Best Memories at the park

[sportscardpete]

Originally Posted by yanksfan09

Went to Yankee stadium in 1998 with 2 friends. David Wells was pitching vs the Twins. After the second inning one of my friends said "hey, he's got a no hitter going". Me and my other friend looked at him like he's nuts and pointed out that it had been 2 innings.

Wells went on to pitch a perfect game that day. It's hard to beat that with the suspense mounting in every inning , then watching Paul O'neill catch the last out in Right...

That's an awesome story. David Wells was a great guy.

[birdman42]

Easy. Doubleheader, Friday 10-1-82, at Memorial Stadium. The Brewers come into town up by 3 with 4 games left in the season. 48,000 people on their feet all through both games, shaking brooms and screaming "Sweep! Sweep!" Wild Bill Hagy leading the cheers in section 34 (upper deck, right field). And yes, the beer is cold. The Os win both, of course, plus the Saturday game to tie it up, but Palmer gets shelled on Sunday 10-2, and the Os finish a game back.

That Ripken kid did okay, but the atmosphere is so much more memorable than any event from the games.

(Can you imagine a MLB team allowing fans to bring their own brooms to a game nowadays? No, the team would sell plastic triangles with a broom picture printed on along with the team name and the date.)

Bill

[xdrx]

Originally Posted by birdman42

Easy. Doubleheader, Friday 10-1-82, at Memorial Stadium. The Brewers come into town up by 3 with 4 games left in the season. 48,000 people on their feet all through both games, shaking brooms and screaming "Sweep! Sweep!" Wild Bill Hagy leading the cheers in section 34 (upper deck, right field). And yes, the beer is cold. The Os win both, of course, plus the Saturday game to tie it up, but Palmer gets shelled on Sunday 10-2, and the Os finish a game back.

That Ripken kid did okay, but the atmosphere is so much more memorable than any event from the games.

(Can you imagine a MLB team allowing fans to bring their own brooms to a game nowadays? No, the team would sell plastic triangles with a broom picture printed on along with the team name and the date.)

Bill

I was at that D-Header as well, with my cousins and uncle. I remember my uncle thinking he could buy tickets at the gate (this was the O's, after all, and Memorial Stadium wasn't known for sellouts) but coming up empty, then walking up a ramp and getting the attention of a grounds crew guy (or someone) and convincing him to find some tickets for us. Amazing. Free tickets (minus whatever he slipped the guy). I remember just being exhausted after it was over.

I love reading the Clemente memories. Imagine if that level of access existed today.

My broader memory of going to games is simply walking up the tunnel to get to the seating area. Nothing like a day game with sun shining on your face as you emerge from the dark concourse. Green manicured field laid out in front of you. Anticipation in the air. A great game was simply icing on that cake.

[CubsFanCurt]

I have 2. In 1999 I was waiting by the Cubs parking lot trying to get Mark Grace to sign a ball. He left with a cute brunette so he didn't sign anything. Ron Santo walked out and got into his blazar and pulled out onto Waveland Ave. I waved to him holding my ball and he waved me over to him. What a great guy to talk to. Fans kept coming over and Ron kept signing until a cop came over and said "I'm sure Mr. Santo would love to stay here and sign for everybody but when the light turns green he's going to have to go because he's holding up traffic."

2nd game was when the Cubs retired his number. My dad called me up and asked if I knew what was happening that day, I told him yeah. He said "well get your ass in gear kid I have tickets see you in an hour!" Every time I see a clip from that day it reminds me of what a great time I had being there. I really miss that man

[whitehse]

As someone who worked in the front office for a major league team I had many unique opportunities to create amazing memories at the ballpark but one general memory stands out over and above the rest.

My Dad and Mom would always take me and my brother and sister to Cubs games even though I knew they couldnt afford it. They knew, being a baseball fanatic, that going to a game meant the world to me when I was young. As I became a teenager Dad and I would be the ones to go and hang out for the day as we debated the next phenom and if that player would ever amount to anything. Dad always made sure I had a hot dog and a coke as well as something from the souvenir stand. Fast forward 10 years and I got a job working for the Cubs and had the opportunity to take Dad to as many games as he wanted. He would sit in the seats I got him with his scorecard and sandwiches he packed for an afternoon of baseball. He was content just sitting there, watching baseball while I worked but I would always check in on him to see how he was doing. It was now my turn to make sure my Dad had his scorecard and a coke to drink. It felt so good to be able to give back to my dad after all the years of baseball games he gave me. I remember looking up in the stands and seeing the look of contentment and happiness on his face which was all I could ever ask for.

One other memory is that my sister, who was confined to a wheelchair because of a diving accident, was able to roll out onto Wrigley Field and roll around the bases as well as the outfield. This of course was a day when there was no game being played but to her, that was the greatest thing she could have ever done as she never missed a Cubs game on WGN during the summer. Running the bases is many Cubs fan's dream but "rolling" the bases for my sister provided the same thrill!

[Kenny Cole]

The first game I ever went to. 1966. I was turning 5 and my dad took me to Dodger stadium for my birthday. Just me and him. Sandy Koufax pitched and won something like 7-0. Koufax was my hero and I was hooked. It is, to this day, one of my happiest memories ever.

[71buc]

Two games stand out for me. First one was in 1970 when I saw my first game with my dad at Fenway Yaz dropped a bomb and Tony C was majestic. I was hooked at age 7. The second was 25 years later watching Game 5 of the ALDS at the Kingdome with my dad and wife. I sat near the bullpen and will never forget the roar of the crowd when the Big Unit strolled from the pen to enter the game as Welcome to the Jungle blared. Watching Junior race home following Edgar's double was a thrill. My wife cried and we hugged total strangers in absolute joy. It still gives me a lump in my throat thinking about it. The Santo and Clemente stories are outstanding. I met Santo in the early 90's at spring taining and he signed this photo for me. He inscribed it Welcome to Waveland Ave! He was a true gentleman. Both he and Edgar belong in Cooperstown for what they did on the field and what they meant to their communities. I miss Edgar he was the epitome of class.

[carrigansghost]

I brought my son to his first game with 3 of his friends at Fenway. I was filming the game with a crappy camcorder, but I turned to them in the 5th or 6th inning to ask if they were noticing that Buchholtz had not given up a hit yet. Yup, it was his no-hitter, not a bad first game for the kids. (and a damn good one for me as well).

Rawn