Listing the Major League Baseball Parks I Visited Over the Years

 

I thought I would list the major league ballparks that I visited over the years.  My first game was on July 15, 1957, in Ebbets Field, the last year that the Dodgers played in Brooklyn.  I obviously attended many games in NYC, but have traveled to visit other ballparks.  The list is in no particular order and includes some names that have changed.  I just hate the corporate names of ballparks, but everyone is out for the almighty buck from naming rights.  Yankee Stadium is listed three times since there were actually three stadiums at River Avenue and 161st Street.

Several of these parks are now defunct.  Off the top of my head, I need to visit Nationals Park, Tropicana Field, Petco Park, Globe Life Field. and Comerica Park.  In 2007 we visited Comerica Park in Detroit on the Jay Buckley Baseball Tour, but the game was rained out.  I am sure that regulars of the Jay Buckley Baseball Tour have larger lists than mine.

1. Ebbets Field

2. Yankee Stadium (1923-73)

3. Yankee Stadium (1976- 2008)

4. Yankee Stadium (current)

5. Shea Stadium

6. Citi Field

7. Polo Grounds

8. Fenway Park

9. Citizens Bank Park

10. RFK Stadium

11. Turner Field

12. Marlins Park

13. PNC Park

14. Great American Ballpark

15. Wrigley Field

16. Guaranteed Rate Field

17. Miller Field

18. Target Field

19. Kaufmann Stadium

20. Busch Stadium (current)

21. Coors Field

22. Chase Field

23. Dodger Stadium

24. Angels Stadium

25. Camden Yards

26. Candlestick Park

27. AT&T Park

28. T-Mobile Park

29. Oakland Coliseum 

30. Progressive Field

Phillies 4 Mets 2

 

It was a hot and humid day at Citi Field but the Mets' bats were cold again as they faced former teammate Zach Wheeler. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out eight in seven innings.  Early in the game, the Phillies took advantage of some rare misplays by New York — which entered Sunday with 37 errors, the second-fewest in the NL.  Marcus Stroman started the game for the Mets, but only lasted three innings. The score was 4-0 as Wheeler left the game.

The Mets scored two runs off Phillie relievers including a home run by Kevin Pillar.

Game Recap

Remembering Chief Noc-A-Homa Former Mascot of the Atlanta Braves

 

For some strange reason, I just thought of Chief Noc-A-Homa who was the mascot of the Atlanta Braves from 1966-1985.  For some strange reason, The Chief was retired.  Some years ago when we attended a game at Turner Field we visited the team's museum there was no sign of the former mascot.

Mr. Met will live on forever!

IOS 15 and Windows 11 are Coming

 

Microsoft just announced that Windows 11 is coming.  My readers can click on the link to find out the information that Microsoft has just announced.  New computers will be pre-loaded with Windows 11 in late 2021.  Older computers will be able to upgrade in early 2022.  Microsoft provides a PC Health app so that one may determine if his/her computer is eligible for an upgrade.

Apple provides a preview to IOS 15 which will be released in Fall 2021.  It is packed with new features that help you connect with others, be more present and in the moment, explore the world, and use powerful intelligence to do more with iPhone than ever before.  It will be compatible with my iPhone8 so I won't have to buy a new phone.

Bob Dylan: Odds and Ends - Another Documentary

 

I was reading Facebook yesterday afternoon when I found out about this new documentary.  I rented it from Amazon Prime for $5.99.  I presume that eventually, this two-hour film will be available on DVD.  The producers offered a mix of materials that were previously released piecemeal.  Obviously, there were no significant revelations in this film.  There were a few minor facts that I became aware of for the first time.  Dylan scholars and diehard fans will enjoy this, but will not learn anything new.  Casual fans and newbies should view this.

The producers use a chronological approach, but the film ends at Blood on the Tracks which was released in 1974.  Hopefully there will be a part 2 covering Dylan's career from 1975 to the present.

Voice Your Choice by the Radiants - Oldie of Primary Day

 

This was a hit in early 1965.  The Joel Whitburn book states that it peaked at #51 in Billboard.  I vaguely remember Murray the K playing it when he asked listeners to vote for their favorite record.  He likely did this on WOR-FM since WINS dropped music for all news in April 1965.

