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Ballparks of Baseball

ScarletKnight41 Oct 25 2006 06:46 PM

[url]http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ I posted this in Permanent LInks, but I figured that nobody would see it there. This is an amazing website about every Major League ballpark - past, present and future (and some info about minor league parks as well). It's just an amazing resource.

MFS62 Oct 25 2006 07:36 PM

Thanks, Scarlet. And here's an interesting one, too. http://www.ballparkdigest.com/ Ballpark related news from around the country - majors and minors, including reviews of visits to some parks. It is written by a guy who was a minor league GM last year (forgot the team - low minors IIRC) Later

RealityChuck Oct 26 2006 08:00 AM

There's also http://www.ballparks.com/baseball/index.htm

Benjamin Grimm Oct 26 2006 08:20 AM

I've been thinking that I'd like to put a tribute to Shea Stadium on the UMDB, given it's limited remaining lifespan. If anyone wants to assist, feel free to search the web for interesting or quirky photos of Shea. Also, in future visits to Shea over the next two years, if you want to take pictures of some of the nooks or crannies (I prefer nooks, but I know that many prefer crannies) that would be great too. I wish I had nook-and-cranny photos from the early days of the ballpark. If there are any to be discovered online, that would be great.

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 08:32 AM

Renovating the field: Great shot of the horsehoe skeleton under contruciton:

metirish Oct 26 2006 08:40 AM

Great pics...

Benjamin Grimm Oct 26 2006 08:44 AM

Wow, nice. I especially like that skeletal shot. I don't remember that January 2002 excavation. What was the purpose?

metirish Oct 26 2006 08:51 AM

soupcan Oct 26 2006 08:55 AM

As a kid whenever I went to Shea for Jets games I always thought it was so cool how the field level seats were basically on wheels and they just moved them to create the rectangle where there used to be a 'V'. In centerfield beyond the end zone I remember a stage of some sort being in place for a band or some such thing, but were there also temporary bleacher seats erected as well?

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 08:57 AM

Look at the clergy hogging all the best seats. And somehow Betty White got in there. The excavation was just about replacing a lousy poorly-draining infield. Props to them for making improvements --- at least at the field level --- while negotiating for a new place.

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 09:00 AM

Soup, that b/w shot sure seems to have the temporary bleachers you're referring to. By the eighties, those wheels weren't moving anymore, right? I only went to one Jets game, and I seem to recall the baseball V-configuration. I agree that the rolling field seats were an impressive innovation.

metirish Oct 26 2006 09:02 AM

MFS62 Oct 26 2006 09:13 AM

Edgy DC wrote: I only went to one Jets game, and I seem to recall the baseball V-configuration. I thought the reason they installed the rolling seats was because they couln't fit a football field in Shea while in the V configuration. Later

Benjamin Grimm Oct 26 2006 09:14 AM

Many of these are great, but I'm also looking for the odd angles and small details. Weathered stadium seat Jamming into the subway entrance after a game The back of the scoreboard

metirish Oct 26 2006 09:17 AM

Benjamin Grimm Oct 26 2006 09:18 AM

Whoever said that lightning doesn't strike twice?

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 09:26 AM

MFS62 wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I only went to one Jets game, and I seem to recall the baseball V-configuration. I thought the reason they installed the rolling seats was because they couln't fit a football field in Shea while in the V configuration. Later I'm sure they could, but it just makes for far less ideal eyelines.

metirish Oct 26 2006 09:28 AM

Spiral stairs.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 26 2006 09:31 AM

Nice!

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 09:32 AM

MFS62 wrote: I only went to one Jets game, and I seem to recall the baseball V-configuration. I thought the reason they installed the rolling seats was because they couln't fit a football field in Shea while in the V configuration. Later They could, but it made for less than ideal eyelines. In this 1980s shot, it seems they were leaving the field boxes in place, but then building new straight sections extending out into what would be left and right fields.

soupcan Oct 26 2006 09:36 AM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: Jamming into the subway entrance after a game Not like that's gonna change...

Benjamin Grimm Oct 26 2006 09:43 AM

I guess it won't. There will be fewer fans at sellouts, because there will be about 15,000 fewer seats, but you're right, that part of the experience will carry over to Corporate Name Park.

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 09:44 AM

Unless, you know, the Mets really suck.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 26 2006 09:48 AM

Nah, they'll be fine now that they got rid of that Piazza guy and his pajamas.

Vic Sage Oct 26 2006 09:48 AM

Edgy DC wrote: Edgy DC wrote: I only went to one Jets game, and I seem to recall the baseball V-configuration. I thought the reason they installed the rolling seats was because they couln't fit a football field in Shea while in the V configuration. Later They could, but it made for less than ideal eyelines. yes, unlike Shea's normally ideal "eyelines". Perhaps, if you sit in the OF with your seat pointed at CF, or in the rear loge where you watch the game as if thru a periscope, you should use an eyeliner for better eyelines.

