Rusty doesn't know what happened in the ninth either
Last year I attended both kids day games at the Steel Yard. This time of the year day games are the way to go as the temperature drops quickly at night. I actually attended the first kids day game a year to the date. The next day the Railcats played fourteen innings. Today they needed twelve, but took care of the Wichita Wingnuts. Continue reading
Fireworks over the Steel Yard after the game last night
Last night I attended Opening Night at the Steelyard. For some reason I was in no rush to get to the park. After seeing an exhibition game with around ten people earlier in the year I did not think I had to worry about a crowd. I arrived at the park about 20 minutes before the start of the game, and was shocked at the crowd. My normal parking lot was full as well as one of the first overflow lots. They were actually parking us down the street. A two block walk in most cities isn’t bad, but you could tell the fans did not like it in Gary. At the ticket window I was greeting with more long lines. I missed the pregame introductions as well as the first half inning. I found my seat on the first base line just as Gary was coming to bat. Continue reading
The present and future coaches of Valpo
It has been known that in the near future that Homer Drew would step down as head coach of Valparaiso. It has also been known that his son Bryce would be the one to take over. It just was not known that it would be so soon. This morning I got on the computer after breakfast and saw that Homer was stepping down as the Valpo coach. That was a huge surprise to me. I had not heard any rumblings that his retirement was imminent. He meant a lot to the school, and will be a hard act to follow. Continue reading
A very good week gets even better as the weekend approaches. Get out and enjoy some baseball this week!
Monday 5/16:
Charlotte Knights – 50′s night
Detroit Tigers – Canadian Tigers fan night
Tuesday 5/17:
Charlotte Knights – 60′s night and ballpark bingo
Peoria Chiefs – As seen on TV night
Wednesday 5/18:
Akron Aeros – Richard Simmons Short Shorts Night
Bowling Green Hot Rods – Facebook fan night
Charlotte Knights – 70′s night
Peoria Chiefs – Around the world night
Thursday 5/19:
Charlotte Knights – 80′s night
Iowa Cubs – hat giveaway and mug club night
Friday 5/20:
Charlotte Knights 90′s night
Lansing Lugnuts – Pirates of the Caribbean night
Peoria Chiefs – 50′s night
West Michigan Whitecaps – Cody Ross bobblehead
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers – Player magnet giveaway 1 of 4
Gary Railcats – Opening night, Ted “the burning man” Batchelor, Rally towel giveaway, and schedule magnet
Chicago White Sox – Mullet night with fireworks set to 80′s mullet music
Cleveland Indians – Sinatra fireworks
Saturday 5/21:
Beloit Snappers – Team photo givaway
Dayton Dragons – Hometown heroes celebration nigh
Iowa Cubs – Team photo giveaway and autographs
Lansing Lugnuts – Mystery bobblehead giveaway
Peoria Chiefs – Glee night (run quickly!)
Quad City River Bandits – Stan Musial bobblehead giveaway
Gary Railcats – Fleece blanket giveaway
Chicago White Sox – White Sox welcome mat giveaway
Cleveland Indians – Choo replica jersey giveaway
Milwaukee Brewers – Kids Police team card set
Sunday 5/22:
Iowa Cubs – Celebration of the 30th anniversary of the team
Peoria Chiefs – Disney Day and post game player autographs
Toledo Mud Hens – team autographs
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers – Brewers Sunday and player poster giveaway 4 of 10
Gary Railcats – James “big Cat” Williams appearance
Milwaukee Brewers – Casey McGehee bobblehead giveaway
Milwaukee starter Chad Pierce pitches in the fog during game one
I have tried to get to Emory Bauer Field a couple of times this season to see Valpo play, but weather always stepped in and stopped the game. Today was the last chance that I had to see Valpo play. Looking at the forecast I thought weather would win once again. When I left my house the temperature was in the high 40′s, windy, foggy, and even raining. Who would want to watch one game in this let alone two? That would be me. The good thing about watching a game at Valpo (besides the fact it is free) is that you can watch the game from your car if you want to. I had to take advantage of that a couple of times as the rain was just too much. With warmer temps it would not have been a problem, but as cold as it was it would have been foolish to sit out in a downpour. Besides that I learned late last year during the Purdue – Michigan football game that it would behoove me to keep my camera as dry as possible. Continue reading
Once again a very slow start to the week, but things pick up as the week goes on.
Monday 5/9:
Send me a promotion
Tuesday 5/10:
Great Lakes Loons – Dodgers route of champions night
Memphis Redbirds – 30th anniversary of Charlie Lea’s no-hitter
Peoria Chiefs – Salute to Pawn shops night
Wednesday 5/11:
Chicago Cubs – cereal bowl giveaway
Thursday 5/12:
Birmingham Barons – 70′s night
Memphis Redbirds – Flyswatter giveaway
Friday 5/13:
Charlotte Knights – Rally towel giveaway
Fort Wayne Tincaps – Halfway to Halloween
Kane County Cougars – Halfway to Halloween
Lake County Captains – Superstition night
Lansing Lugnuts – Myron Noodleman
Lexington Legends – The Last American Cowboy appearance
Saturday 5/14:
Birmingham Barons – Glee night. Just like last year I thought I would post this so that you can be far away.