Back then people never heard of rank choice voting as we have to do today on Primary Day.  I heard that it may be two weeks before a winner of the mayoral primary is declared.

Return Visit to the Museum of the City of New York

 

According to my records, I last visited the Museum of the City of New York last August 30th.  There are two new exhibits there that piqued my interest:

New York New Music   -  The years 1980-86 offered a wide range of music, from punk to pop to hip-hop to salsa to jazz, mixed in a dynamic arts scene that stretched across clubs and bars, theaters, parks, and art spaces.  The exhibit showed several music videos and still photos of major recording artists of that era.

Rising Tide: Visualizing the Human Costs of the Climate Crisis  - Dutch documentary photographer Kadir van Lohuizen illustrates the dramatic consequences of climate change across the world through photographs, video, drone images, and sound.

We also perused some of the permanent exhibits that we viewed during previous visits.  These included:

• City/Game - basketball at all levels in NYC
• Collecting New York's Stories
• New York at its Core

Happy 79th Birthday to Paul McCartney

 

This video was described as "official" for the song Coming Up.  Thus likely it will be taken down by the "YouTube Police".  Six years ago I posted "With a Little Luck" for Paul's birthday, but the video was taken away.

Bob Dylan Virtual Concert on July 18

 

It looks like I will have a late dinner on Sunday, July 18.  Bob Dylan is so unpredictable, so who knows what he will play.  Here are the possibilities:

• New versions of old songs
• Songs from Rough and Rowdy Ways
• New songs that will be released on a future album
• Old versions of old songs

I am predicting all of the above.

Questions:

• Who will be in the backup band?
• It doesn't matter, but what is the venue of the concert?

To get access go to https://bobdylan.veeps.com/  The cost is $28.75 

Somebody could hook up a computer to a projector with a good sound system and play the concert to a large crowd.

Looking Back at Some Older Entries to Bruce's Journal

I started this journal in October 2005 when AOL offered a blogging platform.  In October 2008 AOL stopped this service and offered bloggers to transition to Blogger offered by Google.  I obviously took advantage of this and purchased my own domain name.  When I look back at those old journal entries, I observe that many of the photos did not make the transition.

Over the years I have posted many music videos from YouTube.  Likely many of those videos were posted illegally.  Many of those videos were deleted as the "copyright police" did their duty.  There is nothing that I can do about that.

I hope people enjoy reading my entries.  I rarely get feedback from readers.  I assume that most people want to be anonymous when they surf the web.  I sometimes wonder if old friends and acquaintances are lurking.

There was an Empty Seat at Citi Field as the Mets lost to the Padres 7-3

 

Lee and Karen at Citi Field in 2009

The three of us had the most fun when we went to baseball games over the years whether or not our team won. In this journal entry that I wrote shortly after her untimely passing, I discussed many of the baseball trips we took over the years.  We certainly spent many afternoons and evenings at Shea Stadium, Citi Field, and Yankee Stadium over the years.  Today Lee and I went to Citi Field to see the Mets play the Padres.  It was sad for me to see the empty seat next to us.

Today's game was a matchup between Joey Lucchesi and Chris Paddack.  Lucchesi pitched well over 5 innings and left with the Mets ahead 2-1.  The Met bullpen was effective this season but imploded today.  Jeurys Familia was ineffective as he loaded the bases in the 7th inning and allowed the tieing run to score on a walk.  Jacob Barnes came in a gave up a grand slam to Fernando Tatis Jr and a solo homer to Manny Machado.  The Mets lost the game 7-3.

Box Score

We got this Mr. and Mrs. Met towel at the game

Jacob deGrom Superstar

 

Jacob deGrom has been phenomenal this season for the New York Mets.  He is 6-2 with an ERA of 0.56 after 10 starts.  In 64 innings pitched he has allowed only 26 hits with 103 strikeouts allowing only 4 earned runs and 8 walks.  He is batting .400 with 10 hits in 25 at-bats.  His 5 RBIs exceed the 4 runs that he has allowed.