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 09:51 AM

I've got no problem with that usage, but knock yourself out.

Willets Point Oct 26 2006 09:55 AM

metirish wrote: And John Paul makes the catch for the final out! The monsignors storm the field to celebrate!

MFS62 Oct 26 2006 09:58 AM

When talking about a stadium or indoor arena, isn't the usual term "sight lines"? Later

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 10:03 AM

Usual, perhaps.

Vic Sage Oct 26 2006 11:03 AM

while i was mocking the usage, i was really commenting more about the irony of discussing less than ideal eye or sightlines when discussing Shea, which has had less than ideal sightlines since it opened. hopefully, that's one of the things the new stadium will fix. Also, why can't they fix the access to the subways and to the pedestrian bridge over to the LIRR/Tennis Center area, that links to the distant parking lots? The bottleneck at the 2 tiny staircases leading up to that area is even worse than the subway access.

metirish Oct 26 2006 11:03 AM

Shea Sushi....anyone ever eat from here?

Vic Sage Oct 26 2006 11:04 AM

it would take a braver man than i...

metirish Oct 26 2006 11:12 AM

soupcan Oct 26 2006 12:06 PM

Vic Sage wrote: hopefully, that's one of the things the new stadium will fix. Also, why can't they fix the access to the subways and to the pedestrian bridge over to the LIRR/Tennis Center area, that links to the distant parking lots? The bottleneck at the 2 tiny staircases leading up to that area is even worse than the subway access. Ever experienced that after a concert? For some reason I think its always worse then. I would really like to think they will address this issue. metirish wrote: Shea Sushi....anyone ever eat from here? Yup. Not nearly as bad as you might think. When they first started serving sushi at Shea some years ago they had something called a 'Mets Roll', don't know if they still do. Anyway, I think the ingredients were those suspicious 'sea legs' some other crap and apple slices. Apple slices! With seafood! It was dis-gust-ing.

Mets Guy in Michigan Oct 26 2006 01:55 PM

In the shots of the field all torn up in 2002, I love that the home run apple is out of the hat! Is that it's normal postion and just gets lowered for games? Have they said anything about bringing it -- or a newer verison -- to the new yard? It's goofy, but I like it.

metsmarathon Oct 26 2006 02:04 PM

um, this'll wreak havoc on anybody still using dial-up... http://klessuk.edublogs.org/files/2006/ ... %20190.jpg

seawolf17 Oct 26 2006 02:04 PM

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I don't remember that January 2002 excavation. What was the purpose? I believe they needed to reinforce the field for the impending arrival of Mo Vaughn. Or they were looking for Jimmy Hoffa.

metsmarathon Oct 26 2006 02:12 PM

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 02:21 PM

If you're going to do tribute pages to buildings, do one for the Mets Motel on Queens Boulevard in Woodside.

soupcan Oct 26 2006 02:22 PM

Super Bowl III Champs NY Jets first home game against Denver Broncos, Shea Stadium, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, September 12, 1964 Scoreboard shot from first game

metsmarathon Oct 26 2006 02:24 PM

that #1146 guy sure was fast...

cooby classic Oct 26 2006 02:30 PM

I love how people dressed up to do everything back then, I just love it...

G-Fafif Oct 26 2006 02:31 PM

Shea Sushi....anyone ever eat from here? This stand totally rocks, spun off from Daruma of Great Neck (talked up by Gary Cohen in one broadcast this year). I discovered it in '99 when it was in the left field corner and the Mets went like 9-1 when I partook. Only problem is the Sheastapo is very diligent about keeping you from it if you don't have field level tix. If you get to the park early enough, no problem, except in postseason when my wife and I were denied passage (because "we just want to go to the sushi stand" is obviously code for "we're cleverly going to steal us a seat upgrade"). I willingly made the tradeoff, no sushi in exchange for there being a postseason, but it was typically insulting of the way the personnel at our beloved Shea treats its fans. Anyway, Daruma: decent prices, excellent rolls and they don't take the cap when you purchase a beverage.

seawolf17 Oct 26 2006 03:07 PM

metsmarathon wrote: that #1146 guy sure was fast... Yeah, really! He appears to beating out that fifteen-year-old girl and that old guy! (insert comedic smilie emoticon here)

metsmarathon Oct 26 2006 03:22 PM

i've really gotta start photoediting some kenyans into my race pics...

