Today we wrap up the Ballparks Opening Week with 8 ballpark openings being profiled, yes I do know that this edition is a day late.
Today we start at April 14, 1904 with the opening of American League Park II in Washington, DC. In the opener, the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Senators in an 8 inning game 8-3. Moving ahead 5 years we find the Saint Louis Browns opening Sportsmans' Park III. The Cleveland Indians opened the park with a -2 win over the Browns. In 1920 the Cardinals moved in and would stay until 1966.
Our next stop is 1953 and the opening of County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Braves slipped the winning run across in the 10th against the Saint Louis Cardinals for a 3-2 win. 1960 is our next stop as the Tacoma Giants of the Pacific Coast League opened Ben Cheney Stadium. The Portland Beavers spoiled the party with a 7-2 win.
Moving along we arrive for two stops in Montreal, first in 1969 when the Expos played their first franchise game. The game was played at Parc Jarry and was an 8-7 win over the Cardinals. Next we have the Shreveport Captains of the Texas League opening Fair Grounds Field in 1986. The Captains took a 5-4 win over the Jackson Mets.
Two years later, the Buffalo Bisons of the American Association opened Pilot Field with a 1-0 win over the Denver Zephyers. Our final park today is Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. The Norfolk Tides of the International League opened the park with a 2-0 win over the Ottawa Lynx.
The answer to Wednesdays trivia question is in its first two seasons, the san Diego Padres have had a 2-2 record at Citi Park in New York. There will not be a trivia question today as this will be my last daily blog for awhile, unless someone wants to pay my ISP bill for me. I need to send my time looking for full time employment and needs of my family :(. I would welcome any words of encouragement or even a Phoenix area job offer in my email sabrkev@gmail.com. I hope to resume soon.
Thanks to all my friends world wide,
Kevin Saldana
Mesa, AZ
Friday, April 15, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Baltimore, DC and New York
Today Ballparks Opening Week continues. We jump right in with the April 13, 1891 opening of Boundary Field in Washington, DC. The park was home of the Washington Nationals of the American Association. The Boston Reds beat the Senators by a score of 6-0. At the end of the season, the Senators were one of four league teams to merge in with the established National League clubs. The Boston Reds were merged in with the Beaneaters. Boundary Field would be home to the Senators until they folded after the 1899 season. When the American League arrived in town for the 1901 season they had a stadium built for them.
Our next park is Terrapin Park, the home of the Baltimore Terrapins of the Federal League. The Terrapins played the Buffalo Blues in the leagues first game as a major league on April 13, 1914. The Terrapins won the game 3-2 over the Buffalo Blues. The league lasted only two years, the ballpark was sold to the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. The Orioles used the park until July 4, 1944 when it burned down.
Our final park today is Citi Field in New York. On April 13, 2009 the San Diego Padres stole the show in this opener, by taking a 6-5 win over the Mets.
The answer to yesterdays trivia question is the Milwaukee Badgers played their National Football League games in the 1920s at Athletic Park. Todays trivia question is during the first two seasons at Citi Field, what is the San Diego Padres record there? The answer in tommorrows daily blog as Ballpark Opening Week continues.
Our next park is Terrapin Park, the home of the Baltimore Terrapins of the Federal League. The Terrapins played the Buffalo Blues in the leagues first game as a major league on April 13, 1914. The Terrapins won the game 3-2 over the Buffalo Blues. The league lasted only two years, the ballpark was sold to the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. The Orioles used the park until July 4, 1944 when it burned down.
Our final park today is Citi Field in New York. On April 13, 2009 the San Diego Padres stole the show in this opener, by taking a 6-5 win over the Mets.
The answer to yesterdays trivia question is the Milwaukee Badgers played their National Football League games in the 1920s at Athletic Park. Todays trivia question is during the first two seasons at Citi Field, what is the San Diego Padres record there? The answer in tommorrows daily blog as Ballpark Opening Week continues.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
From Pennsylvania to Minnesota And Out To California
Today on our Ballpark Openers Week, we have 8 different ballparks to look at. For our first two April 12 ballparks, we go back over 100 years starting in the City of Brotherly Love in 1909.
