Folks it is that time of year again when the snow starts to melt, the birds are flying back north, and the days are getting longer. Spring is in the air and it won't be long and the sweet smell of barbecue will be in the air too.
This is one of the best times of the year. Spring training for baseball has started and the anticipation for the upcoming season is growing. Who doesn't like the green, green grass of a baseball field, the bright white lines on the field, the smell of hot dogs and the 7th inning stretch.
Take me out to the ball game, take me out to the crowd, buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks...............................
It has been years since I have been this excited for the baseball season to begin. The Detroit Tigers are back and it looks like they may be better than ever. Who can't be excited about the trade this winter that brought Cabrera and Willis to the Tigers. If the middle relief holds up this could be the missing pieces to a World Series. I am so excited I think I may even purchase MLB Ticket on Direct TV so I can watch the Tigers this summer. I am sure the wife will be happy.
When we talk about watching the Tigers I think they have two of the better announcers on TV, Mario and Rod. They are truly entertaining and a joy to listen to. I am not sure who does the radio broadcast anymore because I can't get a radio station with the Tigers on it. But I can tell who use to do the radio broadcast, Ernie Harwell and Paul Cary. Never has there been a better pair on the radio than these two men. I could listen to these two, close my eyes and actually picture the game being played. Ernie's stories, history of the game and play by play were second to none.
I was about 8 years old when I started following Tiger baseball. I remember them just coming up short in 1967 of getting to the World Series. And then they came back in the 1968 World Series from being down 3 games to 1 and won the World Series. This was a great time for not only Detroit but all of Michigan. This was the year of the riots in Detroit that all but destroyed it. Detroit and Michigan needed the Tigers and they came through. I can still remember the players, Wert at 3rd, Stanley at short (I know he was an outfielder but when Kaline came back from his injury they needed to put him somewhere and he took Ray Oiler's place at short stop), McCulliff at 2nd, Cash at 1st, Freehan behind the plate, and the outfield consisted of Horton, Northrup, and Kaline. McLain and Lolich were the two main pitchers and I will admit I get a little fuzzy on the other pitchers. Gates Brown was the ultimate pitch hitter. There was not a DH in those days.
Tiger stadium was alive that fall of 1968. Our teacher brought a TV into our classroom so we could watch the World Series. This was before TV got their paws into sports and put everything on so late at night you can't stay up to watch it. It was primarily black and white TV too.
We used to play baseball in our backyard everyday when we were kids. We would imitate our favorite players. Mine was Kaline, old No. 6, sis's was Willie Horton, our neighbor's was Stormin' Norman Cash.
I actually got to go to a Tiger game once and they won it 1-0 on a Al Kaline home run. Denny McLain was the pitcher that day. I am not sure it was 1968 because I know Kaline was hurt for a lot of 1968. Doesn't really matter anyway it is still a sweet memory. We sat out in right field and I can still remember that home run just clearing the center field fence. Now if anybody remembers Tiger stadium you will know that the center field fence was 440 feet from home plate. That was quite a poke for a non- steroid player.
I will leave you with this video. I don't think anybody could sum it up better than Ernie Harwell.
14 comments:
As I was reading through that list, I was thinking, that's right, I was always Bill Freehan and Carrie was Willie Horton. And that neighbor, Stormin' Norman Cash a/k/a Randy, has seats from the old stadium. Yup. Must've been in the Christmas newsletter or pictures he's shared along the line. I'll have to forward your blog entry on to him. He'll love it.
This makes me realize just how much I am anticipating baseball season.
I couldn't remember yours or the 3rd c's favorite players.
It was Randy's mother that used to take us to the ball games at Tiger stadium every year.
I remember a lot about the games but the thing I remember most is getting lost in the Hudson store in downtown Detroit. It is the first time I had ever rode an elevator or escalator. We am sure we were the bratty kids in the store that day.
