Baseball = Entelluhgents

[know ID yuh]

We've been kicking the can around about this topic for months (years actually). There are at least four regulars here who dig the sport.

To get us started, list your top five fields you've attended:

1. Safeco
2. PacBell
3. Enron
4. Edison Field
5. Oakland Alameda County Coliseum

Oakland is fifth because I've only been to six stadiums. I am confident it is currently the worst stadium in baseball. It isn't as bad as the Kingdome though.

Most of my fondest baseball (or life for that matter) experiences occurred at the Kingdome. I was across the street pounding pints during the final game played there because I couldn't find a ticket. They were playing the Rangers during the Juan Gone era. I think Pudge had a huge game (or a huge series).

[interstateeight]

1. Safeco
2. AT&T Park (Frankly this one was hard because AT&T is obscenely beautiful, but Safeco wins for love of Seattle.)
3. Petco
4. Coors (But it's been a while.)
5. Coliseum. Only because Angel Stadium is basically Disneyland and Dodger Stadium is a traffic fucking mess.

[Horned Gramma]

I have a lot of fond memories of watching the Giants play at Candlestick Park, even if Candlestick was a septic tank aerodynamically designed to turn even the slightest breeze into a testicle-shrinking arctic gale. I can't keep track of all the name changes their new stadium has gone through so I don't know what it's called anymore, but as nice as it is I feel like it lacks character.

I got to see a game at Fenway, which is in my opinion the most beautiful ballpark in the country.

I have no allegiance to any team, though - Jerry Seinfeld put it best, allegiance to a sports team basically boils down to rooting for clothes. That's too abstract even for me. I was raised to hate the Dodgers and the Yankees, though, and for some reason I absolutely do: I love to see the Yankees lose.

[stamper]

i've only been to 5 MLB Parks so far... but this season, I plan on checking out games in Cincinnati, Seattle, Chicago and Washington DC.

1 Turner Field
2 PNC Park
3 Camden Yards
4 Atlanta Fulton County Stadium (the old Braves stadium)
5 Whatever The Name of the Marlins Stadium Is Right Now

[know ID yuh]

Ignoring historical significance, I believe I8 and myself have nailed the top two parks in the nation (Mariners, Giants).

HG, I was expecting a reply along the lines of, "baseball sucks." I'm glad that you've experienced the sport, because I feel baseball appeals to the brighter minds, and you are one of the brighter minds I've encountered (and yes, I know you are not actually a fan of the sport).

I have a tough time keeping up with the corporate sponsorship name changes to parks as well, but the Giants no longer play in Candlestick. PacBell was built as a baseball only stadium in 2000, and is apparently named AT&T now. It is a glorious stadium right on the Bay. I am also extremely jealous you've seen a game at Fenway. I hear it is a terribly uncomfortable stadium though.

I've been to Wrigley, but never saw a game there. I'll look for my photo.

[Horned Gramma]

I've been to PacBell/AT&T. It's big and flashy and you can get fuckin' Gordon Biersch garlic fries. It is definitely a much nicer park than Candlestick, I just have a lot of memories at Candlestick.

I've been to the Oakland Coliseum for several games, too, but I can't stand that place. I can't stand Oakland in general.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

I have been to two parks. Greens if you guess them.

[know ID yuh]

Yeah, the Coliseum is basically a dive bar. I caught a Giants v. A's series a couple years ago, and that place was the equivalent of people yelling, "WRONG KID DIED," at a Bright Eyes show. There were so many near brawls.

Stamper, you'll dig the hell out of Safeco. It is my second favorite place in the nation (behind the Gorge), and I hate the Mariners. I attended a game during their inaugural home stand, which is a fancy way of saying I didn't see the first series, but I saw the second. They used to close the roof at the end of the game while playing the Star Wars theme song. I guess it costs a lot of money to close the roof, so now they just kick you out when the game ends.

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Oh, also, let me say, I do enjoy baseball. Safeco is awesome, and I can't believe I've only been to two games. I follow the mariners to some extent, when I'm reading the paper regularly. That's all though, really.

[know ID yuh]

Feb 26, 2011 10:59:08 GMT -8 J. Walter Weatherman said:

I have been to two parks. Greens if you guess them.

Kingdome/Safeco. Where is my prize?

[J. Walter Weatherman]

Well hopefully I can deliver it in person at sasquatch...

[know ID yuh]

Just like how 420 is meaningful to a lot of you, 538 is meaningful to me. "OMG, IT'S 5:38, LOL." Randy Johnson struck out 19 (the all time record is 20), and he lost. Mark McGwire hit one of the longest homeruns in baseball history, and he happened to hit it over my head (I was sitting in the left field bleachers). It is probably the most memorable game in Kingdome history. I've seen less than 30 MLB games live, but I've caught some historic moments.

Here is an article explaining the epic blast, it is too long, but the first three paragraphs explain the significance very well:

www.slate.com/id/2095/

Anyone want to find me a youtube link of the blast?

[interstateeight]

Feb 26, 2011 11:00:10 GMT -8 know ID yuh said:

I hate the Mariners.