Just two days ago we looked at the 1971 opening of Veterans Stadium. Today we will look at its predessor, but its sucessor as well. Shibe Park was built for the American League Athletics for a 1909 opening. The A's broke the park in with an 8-1 clubbering of the Boston Red Sox. In 1938, the Phillies moved and stayed until 1970, well after the A's left town. The Phillies moved into Veterans Stadium in 1971 and stayed through 2003. On April 12, 2004 the Phillies opened Citizens Bank Ballpark. The Phillies could not repeat the A's feat of winning the first game in their new park, when the took a 4-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
The A's moved into Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri in 1955. The stadium which had opened originally in 1923 for the minor league Kansas City Blues, required extensive rework before the A's arrival. A 90 day around the clock schedule allowed the A's to face the Detroit Tigers ontime. The A's would take a 6-2 win from the Tigers.
We are not done yet with the parks built 100 years ago. Today is the centennial of Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. The Senators took an 8-5 win from the Boston Red Sox.
We now move ahead to April 12, 1960 and opening of Candlestick Park, San Francisco. The Giants took a 3-1 victory over the Saint Louis Cardinals. Few knew of the many windy surprises that were in store of the course of the next 4 decades. I myself saw a late June game there in 1998, I remember the hot chocolate all too well.
Five years later Baseball hit a very big first with the opening of the Harris County Domed Stadium in Houston, Texas, AKA the AstroDome. The Phillies ruined the Astros party by taking a 2-0 victory from them.
A few days later the Atlanta Crackers of the International League played their first game in Atlantas new park Atlanta Stadium. The park was built with the Braves arrival in mind. When the Braves arrival was delayed a year, the Crackers got to take the new park out for a spin. On April 12, 1966 the Braves got their turn in the new park. The Pittsburgh Pirates were the lucky team that night as the took a 3-2 win in 13 innings.
Our final ballpark is marking its first anniversary this year. Target Field in Minneapolis first opened its doors to the Twins and the Boston Red Sox, with the Twinks taking a 5-2 win from the visitors. Are you glad I have not have the chance yet to document all the minor league park openings thoughout history? I do have a few coming in a day or two :).
The answer to yesterdays trivia question is 16 times in National Football League history a game has ended with a score of 40-7. The first time that this happened was on November 22, 1925 when the Rock Island Independents beat the Milwaukee Badgers at Douglas Park in Rock Island. The most recent occasion was on December 17, 2006 when at Gillette Stadium the New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans.
Todays trivia question is what was the name of the Milwaukee Badgers home park? The answer in tomorrows daily blog as Ballpark Opening Week continues.
Target field 2010
Just two days ago we looked at the 1971 opening of Veterans Stadium. Today we will look at its predessor, but its sucessor as well. Shibe Park was built for the American League Athletics for a 1909 opening. The A's broke the park in with an 8-1 clubbering of the Boston Red Sox. In 1938, the Phillies moved and stayed until 1970, well after the A's left town. The Phillies moved into Veterans Stadium in 1971 and stayed through 2003. On April 12, 2004 the Phillies opened Citizens Bank Ballpark. The Phillies could not repeat the A's feat of winning the first game in their new park, when the took a 4-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
The A's moved into Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri in 1955. The stadium which had opened originally in 1923 for the minor league Kansas City Blues, required extensive rework before the A's arrival. A 90 day around the clock schedule allowed the A's to face the Detroit Tigers ontime. The A's would take a 6-2 win from the Tigers.
We are not done yet with the parks built 100 years ago. Today is the centennial of Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. The Senators took an 8-5 win from the Boston Red Sox.
We now move ahead to April 12, 1960 and opening of Candlestick Park, San Francisco. The Giants took a 3-1 victory over the Saint Louis Cardinals. Few knew of the many windy surprises that were in store of the course of the next 4 decades. I myself saw a late June game there in 1998, I remember the hot chocolate all too well.
Five years later Baseball hit a very big first with the opening of the Harris County Domed Stadium in Houston, Texas, AKA the AstroDome. The Phillies ruined the Astros party by taking a 2-0 victory from them.
A few days later the Atlanta Crackers of the International League played their first game in Atlantas new park Atlanta Stadium. The park was built with the Braves arrival in mind. When the Braves arrival was delayed a year, the Crackers got to take the new park out for a spin. On April 12, 1966 the Braves got their turn in the new park. The Pittsburgh Pirates were the lucky team that night as the took a 3-2 win in 13 innings.
Our final ballpark is marking its first anniversary this year. Target Field in Minneapolis first opened its doors to the Twins and the Boston Red Sox, with the Twinks taking a 5-2 win from the visitors. Are you glad I have not have the chance yet to document all the minor league park openings thoughout history? I do have a few coming in a day or two :).
The answer to yesterdays trivia question is 16 times in National Football League history a game has ended with a score of 40-7. The first time that this happened was on November 22, 1925 when the Rock Island Independents beat the Milwaukee Badgers at Douglas Park in Rock Island. The most recent occasion was on December 17, 2006 when at Gillette Stadium the New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans.
