Posted 21:40 by Grote 0 comments

Take me out to the ball game...

A couple weeks ago, on my vacation, I decided to see the ol' Cincinnati RedLegs play a baseball game, against the World Champion Florida Marlins. I decided to take a photolog of the things to see and do at the new Great American Ballpark. Actually before I begin, can I say how much I love that name? It's corporate naming rights, but not overtly. Anyway, from Sycamore St. you can see soon-to-be-retired Reds' announcer Joe Nuxhall's catchphrase as he signs off each broadcast.


After that you cross the bridge and walk past a very nice bas relief of players past, present and future (which until this second I didn't think to get a picture of. Drat). Anyway you're now on the concourse and there are three, soon to be four statues of Reds Greats. All are life size and accuratly represented. You have:

Ted Klusuzki (and this is before steroids folks) waiting on deck.


Frank Robinson batting

and the aforementioned Joe Nuxhall pitching

Now as family legend says if we tap my grandmother's memorial brick


The Reds will win. (I must have tapped it too many times or I missed. Oops). So now we are ready to enter


One of the first things you notice as you walk in, are two large tile mosaics of (arguably) the two most famous teams to come out of the Reds' Organization. First is the very first professional baseball team from 1869.


Second is the Big Red Machine

This team includes Ken Griffey Sr.(30), Tony Perez(24), Johnny Bench (in Catcher's Garb), Joe Morgan(8), Davy Concepcion(13), Caesar Geronimo(20) (no I did not make that up), George Foster (15), and not identified, Pete Rose (heh).

There are also four giant replica newspapers hanging from the rafters. Each proclaiming victory after four of the five Reds World Championships



If you have time, check out the FanZone, over on the southwest side of the stadum, there are pitching and hitting games. A "Run-it-out" game, where you have to run to first base (I'm a slow 4.6 seconds). There is also many photo opportunities, for example after taking off my Reds cap and not straightening my hair, (:p)


I am now apart of the 1990 World Champions of the World (Thank you Rob Dibble), with Paul O'Neil, Barry Larkin, Chris Sabo, and Eric Davis. I think it got taken midblink too. Ah, well. Inside the stadium, you've got the giant scoreboard, with the lineups:
and two giant smokestacks symbolizing Cincinnati's Riverboat Heritage.


At the time, Ken Griffey Jr. was at 492 career homeruns and at this writing he stands at 498.

The game finally got underway, and the Reds, lost 3-0. However, we had *great* seats,

,

and it was, for most of the game a titanic struggle. I'm going at least 2, probably 3 more times this year. Join me won't you?