university in the Cleveland suburbs and I can’t remember going to even one game in the four years I was there. I don’t know why I never went. However, the Browns (the ones that up and left for Baltimore many years ago) did practice at our school and I had the pleasure of regularly eating lunch with some of them during the football season.
Thanks again for your comment. Go Reds! Lol.
I assume you attended Baldwin Wallace then.
DeleteI'm only at 14, but I count the teams and not the stadiums since the clubs close to me, Reds, Tigers and Indians, all have played in multiple stadiums in my lifetime. And I can count the Montreal Expos, but cannot count the team they became, the Washington Nationals. LOL
7 years ago, MLB paid this young man to photograph a game at every stadium. Some interesting shots. https://www.americanbaseballjournal.com/