Todays trivia question is what was the name of the Milwaukee Badgers home park? The answer in tomorrows daily blog as Ballpark Opening Week continues.
Target field 2010
Monday, April 11, 2011
From Cincinnati To The Golden Gate
Ballpark Opening Week continues today with a look at 4 ballparks that opened on April 11 and one minor league park that got its promotion to the Majors. We start many years ago in the far away year of 1912. The Cincinnati Reds new park was called Redland Field and would serve as the Reds home park until 1970. In their first game at their new park the Reds defeated the Chicago Cubs by a score of 10-6.
We now move ahead a number of years to 1969. The Seattle Pilots were playing their first home game after splitting their franchise opening series 1-1 in Anaheim against the California Angels. Sick's Stadium had opened in 1938 as the home park of Emil Sicks' Seattle Rainers and had served the Rainers needs very well for the last 30 years. The Pilots opened their one home season against the Chicago White Sox with a decisive 7-0 win over their visitors.
One of the more simpliest names for a ballpark adored the new ballpark for the Texas Rangers in 1994. The name of the park when it opened was The Ballpark in Arlington. Since 2004 the park has been known as Ameriquest Field. The Rangers dropped their ballpark opener to the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 4-3.
Six years later fans of two teams got to see their first look at their teams new park, when Comerica Park in Detroit and Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco opened on the same day. Comerica Park replaced the legendary Tiger Stadium, the Tigers home park for the preceding 78 seasons. The Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners by a score of 5-2. The Giants were not so lucky in their first game at the park that replaced Candlestick Park. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the locals by a score of 6-5.
The answers to yesterdays trivia question are as follows the Milwaukee Braves followed the Cincinnati Reds on the Dodgers home schedule for Dodger Stadium in 1962, The Philaadelphia Phillies were the next home opponent for the Colts at Colts Stadium in 1962, the Pittsburgh Pirates followed the Montreal Expos on the Phillies home schedule for Veterans Stadium in 1971, the Oakland A's were the Royals next home opponent for the Royals at Royals Stadium in 1973, the Cincinnati Reds followed the Milwaukee brewers on the Saint Louis Cardinals home schedule for Busch Stadium III in 2006.
Todays trivia question is National Football League games have ended in any one of 991 combinations of final scores, how many NFL games have ended with a final score of 40-7? The answer in tomorows daily blog as Ballpark Opening week continues.
We now move ahead a number of years to 1969. The Seattle Pilots were playing their first home game after splitting their franchise opening series 1-1 in Anaheim against the California Angels. Sick's Stadium had opened in 1938 as the home park of Emil Sicks' Seattle Rainers and had served the Rainers needs very well for the last 30 years. The Pilots opened their one home season against the Chicago White Sox with a decisive 7-0 win over their visitors.
One of the more simpliest names for a ballpark adored the new ballpark for the Texas Rangers in 1994. The name of the park when it opened was The Ballpark in Arlington. Since 2004 the park has been known as Ameriquest Field. The Rangers dropped their ballpark opener to the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 4-3.
Six years later fans of two teams got to see their first look at their teams new park, when Comerica Park in Detroit and Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco opened on the same day. Comerica Park replaced the legendary Tiger Stadium, the Tigers home park for the preceding 78 seasons. The Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners by a score of 5-2. The Giants were not so lucky in their first game at the park that replaced Candlestick Park. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the locals by a score of 6-5.
The answers to yesterdays trivia question are as follows the Milwaukee Braves followed the Cincinnati Reds on the Dodgers home schedule for Dodger Stadium in 1962, The Philaadelphia Phillies were the next home opponent for the Colts at Colts Stadium in 1962, the Pittsburgh Pirates followed the Montreal Expos on the Phillies home schedule for Veterans Stadium in 1971, the Oakland A's were the Royals next home opponent for the Royals at Royals Stadium in 1973, the Cincinnati Reds followed the Milwaukee brewers on the Saint Louis Cardinals home schedule for Busch Stadium III in 2006.