That neighbor does have 2 seats, and I think I was at that game where the Tigers won 1-0. I think it was 1967 but not positive.
I share your hopes, 2008 should be the year of the Tiger, sure hope so!
well, there's little j. Signed Miss K up today for her first season of coach pitch. That means her Uncle Chris will be moving back to MI in 2010 as he promised to coach her softball years.
First of all I have to welcome our old neighbor to the blog, I hope you and Sue are doing good. If you stick around I will be posting more about the old Tigers and the new Tigers as we get into the baseball season. I am sure I will be sharing my pleasuring and displeasure with them as the season wears on.
I have a couple of future blogs about some of the baseball stadiums I have been in. In the near future I was going to rank the stadiums I have visited.
As for Miss K, if there was one thing I was looking forward to was coaching her. I like coaching and it really helps when you have someone to coach for. But alas, I don't think it will happen. I don't see things ever getting better in MI. I think we will be going back to DC and staying there until I retire. More on this later as the situation develops.
I thought for sure when I saw the Cubs 7th Inning Stretch, that it would be Harry Caray singing Take Me Out to the Ball game, and then polishing it off with a tall, cool Budweiser.
Believe me I looked for Harry Cary singing it. The only way to get it was to buy it and I wasn't going to do that. I did find a Frank Caleindo(?) version that was pretty funny but it just didn't fit for this post. I think I made a good choice with John Fogerty though.
i watched your video and it brought back a lot of memories. we don't live in a baseball town anymore. people will watch the pirates up until football season starts. then it's "who are the pirates"? they do have a nice stadium though. have sat in the boxes, the pirates den, very expensve, and behind the dugout on the third base line. the dugout seats are the best. hoping to get those again this year.
I am so fired up about the Tigers after reading all this we are going to Winter Haven to see the Indians and Tigers this afternoon. Rogers is starting, we'll let you know how he looks.
Great way to saty in touch, I will be regularly checking this out.
Hey there!! Don't leave me out of the game. I too am a backyard neighbor ballplayer. Had to hit the ball far as I could not run fast. Great to hear your love of baseball remains. Living near Chicago--the southside--I have become a White Sox's fan. Yes, I remember making fun of their ugly uniforms--but times change. Gurrrr Go Tigers!!!!
HEH
Oh I am so jealous, going to a ball game in spring training, Now that is a real sign that winter is almost over. The last Tiger game I attended was last summer at RFK stadium in DC. We got lucky the Tigers were on the Nationals schedule last year. It was amazing, the Tigers drew huge crowds while they were there (at least huge by Nationals standards). More than 1/2 the fans in the stands were Detroit Tiger fans. I heard several of the National fans complaining about it. I felt at home that night.
I am not sure who anonymous but I would guess it is Randall's sister. I say this because that is probably your initials at the bottom of the comment. Who ever it is welcome.
One of the stadiums I have been in is US Cellular, the ChiSox field. I am sorry to say I am not really a fan of the White Sox but I can tell you my second favorite team is the Cubbies if this helps. I love Wrigley Field. I plan on doing a future post about stadiums I have been in and ranking them from top to bottom. With the response I have received with this post maybe I will do it sooner than I planned.
Jock,
The Tigers lost but they played many starters except for Pudge and Granderson. They batted pitifully so I was disappointed as I hoped to see BIG BATS.
Still think it will be a great year, I never get too excited about Spring Training.
I think anonymous is Heather, she just wasn't sure how to do all this.
Neighbor Boy checking out!
Hey Neighbor Boy,
It looks like Kenny had a good outing for his first time out. This is good because they will need him to pitch like he did a couple of years ago. I am glad he is back with the team I really think he holds the starting group together.
I don't put much stock in preseason either but if there is one team I would like to see them beat in preseason it is those no good Clevland Indians.
Heather is in good (or bad) company. I am still trying to figure this stuff out too. Thank goodness for the two J's they have helped out through most of it.
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