Bowling Green Hot Rods – Fireworks
Charlotte Knights – Pink baseball giveaway
Clinton LumberKings – team photo giveaway
Kane County Cougars – Halfway to Halloween
Lake County Captains – Star Wars night and reusable logo sticker giveaway
Lansing Lugnuts – Detroit Red Wings night
Memphis Redbirds – Salute to the Negro Leagues
Minnesota Twins – Twins cap
Cincinnati Reds – Sparky Anderson statue giveaway
Sunday 5/15:
Bowling Green Hot Rods – Axle’s birthday party
Fort Wayne Tincaps – post game autographs
Louisville Bats – “blue” from Blues Clues appearance
Detroit Tigers – Magglio Ordonez kids mini bat
I love the modification to this helmet
This was the question that I kept asking myself today while I was watching the Gary Railcats exhibition game against the Winnipeg Goldeyes. I was hustling to get to the stadium in time for the 11:00 start this morning so that I could see the first pitch. I found a great parking spot right next to a player who was in his car. Right then I started wondering what was going on. I walked up to the ticket window to get a ticket, and none of them were open, and nobody was manning the front gate. I walked in and saw that I was the only fan in the stadium. Have you ever been to a movie that you were the only one in? It is a weird feeling, but they eventually turn off the lights, and you have nobody looking at you. At the game today the players for the Goldeyes were talking to me about being the only guy in the stadium. I really started to wonder if I should have been there. Of course a few more people showed up, but the number never got above 15 fans in the stadium at any one time. The odds were good for me to get a ball. Continue reading
The beginning of the week is light, but things really pick up at the end this week.
Monday 5/2:
Iowa Cubs – Player autograph session
Tuesday 5/3:
Charlotte Knights – Strawberry festival kickoff and baseball bingo
Wednesday 5/4:
Burlington Bees – Beer and wing sampling
Peoria Chiefs – Fan vs. Food night
Chicago White Sox – Weather day
St. Louis Cardinals – Ice Mountain autograph night
Thursday 5/5:
Burlington Bees – Cinco De Mayo
Iowa Cubs – Mug club members receive their first beer free
Lake County Captains – Cinco De Mayo
Toledo Mud Hens – Cinco De Mayo night
Friday 5/6:
Akron Aeros – Cajun Toga Party and Fireworks
St. Louis Cardinals – Busch Bash Friday with John Mabry signing pre game
Saturday 5/7:
Clinton LumberKings – Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich/Italian Chicken Sandwich night
Great Lakes Loons – Superhero night with Spiderman appearance
Iowa Cubs – MDA jersey auction
Peoria Chiefs – Star Wars night
Toledo Mud Hens – Kentucky Derby Night
Kansas City Royals – Retro KC cap
Sunday 5/8:
South Bend Silverhawks – Team autograph session
Lansing Lugnuts – Mother’s Day celebration
Peoria Chiefs – Salute to mother’s and post game autographs
Toledo Mud Hens – Team autographs
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers – Mothers day and Brewers Sunday
Since I was in town I decided to attend the finale of the Boilers series against Indiana. I was not disappointed as they won in a rout 14-5. This was the first series sweep for the Boilers of the Hoosiers since 1997. It is pretty nice to be on the right side of history like that. It was also the 30th win of the season for Purdue. More importantly it kept the Boilers in a tie for first place in the Big Ten with Michigan State. Both teams will square off next weekend in East Lansing in what should be a great showdown. Even with the high price of gas I may have to try and get to at least one of those games.
Today was another game in which the wind played a factor, but in a different way. Instead of blowing in, it was blowing out to left field. If you could get the ball in the air it had a shot at going out. Once again the strong wind made for some interesting plays in the field. The players were battling the sun and the wind, and it was not always pretty how it turned out.
Purdue pitcher Joe Haase dealing against Indiana
Yesterday I was in West Lafayette to see Purdue get the win over Indiana 6-2 to win the series with the Hoosiers as well as keep them in a first place tie with Michigan State. I know that this post is late, but that is part of the fun of having a blog. I really have no deadlines. I stayed in West Lafayette, and did not have time for a post last night.
I was excited about seeing Purdue play after the game near me in Valpo was washed out Tuesday. They have been playing really well, and they are worth the price of admission. The game against Valpo would have been a good one with both teams at the top of their respective leagues. That did not happen though so I decided to take in a game against the Hoosiers. Purdue playing Indiana in any sport is fun to watch. The rivalry brings out the best (or worst) in the fans and players. The stakes are the same as any other Big Ten game, but it just feels much bigger. Over the course of this school year I saw the football and basketball teams take on the Hoosiers, so why not in baseball? Continue reading