Todays trivia question is National Football League games have ended in any one of 991 combinations of final scores, how many NFL games have ended with a final score of 40-7? The answer in tomorows daily blog as Ballpark Opening week continues.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
From Los Angeles to Philadelphia
Today on our Ballpark Openings week we look at Major League Baseball parks with an opening date of April 10. We start with two parks on April 10, 1962. One park was built as a temporary stadium for three seasons of use, the other is still in use today. On this date the Los Angeles Dodgers invited the Cincinnati reds to town to help them open their new park Dodger Stadium. The Reds made themselves very comfortable in the Dodgers new stadium, handing the hometown club a 6-3 loss. The dodgers did however win their next four home games, including two from the Cincy club. On that same day, the Houston Colt .45s invited the Chicago Cubs to town for their Major League debut. The Cubs had nothing to teach the newbies who pouded out an 11-2 win over their visitors. The Colts went on to sweep the three game series.
Moving ahead to 1971, we arrive in Philadelphia for the opening of Veterans Stadium. The Phillies invited the Montreal Expos to town for the opener. The Phillies and Future Hall of Famer Jim Bunning took command and a 4-1 win from the Expos. Two years later the Kansas City Royals got their opportunity to open a brand new ballpark as Royals Stadium was ready for them. They invited the Texas Rangers to town for the event. The Royals feasted on the Rangers pitching in taking a 12-1 victory in their opener. Before the Royals were able to get too cocky with their own ballpaark, the hosted the California Angels for a quick mid-May two game series. In the second game the Royals became the first of seven clubs that future Hall of famer Nolan Ryan pitched a no-hitter against, when Ryan spun a 3-0 gem over the Royals. The Royals did recover to have a 48-33 record at Royals Stadium for the season. For the 1993 season the park was renamed Kaufman Stadium, in honor of Ewing Kaufman, their founder.
Our final ballpark today is Busch Stadium III in saint Louis, Missouri. The third version of Busch Stadium opened on April 10, 2006, when the Milwaukee Brewers arrived in town as the visitors. The Cardinals and Mark Mulder were able to hold off the Brew Crew for a 6-4 win over the Brewers. Three of our five April 10 ballpaks are still open today. Colts Stadium was only intended as a temporary park before it gave way to the Harris County Domed Stadium, better known as the AstroDome in 1965. The Astros themselves are now in their third home park. Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia served as the Home of the Phillies until giving way to Citizens Bank Park in 2004.
The answer to yesterdays trivia question is Frank McNally, whose 1907 birth is only described as occuring in Nevada, became the first Silver State native to reach the National Football League as a player when he began a 4 career as the center for the Chicago Cardinals in 1931. The state would not send another player to the NFL until 1941 and would not obtain a long run in the league until 1968. That streak continues too this date.
Todays trivia question is which teams served the opponents for the second series to be played at each of todays featured new stadiums? The answers in tomorrows daily blog as ballpark openings week continues.
Moving ahead to 1971, we arrive in Philadelphia for the opening of Veterans Stadium. The Phillies invited the Montreal Expos to town for the opener. The Phillies and Future Hall of Famer Jim Bunning took command and a 4-1 win from the Expos. Two years later the Kansas City Royals got their opportunity to open a brand new ballpark as Royals Stadium was ready for them. They invited the Texas Rangers to town for the event. The Royals feasted on the Rangers pitching in taking a 12-1 victory in their opener. Before the Royals were able to get too cocky with their own ballpaark, the hosted the California Angels for a quick mid-May two game series. In the second game the Royals became the first of seven clubs that future Hall of famer Nolan Ryan pitched a no-hitter against, when Ryan spun a 3-0 gem over the Royals. The Royals did recover to have a 48-33 record at Royals Stadium for the season. For the 1993 season the park was renamed Kaufman Stadium, in honor of Ewing Kaufman, their founder.
Our final ballpark today is Busch Stadium III in saint Louis, Missouri. The third version of Busch Stadium opened on April 10, 2006, when the Milwaukee Brewers arrived in town as the visitors. The Cardinals and Mark Mulder were able to hold off the Brew Crew for a 6-4 win over the Brewers. Three of our five April 10 ballpaks are still open today. Colts Stadium was only intended as a temporary park before it gave way to the Harris County Domed Stadium, better known as the AstroDome in 1965. The Astros themselves are now in their third home park. Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia served as the Home of the Phillies until giving way to Citizens Bank Park in 2004.
The answer to yesterdays trivia question is Frank McNally, whose 1907 birth is only described as occuring in Nevada, became the first Silver State native to reach the National Football League as a player when he began a 4 career as the center for the Chicago Cardinals in 1931. The state would not send another player to the NFL until 1941 and would not obtain a long run in the league until 1968. That streak continues too this date.
Todays trivia question is which teams served the opponents for the second series to be played at each of todays featured new stadiums? The answers in tomorrows daily blog as ballpark openings week continues.
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