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MLB ROAD TRIP 2003
2003.04.11 <VOL.4> Days 9-12
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Location: New York City
Day # 13
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New York News
As I mentioned in my last update, the bad weather followed me to New York City. On Monday, April 7th, the Yankees home opener was postponed because of a snowstorm. It looked like my goal of one sporting event per day on this trip was in jeopardy since the NHL season had ended the day before and the Knicks and Nets were out of town. Oh my god! No sports to watch! What would I do? Well, fortunately, there are people out there who are more into sports than I am and they came to my rescue.
Gary and Mike are two New York boys who spend their free time attending sports around North America. In fact, in 2002, Mike saw over 400 games live. Gary was not as dedicated and only managed to see about 350 or so. Of course, most of those games are in New York, which has 9 pro teams in the 4 major leagues to choose from, but they also travel extensively by car and by air in order to see as many games as humanly possible. Well, Gary and Mike had contacted me a few months ago when they found out I would be visiting New York and we had made plans to meet before the Yankees home opener. As you know, that game had been postponed, threatening my chances at seeing a game every day of the trip. But Gary and Mike contacted me and told me that there was one sporting event that night that we could go see: an East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) playoff game in Trenton, New Jersey, only 90 miles from NYC. Yes! I was saved! I would see sports! (For those of you who don't know what the ECHL is, it is the pro league 2 levels below the NHL.)
With the snowstorm, the drive took just over 2 hours, but we got there in plenty of time and watched a spirited game, at least by the visiting team. The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (that is the team name, I kid you not) defeated the hometown Trenton Titans 7-3, eliminating the Titans from the playoffs. It was a fun experience to meet and talk to Gary and Mike, who also joined me for some Yankee games as well as the games in Puerto Rico. Their stories about sports travel are endless and interesting, and make for good lessons for myself. For example, one lesson is to know every possible sporting event within a 3 hour radius of your location. That way, when one game is cancelled, you can go to another without worrying a bit.
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Bleacher Bums
On Tuesday afternoon, the Yankee home opener was finally played. I had a bleacher seat, which was to be a very interesting experience. The people who populate the bleachers in Yankee Stadium are known as the Bleacher Bums, and they put on a comedy show for the entire game. Anyone who does anything out of the ordinary is immediately harassed. For example, a lady with a scarf walked to her seat. Well, in the bleachers, a scarf is not acceptable attire and the Bums let her have it. As this is a family newsletter, I can't repeat what they said exactly, but it started with "Hey", then a bad word, then "nice scarf, you" then another bad word. This was repeated 3 or 4 times while she walked to her seat. She was obviously an experienced bleacher fan, because she ignored the taunts, but another gentleman wasn't so lucky. He showed up in a suit and tie, which is a mistake to begin with. Immediately, the crowd chanted "Wall Street's Closed! Wall Street's Closed!" and the guy looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "Oh, no, they are making fun of me" he seemed to be thinking, his eyes wide with terror. Rather than ignore them, he took off his tie, and was further derided for his weakness. You just can't win here.
The Bleacher Bums aren't all bad - they cheer each Yankee by name in the top of the first inning, waiting until each player acknowledges them, which is a tradition in Japan but not something I have seen here. As well, the section is non-alcoholic, so it is not as dangerous as it used to be.
For those of you looking for an interesting experience, try the bleachers at Yankee Stadium once, if you don't mind more foul language than foul balls. At $8 a ticket, it is a bargain to see the best team in baseball. But my advice is that if you do end up in the bleachers, the best thing to do is wear normal clothes (anything with the Yankees logo is fine), find your seat, sit down, and watch the game.
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Magnificent Matsui
Although I was sitting in the bleachers surrounded by obnoxious fans in 35 degree weather, that was not the highlight of the Yankee home opener. Even watching the Yankees win yet again was not a highlight. Instead, the most memorable moment came in the 5th inning. With men on second and third, the Twins elected to intentionally walk Bernie Williams to load the bases, bringing Hideki Matsui to the plate, in his first game in Yankee Stadium. Matsui worked the count full and the crowd began to cheer. Twins pitcher Joe Mays then delivered a juicy pitch and Matsui swung and......history was made. The ball sailed high and deep, landing in the bleachers, about 10 feet from where I was sitting. A GRAND SLAM!!! Matsui was the first Yankee to hit a grand slam in his first game at Yankee Stadium, and those runs made the difference as the Yankees won 7-3.
The ball itself landed in a ramp that leads to the seating area, just out of the reach of myself and many other fans. I lost sight of it, but it apparently bounced into the hands of one lucky fan who just happened to be walking up the ramp at that time. The irony being that he had actually missed the historic home run, but through a twist of fate, caught the ball. Now if I had caught that ball, I would be on the first plane back to Japan to auction it off - I suspect it would fetch a hefty price over there, and I could roadtrip for a while on the proceeds. But according to the rumours in the bleachers, the guy who caught the ball gave it back to the Yankees in exchange for a signed bat and ball, as well as a chance to meet Matsui. I am not sure of the veracity of this story, but it seemed likely, since the guy who caught the ball probably had no idea what he had lucked into.
The final interesting note is that several Japanese media made their way over to the section, looking for the guy who caught the ball. But he was nowhere to be found, as he was probably waiting for his chance to meet Matsui after being kidnapped by the Yankee staff. Some Bleacher Bums good-naturedly pretended they were the ones who had caught the ball, but the Japanese media weren't that gullible. Certainly, though, seeing that ball heading straight for me was one of the more exciting moments of the trip. Just 10 feet away from fame and fortune...
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Day Game, Drive, Night Game
On Thursday, Gary and Mike showed me a typical day in their lives. The Yankees played the Twins at 1:05, and of course, we went to see the game, won 2-0 by the Yankees behind the 3-hit pitching of David Wells. The game ended at 3:30, but rather than find a spot to eat lunch, we hopped in the car and drove the 110 or so miles to Philadelphia. Why? Because there was another baseball game - the Atlanta Braves were at the Phillies at 7:05. It would be my last time at hallowed Veterans Stadium (which was given the worst rating in my stadium rankings on the 2001 tour), which is being replaced next year. That game was not nearly as interesting and the Braves won 6-2 in a drawn-out affair. Afterwards, we hopped back in the car for the return drive to NYC, arriving at around 12:30 am.
All in all, 18 innings, over 4 hours on the road, and a very tiring day. But for Gary and Mike, just another regular day-night doubleheader. So to all you who might think me a bit strange or obsessed, I can now respond that I know people even stranger and more obsessed!
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Other Comments
Today, I leave for Puerto Rico, where I will enjoy WARM WEATHER for a change as well as two Expos/Mets games. I will not bring my computer, so updates will not be posted to the website for the weekend. I will send a Puerto Rico report next week when I return to the mainland.
Next week begins a hectic time as I will be traveling nearly every day for minor league games. After an NBA game in Philadelphia, I will see 8 games in 7 days in Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. It will be fun, and I will update you all then.
See you next time,
Sean
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