cooby classic Oct 26 2006 03:25 PM

seawolf17 wrote: metsmarathon wrote: that #1146 guy sure was fast... Yeah, really! He appears to beating out that fifteen-year-old girl and that old guy! (insert comedic smilie emoticon here) #703 looks about 40 (insert noncomedic grouchy smilie emoticon here)

SteveJRogers Oct 26 2006 03:28 PM

Shea Sushi....anyone ever eat from here? This stand totally rocks, spun off from Daruma of Great Neck (talked up by Gary Cohen in one broadcast this year). I discovered it in '99 when it was in the left field corner and the Mets went like 9-1 when I partook. Only problem is the Sheastapo is very diligent about keeping you from it if you don't have field level tix. If you get to the park early enough, no problem, except in postseason when my wife and I were denied passage (because "we just want to go to the sushi stand" is obviously code for "we're cleverly going to steal us a seat upgrade"). I willingly made the tradeoff, no sushi in exchange for there being a postseason, but it was typically insulting of the way the personnel at our beloved Shea treats its fans. Anyway, Daruma: decent prices, excellent rolls and they don't take the cap when you purchase a beverage. Greg, I always have that problem if I want to say hi, or even TALK to the people in the Aramark office. So basically having a complaint about merchandise also = "I wan't to steal a seat upgrade" It used to be easier before 9/11, I used to call the bar that is now "The Hot Corner" the "Weakness in the Death Star" because no one was guarding it and I could just waltz in. At points I don't blame them, but if its before the game and someone has a question or something to talk with the merchandise folks about, you would think that is a legit reason (how many people actually KNOW that the Aramark office actually IS on the Field Level, even if you are a regular on the field) Then again it might just be they can't understand a word I said and just are too fucking lazy to ask me to repeat my self Or I need to be a Hot Chick

soupcan Oct 26 2006 05:01 PM

SteveJRogers wrote: Or I need to be a Hot Chick Well that would never hurt. Does everybody already know the secret Diamond Club entrance for the Unwashed who don't have passes? In case you don't (and you call yourselves 'Shea Denizens'?) you walk up the ramp to the D.C. Go past the main entrance where they check your stubs - a little ways down the hall is a door to the kitchen. It's always ajar - I suppose b/c it gets hot in there. Walk in hang a ralph and 'voila' you're standing at th bar in the Grill Room. I must have used that door 50 times, never been stopped and I'm not a hot chick. Well I'm not a chick anyway. Don't mention it.

SteveJRogers Oct 26 2006 05:08 PM

I thought thats the "Death Star Generator" enterance I was talking about

soupcan Oct 26 2006 05:11 PM

Oh. Well its called 'The Grill Room' ...and my post was better.

SteveJRogers Oct 26 2006 05:15 PM

No I'm saying the Grill Room is no longer there I think it was converted to the "Hot Corner" Nike shop OE: The late Mr. Lidle's name is misspelled, whomever writes the titles

Nymr83 Oct 26 2006 05:26 PM

I love how people dressed up to do everything back then, I just love it... also, they were smart enough to leave the wife and kids home and give their extra seats to their friends instead (i spotted 3 children starrig at that picture for 5 minutes)

A Boy Named Seo Oct 26 2006 05:37 PM

Opening Day 2002: Shea in '64: John Franco's garden (bitmap): [url]http://hackwilson.org/pics/shea29_franco_garden.bmp Post-9/11 staging area: 9/21/01:

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 05:42 PM

cooby wrote: I love how people dressed up to do everything back then, I just love it... And who knew Jack Lord was a Met fan?

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 05:45 PM

seawolf17 wrote: metsmarathon wrote: that #1146 guy sure was fast... Yeah, really! He appears to beating out that fifteen-year-old girl and that old guy! (insert comedic smilie emoticon here) Don't forget the Guatemalan with heart problems.

cooby classic Oct 26 2006 07:47 PM

Quote: I love how people dressed up to do everything back then, I just love it... also, they were smart enough to leave the wife and kids home and give their extra seats to their friends instead (i spotted 3 children starrig at that picture for 5 minutes) It occured to me later that back then, maybe the games were played in the afternoon, and some of those people came from work. But you're right about the kids too, I see one young boy in right about the center of the picture and that's it. I'll keep looking for the other too

cooby classic Oct 26 2006 07:48 PM

Okay, Edgy, where's Jack Lord? This is like Where's Waldo...

metirish Oct 26 2006 07:49 PM

Nothing but white peeps in that pic...

soupcan Oct 26 2006 07:52 PM

SteveJRogers wrote: No I'm saying the Grill Room is no longer there I think it was converted to the "Hot Corner" Nike shop OE: The late Mr. Lidle's name is misspelled, whomever writes the titles Oh I see now - we are talking about two different things. You're speaking of field level third base side, I'm talking about the Diamond Club. The Grill Room is the pub-like restaurant on your left as you come out of the elevator to get to the Diamond Club. That Nike store you are talking about used to be 'Casey's' I think. That was the only place in the stadium that Johnny Lunchbucket used to be able to get a mixed drink.

soupcan Oct 26 2006 07:53 PM

cooby wrote: Okay, Edgy, where's Jack Lord? Right behind Karl I think. Wearing the shades.