Last night, there was a little scare as he left the game after six shutout innings, just 80 pitches, and consultation with Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. The team announced that he departed with right flexor tendinitis.  deGrom was not concerned about this as he said he would be ready for his next start Wednesday night against the Cubs.

There were chants of MVP throughout last night's game.  This is possible, but many sportswriters who vote for MVP may feel it is inappropriate for a pitcher to win it since pitchers have the Cy Young Award.

Tom Jones Covers Bob Dylan - One More Cup of Coffee

 

It seems that whenever I don't know what to discuss in my journal, I post a song that I recently heard on the radio.  I am doing this for two consecutive posts.  I was listening to Outlaw Country when I heard One More Cup of Coffee by Tom Jones.  Is this a country song?  Would a commercial country music station play this?

Tom Jones is now 81 years old and is still recording.

Like Dylan in the Movies by Belle and Sebastian - Heard at 7 AM Today on WFUV

 There have been plenty of songs over the years written about Bob Dylan, but I never heard Like Dylan in the Movies by Belle and Sebastian until this morning.  There is a reference to the documentary Don't Look Back.  That phrase is not heard in the film but is mentioned in the Dylan song She Belongs to Me.

It is from their album If You're Feeling Sinister

Lyrics

Lisa's kissing men like a long walk home

When the music stops

Take a tip from me, don't go through the park

When you're on your own, it's a long walk home

If they follow you

Don't look back

Like Dylan in the movies

On your own

If they follow you

It's not your money that they're after boy it's you

Pure easy listening, settle down

On the pillow soft when they've all gone home

You can concentrate on the ones you love

You can concentrate, hey, now they've gone

If they follow you

Don't look back

Like Dylan in the movies

On your own

If they follow you

It's not your money that they're after boy it's you

Yeah you're worth the trouble and you're worth the pain

And you're worth the worry, I would do the same

If we all went back to another time

I will love you over

I will love you over

I will love you

If they follow you

Don't look back

Like Dylan in the movies

On your own

If they follow you

Tenderly you turn the light on in your room

If they follow you

Don't look back

Like Dylan in the movies

On your own

If they follow you

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Campbe / Christopher Geddes / Isobel Campbell / Michael Cooke / Richard Colburn / Sarah Martin / Stephen Jackson / Stuart Murdoch

Like Dylan in the Movies lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

 

Visit to Frick Madison Today

 The Frick's permanent home is at 5 East 70th Street which I visited in June 2018.  Henry Clay Frick bequeathed his residence at that location with his art collection to the public.  The museum was opened in 1935.  Since that building is undergoing renovation, the collection was moved temporarily to the iconic Breuer building at Madison Avenue and 75th Street.  The Whitney Museum was located there before it moved to the Meat Packing District.

The Frick collection that I saw today was limited to older European art.  Artists on view included:

• Johannes Vermeer (Dutch, 1632–1675)
• Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn (Dutch, 1606–1669)
• Jean-Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732–1806)
• Joseph Mallord William Turner (British, 1775–1851)

It was something different for a Sunday afternoon.

The Rooftop Concert by the Beatles is on Youtube

 

I fondly remember the documentary film Let it Be released in 1969  It has not yet been released on DVD. The Rooftop Concert seen above was the last live performance done by the Beatles.  From May 21 - June 5 it was accessed on Youtube over 3,600,000.  It is about 20 minutes, so enjoy.

I first posted this on June 5 and by June 20th the video was deleted.  On September 9, 2022 I placed a new video from the film on this entry

Hair by The Cowsills - Oldie of the Day

 

I don't have anything important to report today.  Since I am taking a haircut for today, I thought I'd post Hair by the Cowsills as my oldie of the day.  Please disregard the first 30 seconds of this video.

June will Tell the Story for the 2021 Mets

The Mets have won 5 in a row and have a record of 26-20 with a 3 1/2 game lead in the National League East which is weak this season.  The Mets are the only team in the division with a record above .500.  The team has done very well especially with all the injuries. The backup players held up very well. Last night Pete Alonso, Kevin Pillar, and Seth Lugo returned from the injury list.  In recent years the Mets have not done well in June:

• June 2018 (5-21)
• June 2019 (10-18)

June will be a difficult month as they will play 3 doubleheaders in 7 days.

Time will tell.