2007 Grapefruit League (A look back/moved from my old .mac account)

This was the year! I was sure the Mets would make it to the World Series. I got an autograph from HOF'er Ralph Kiner in front of Tradition Field. I also got autographs from Julio Franco, Endy "The Catch" Chavez and Mike Carp. I saw Tom Glavine, Scott Kazmir, Carlos Beltran and Howard Johnson as the Mets batting coach. In Clearwater, I got autographs from Aki Iwamura, Delmon Young and Jonny Gomes.  That was also the year Josh Hamilton made his return to the bigs with the Reds. Nobody knew what he would do the next year.....Finally, the NY Mets finished Spring Training at Tropicana Field. They lost to the D-Rays..

Parks Visited:

Knology (Toronto Blue Jays) Dunedin

Tradition Field (NY Mets) Port St. Lucie

Holman Stadium, Dodgertown (LA Dodgers) Vero Beach

Brighthouse Networks Field (Phillies) Clearwater

Tropicana Field (D-Rays) St. Pete

Ed Smith Stadium (Reds) Sarasota

Anyway these are the pics

Grapefruit League 2006 (A further look back/stuff from my old .mac account)

Spring 2006. The first year I started the "annual" trip to Florida for Spring Training. The NY Mets had a great run that year and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the Playoffs despite the memorable catch by Endy Chavez. I stayed in Orlando/Kissimmee that year. I drove back and forth to Port St. Lucie to see the Mets, as well as, going to the Astros in Kissimmee and the Braves at Wide World of Sports/Cracker Jack Stadium/Champion Stadium. I spent the second part of the trip in St. Pete. Blue Jays, Devil Rays & Phillies. 

Autographs from:

David Wright (photo hangs on my wall)

Astros Program:

Andy Pettitte 

Trever Miller

Phil Garner

Russ Springer

Taylor Buchholz

Mike Gallo

Eric Bruntlett

The highlight of the trip was seeing Yogi Berra on the field at Al Lang. It was 21 years since someone in my family had snapped a picture of a Spring Training game in St. Petersburg and Yogi was there both times. Also spotted Don Zimmer, Joe Torre and Reggie Jackson.

The itinerary:

Eight days/Nine Games. I saw the NY Mets Five times. (4 Home/1 Away). The Devil Rays three times. The Yankees twice. The Braves twice, Astros twice. I also saw the Blue Jays, the Reds and the Orioles. I also drove to the Phillies minor league complex for a few hours. 

Here's the pix from that year's trip

1975 (a look way back/old stuff from my .mac website)

Spring Training 1975. I was 7.  My dad took me to see a baseball game at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg, FL. At that time Al Lang was the Spring Training home of the NY Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. It was picture perfect day. A kid could go on the field and have his picture taken with their favorite NY Met. I was so shy I wouldn’t ask. My dad got pictures of Rusty and Yogi. Twenty-one years later my dad and I went to a Spring Training game at Progress Energy Park, home of AL Lang Field. Yogi was there.

Here are the pix from 1975.

First Home Game of 2008 for the Charleston Riverdogs

Here's a link to the pictures I took at the Charleston Riverdogs Home opener against the Savannah SandGnats.

Totals

The numbers are still coming in. I keep updating as I think of things.

Total mileage=2061

Total # nights in motels = 8

Total # ballparks visited = 8

Total # foul balls caught = 1

Total # of fans with face painting that I talked to = 1

Total # of errors A-Rod committed = 2

Total # of games seen=10

Total # of sports stars seen in bars = 2

Total # of Hall of Famers met = 1

Total # days until next years visit= approx. 360

Total # of pictures taken = 714

Total # programs bought = 8

Final Day A Rainout

The day started great, but was cloudy. Rain was forecast. We arrived at the ballpark early and were able to watch TB Rays take BP in the back field. Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria were there. Later in the ballpark I got autographs from Joe Maddon (manager), Matt Garza (pitcher), Rocco Baldelli (OF) and a few others. Unfortunately, the rain wasn't able to hold off and the tarp came out after the second inning. That will probably be the last game I get to attend at Al Lang since the Rays are moving Spring Training to Charlotte county. That's a bummer.
I also got a great picture of one of my favorite players, Cliff Floyd.

Here are the pics

Day Eight and the Best Stadium in Grapefruit League

Dad declared that the Tigers field was the best we've been to so far. I liked it alot, too. I still think the Phillies have the best, mostly because you can still see the field from the concessions. I will say that the Tigers have the best announcer. His introductions of the Tiger's players was great. Each name was announced as if they were going to do battle in the Thunderdome. Then when he announced the line-up for the visiting Jays he says each name and position, quickly. Very funny. Dad and I talked to a nice guy from Toronto who's visiting with family. He was in Myrtle Beach recently and was telling me how much he liked it. I like the Blue Jays fans. Even more, I like the Tiger's line up. If they get some good pitching, they are the team to beat in the AL. Jim Leyland was there. Gary Sheffield hit a frozen rope over the left field wall. The D-Train was derailed and he was pulled in the fourth inning. The Jays were knocking him around.

Here's the link to the pics.