Zvon Oct 26 2006 08:36 PM

Lotta 60's celebs at that game. green= Jack Lord (sans Danno-whos gonna book 'em?) =cyan]light blue= Niel Armstrong (just back from the moon) =yellow]yellow= Glenn Cambell ( when he was just a lineman) =violet]purple= Maxwell Smart (I asked you not to tell me that) =blue]blue= Kramer (as a kid-hasnt changed much) =red]red= James Earl Ray (on the run)

metirish Oct 26 2006 08:44 PM

Zvon,that's just freaking brilliant...

Edgy MD Oct 26 2006 08:46 PM

Yeah, that's Jack. What's the white arrow about?

Zvon Oct 26 2006 08:59 PM

Edgy DC wrote: Yeah, that's Jack. What's the white arrow about? Oh, thats Officer Joe Bolton.

Zvon Oct 26 2006 09:07 PM

He used to introduce the Three Stooges episodes on WPIX 11.

SteveJRogers Oct 26 2006 09:09 PM

metsguyinmichigan wrote: In the shots of the field all torn up in 2002, I love that the home run apple is out of the hat! Is that it's normal postion and just gets lowered for games? Have they said anything about bringing it -- or a newer verison -- to the new yard? It's goofy, but I like it. . Yes that is its normal position, its that way pre game as well. In the renderings of the new park (mets.com) the Apple does appear on the hill in Left Center. No clue if they plan on bringing the old one or the new one

SteveJRogers Oct 26 2006 09:11 PM

cooby classic Oct 26 2006 09:17 PM

soupcan wrote: cooby wrote: Okay, Edgy, where's Jack Lord? Right behind Karl I think. Wearing the shades. Karl?

Zvon Oct 26 2006 09:30 PM

cooby wrote: cooby wrote: Okay, Edgy, where's Jack Lord? Right behind Karl I think. Wearing the shades. Karl? The sign guy! You will be tested on this at some future date, coob.

cooby classic Oct 26 2006 09:30 PM

Ohhh! I forgot he had a name...

Zvon Oct 26 2006 09:32 PM

I dont know who that guy behind Karl looks like but the dude 2 over from our left is certainly Jon Lovitz.

Zvon Oct 26 2006 09:41 PM

....nobody out there has heard of good ol Officer Joe Bolton? He was on every freakin afternoon when I got home from school. Way back in the days of black and white TV. FK? Mole? Your a senior members. No recollection of Officer Joe?

Rockin' Doc Oct 27 2006 07:15 AM

Zvon - "Lotta 60's celebs at that game." Great job Z, but you missed one. To the left of Carl the Sign Guy, there is a kid dressed in black. Just behind his head is Paul Lynde.

Johnny Dickshot Oct 27 2006 07:20 AM

And how did you miss George Harrison? (black shirt, moptop, center)

MFS62 Oct 27 2006 07:25 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Oct 27 2006 07:26 AM

Zvon wrote: ....nobody out there has heard of good ol Officer Joe Bolton? He was on every freakin afternoon when I got home from school. Way back in the days of black and white TV. FK? Mole? Your a senior members. No recollection of Officer Joe? Of course I remember Officer Joe Bolton. But as I got older, my afternoon tv tastes moved to more important things, like finding out if Annette was wearing a tight sweater that day. :) Later

soupcan Oct 27 2006 07:26 AM

Betcha there's a serial killer or two in that shot.

soupcan Oct 27 2006 01:09 PM

I never knew that.

Benjamin Grimm Oct 27 2006 01:18 PM

90,000? Wow! Shea would have really seemed like a cavern in 1979 if it had 86,000 empty seats.

Edgy MD Oct 27 2006 01:21 PM

You know, it strikes me that it's a pretty damn good time for the Mets to try a few stupid experiments with Shea. Like the barcalounger section. If they fail, so what, they die with the stadium. If they flourish, they've added something unique, but tested, to adapt to the new place.

Rockin' Doc Oct 27 2006 04:27 PM

SJR -"No I'm saying the Grill Room is no longer there I think it was converted to the "Hot Corner" Nike shop." I'm still awaiting payment of the licensing and royalty fees for the use of my good name.