Attention everyone out there in Twins Nation. After 10 frustrating years, and incessant hand-wringing about the homeless, poor, children, and assorted social services, the Twins ballpark saga has FINALLY come to a successful conclusion! The Governor of Minnesota signed off before tonight's Twins game with Seattle on our new outdoor ballpark, to be built in the Mpls. Warehouse District (four blocks from MBD's new place, with a killer view from my balcony!) The new park will be open-air, seat 42,000, have a killer view of the downtown skyline, and sit at the convergence of the Hiawatha and Northstar rail lines. After all this time, I can't believe it's finally happened. The new park will open for Opening Day 2010. I only wish Kirby were here to see it.
MBD
Posts: 255 | Location: Minneapolis Warehouse District | Registered: Jan 02, 2004
Congratulations. Unlike you, I'm not happy we're going to get a new stadium. They're going to build a new Yankee Stadium. I'm happy as a vampire drinking drawn blood with the current one.
Just one more sip.
Posts: 25717 | Location: NY | Registered: Oct 18, 2001
Thanks Board-O. I can appreciate your feelings. Although it has been some time since I have been to Yankee stadium, you have (and still do) a fine park there with decades and decades of history behind it. There is certainly much less of a need to replace Yankee Stadium than there is the Metromushroom. It is an absolutely gorgeous, hot and sticky weekend here in the Cities...I only wish the new park were here right now.
MBD
Posts: 255 | Location: Minneapolis Warehouse District | Registered: Jan 02, 2004
I am in San Diego, and while not a sports fanatic I used to enjoy a few baseball games in the summer. I did prefer the park thye had in Mission Valley to the new park they built downtown. Now it cost a small fortune to go to the games. It used to be relatively inexpensive.
spo, you are certainly correct, and some folks here are concerned about that. At least in our case, the extra $$ we'll be paying will pay off in a HUGE increase in atmosphere and experience.
MBD
Posts: 255 | Location: Minneapolis Warehouse District | Registered: Jan 02, 2004
Having been a Washington Senators fan prior to (and after) their departure to Minnesota (1962), I still have trouble rooting for the Twins. Gosh, it was that long ago? Never mind. Grudge forgotten. BGood luck with the new stadium.
Originally posted by mplschateauneuf-du-papedude: spo, you are certainly correct, and some folks here are concerned about that. At least in our case, the extra $$ we'll be paying will pay off in a HUGE increase in atmosphere and experience.
MBD
If you are looking forward to it, it should pay off. It is weird how much a change of location changed the experience of going to a ball game.
Board-O: I have two baseballs signed by the team prior to 1961's departure. I bet those cards are as valuable as some of your First Growths. Remember when Willie Tasby went out to the outfield in his sox, without his cleates? He heard the rumble of thunder and thought the metal in his cleates would attract the lightning.
I have cards from sets printed recently of: Joe Cronin Gil Hodges Walter Johnson Buddy Lewis Jimmy Piersall
I have original cards of: Frank Howard Roy Sievers Mickey Vernon Ted Abernathy Bernie Allen Hank Allen Bob Allison Brant Allyea Ken Aspromonte Dave Baldwin Julio Becquer Frank Bertania Reno Bertoia Dick Billings Don Blasingame Dick Bosman Marv Breeding Ed Brinkman Mike Brumley George Brunet Bill Bryan Bud Byerly Doug Camilli Bob Chance Paul Casanova Tom Cheney Tex Clevenger Joe Coleman Chuck Cottier Clint Courtney Casey Cox Time Cullen Pete Daley Bill Denehy Sam Dente Dutch Dotterer Mike Epstein Bill Fischer Ed FitzGerald Jim French Gene Green Lenny Green Tom Grieve Hal Griggs Joe Grzenda Steve Hamilton Jim Hannan Ron Hansen Bucky Harris Micky Harris Roy Lee Hawes Joe Haynes Woody Held Rudy Hernansez Whitey Herzog Joe Hicks Dennis Higgins Chuck Hinton Ed Hobaugh Mel Hoderlien Gil Hodges Gary Holman Frank Howard Sid Hudson Bob Humphreys Kenn Hunt Dick Hyde Jim Kaat Russ Kemmerer Gus Keriazakos Harmon Killebrew Jim King Willie Kirkland Billy Klaus Darold Knowles Howie Koplitz Steve Korcheck Bob Kuzava Jim Lemon Don Leppert Dick Lines Don Lock Dale Long Lyle Luttrell Elliot Maddox Joe McClain Ken McMullen Sam Mele Barry Moore Buster Narum Dave Nelson Irv Noren Bob Oldis Karl Olson Johnny Orsino Phil Ortega Claude Osteen Camilo Pascual Carlos Paula Cap Peterson Horacio Pina Bob Porterfield Pedrom Ramos Pete Richert Steve Ridzik Sherry Robertson Ed Roebuck John Romonosky John Roseboro Don Rudolph Pete Runnels Bob Saverine Rae Scarborough John Schaive Richie Scheinblum Bob Schmidt Johnny Schmitz Angel Scull Ray Semproch Frank Shea Jim Shellenbock Barry Shetrone Roy Sievers Bill Skowron Dave Stenhouse Eddie Stewart Bunky Stewart Chuck Stobbs Dean Stone Ed Stroud Willie Tasby Wayne Terwilliger M. Faye Throneberry Del Unser Fred Valentine Coot Veal Mickey Vernon Zoilo Versailles Clyde Vollmer Bob Wiesler Ted Williams Hal Woodeshick Gene Woodling Eddie Yost Norm Zauchin Don Zimmer Assorted team and multiple rookie cards
A lot of these players got their fame with other teams. How many do you remember?
Just one more sip.
Posts: 25717 | Location: NY | Registered: Oct 18, 2001
I remember most of them. Not all. Coot Veal had a great name. I remember when Camilo Pascual broke is leg sliding into 2nd base. I remember the fancy fielding of Eddie Brinkman. Jim King wore #30, and for reasons that I can't recall, he was one of my favorites. I believe he batted left-handed and threw right. Great list, Board-O.
I'll bring this back to the Twins. Some years ago when my younger son was 11 years old, we were at a baseball card show and met Billy Gardner who managed the Twins in the early 1960s. My son asked him if he was ever going to manage again, and Billy Gardner said to him, "Kid, I'm so old I got the clap from Betsy Ross!"
Just one more sip.
Posts: 25717 | Location: NY | Registered: Oct 18, 2001