Are you a fan of any teams, then, or just the sport in general?

[J. Walter Weatherman]

My parents went to the fifth game of the series with the yankees in 95... I was so jealous.

[know ID yuh]

Feb 26, 2011 12:03:05 GMT -8 interstateeight said:

Feb 26, 2011 11:00:10 GMT -8 know ID yuh said:

I hate the Mariners.

Are you a fan of any teams, then, or just the sport in general?

Oakland A's til I die. I grew up hating the Mariners because they were the regional team. I hate the Seahawks for the same reason. I've never lived in Washington, thus the regional hate.

My first game was 1987, Mark McGwire's rookie year. He went 0-1 with four walks. That was the year he set the rookie record with 49 bombs. The A's won by a lot, something like 13-4. I think Canseco hit two HRs. I was a little kid, so my memory was a bit hazy.

[Peter Gibbons]

My first experience at SAFECO was the most memorable experience I’ve ever had with baseball. Mom, Pop, & I arrived in Seattle (on our way to another nameless city) mid-day on a Thursday. I was lucky enough to convince them to stay in Seattle long enough to watch my favorite team play the M’s. It was the first year the stadium was opened, so I should’ve realized that a day game in the middle of the week was sold out, but I didn’t.

I spent the next while walking around the perimeter of the stadium with three fingers in the air looking for some asshole scalper that would sell three tickets to an A’s fan, in Seattle. After about 20 minutes of being ridiculed by Mariner fans and having to quickly reply with Starbucks insults, I decided to try and get each ticket individually.

I raised one finger to the sky; within two minutes an A’s fan approached me and asked me if I was looking for a ticket. Stupid question, I had been walking around like a jackass for nearly a half hour looking for tickets. He explained that his group had reserved seats a while back; something happened where they couldn’t give them the seats they wanted. They had compensated him by giving him a free (essentially useless) ticket. Since I was also an A’s fan he gave it to me for free.

I spent the next 20 minutes trying to find tickets for my parents. Ended up getting two bleacher seats for them for around $25 (total). We entered the stadium and they suggested we all find bleacher seats so we could sit together. That was the point where I told them to fuck off. Dude gave me a free ticket, the least I could do was sit next to him for the game.

Not knowing the layout of the stadium, I relied on my navigational skills to find my seat. This became a major problem when I ended up in the fifth row right behind first base (which also happens to be the Mariner’s cheering section). While blankly staring at my ticket like an asshole and feeling like I was blocking the view of high-paying fans, I decided to abort and find an usher to show me where to sit. As I started my ascent back to the main walkway, I heard someone yelling. I turned around and “Yelling Dude” happened to be the guy that gave me the ticket. He waved me over to the fifth row where he was sitting. So began the best baseball experience in my sad little life.

A’s took a quick lead and the asshole in me made a proud appearance. M’s fans quickly ran out of caffeine to subdue them so they stared throwing bags of peanuts at us. Said peanut bags were not thrown with any accuracy (much like the Mariner bullpen with baseballs). M’s stormed back to win and I was stranded with a large group of boastful Mariner fans. That made the situation even better.

Best part of this experience? I had a friend meeting us at the game that ended up in the extreme nose-bleed section. Seventh inning stretch was the exact moment that I broke his spirit. Gave him a call and said, “Hey, look for an asshole about 5 rows behind first base waving his arms around like an idiot.” I think he hung up.

[emptyfox]

I've seen one regular season game at the Kingdome. Mariners vs. Blue Jays. I was pretty young and liked baseball a lot at the time. I can't stand watching baseball on tv anymore, and we don't have a local team other than the Vancouver Canadians who were an A's affiliate until just last year. I've also seen a couple of preseason games here in Vancouver. They did a double header for a few years here at BC Place. One game featuring the Montreal Expos, and the other the Toronto Blue Jays.

Nat Bailey Stadium is pretty gorgeous for a minor league park, and that's definitely where most of my live baseball memories come from.

[Friendly Destroyer]

Y'all are really cute about your baseball.

[stamper]

I was a season ticket holder for the Atlanta Braves a few seasons ago. I managed to go to about 45-50 home games that season. Turner Field is my favorite place ever. but then, I'm a diehard Braves fan.

I will concede that PNC Park is nicer than Turner Field - and I think it's rated as the most beautiful ball park in America right now. It has an incredible view of the Allegheny River as well as the Pittsburgh skyline... which is quite gorgeous, surprisingly. Add to that, in order to get the stadium, you have to walk across the Clemente Bridge (the city shuts the bridge down during game days) which also is a pretty neat experience. While the Pirates are probably the worst franchise in baseball right now - their stadium is incredible. Oh, and they've got some pretty tasty craft beers inside the park too.

However, I am looking forward to seeing Safeco this spring. Anyone else up for a game on May 31st?

[Deleted]

Feb 26, 2011 14:36:39 GMT -8 Friendly Destroyer said:

Y'all are really cute about your baseball.

Hahaha I was thinking the same thing. I think the only thing I know about baseball is what I learned from 'Angels in the Outfield'.

I also play slo-pitch, but that's mostly just for the parties.