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Field Trip of
Dreams
Around the Major
Leagues in 49 Days
Bank
One Ballpark
Phoenix, AZ
Colorado Rockies at Arizona
Diamondbacks
July 7, 2003
By Ken Schlapp
I had to put up with two
straight days without Baseball! It was tough, but I managed by
sightseeing in the way one would normally do so while travelling
cross-country, I went to see the Hoover Dam and the South rim of the
Grand Canyon. I won't go into detail, but if you take a similar
baseball trip, make sure that these are two stops on your journey
and open your eyes to some of the wonders of this country besides
it's major asset of Baseball. You'll get to see a technological
wonder that has positively effected the economy in our entire
country and a natural wonder that words can not justify. I could go
on and on, but I'll get back to the regularly scheduled programming.
The first thing that you need to know about going to a baseball game
in Phoenix during July is that it is extremely hot in Phoenix at
this time of the year. The temperature outside at game time was 108
degrees! Luckily for me, the roof of Bank One Ballpark (A.K.A. the
BOB) was closed this evening, keeping the temperature to 83 degrees
on the inside. However, there was a slight mix-up with my ticket at
WillCall, which left me on the outside for an extra 45 minutes to an
hour in addition to the 45 minutes I spent taking pictures of the
stadium. My clear plastic backpack felt like it was starting to
melt. Thanks to Sharon in the ticket office and Karen (who
initially set me up with a ticket for the game) all was cleared up
and I was able to get inside and enjoy a great game in great seats!
Note that in games that I have been here in the past, there was a
ceremony where the roof was opened prior to each game, but the
temperature outside during those games was significantly lower.
This was such an exciting game that I want to get to those details
first. The Rockies got off to a 5-0 lead after 3 innings on a home
run by Todd Helton in the 1st, an RBI double by Charles Johnson in
the 2nd, and a 3-run homer by Preston Wilson in the 3rd (after
Helton was intentionally walked to get to him). It was starting to
look like the bad streak for the home team during my trip would
continue, but then Shea Hillebrand decided to take over the game.
He hit a solo blast to lead off the 4th and get the D'Backs on the
board. There was some controversy over this shot, as it appeared
that a fan may have interfered with Jay Payton's attempt to catch
the ball, but the umpires signaled home run. Once again in the 5th,
Hillebrand led off with a solo shot to get the home team within 1
(5-4). In the 6th, he finally came up with men on base and this
time he hit a 3-run homer to put the D'Backs up for good 8-6, and in
the process he became only the 6th player in Major League Baseball
history to homer in 3 consecutive innings. The fans were on their
feet cheering until he came out of the dugout for a curtain call.
Side note, fountains spray water in the pool area in right center
field when the D'Backs hit one out. Now for his next at bat, one
inning later (7th), he came up with runners on 1st and 2nd to a
standing ovation. The fans wanted to see more history with his 4th
homer of the game, but all he did was double in two runs to bring
the final score to 14-6 in favor of the Diamondbacks. Although he
still came through, it was almost disappointing that he did not hit
another one out. Anyway, his totals for the game came to 5 for 5
with 3 HRs, 1 double, and 1 single for 7 RBI and 4 runs scored.
The fans even benefited from the game because when the D'Backs score
8 or more runs, you can turn in your ticket for a free chalupa at
Taco Bell. Early on, I started to think that the crowd was
programmed what to do by the scoreboard, because the only time the
fans were getting noisy, clapping and/or singing was when the
Jumbotron prompted them to do so. That began to change when Mark
Grace pinch-hit for Patterson in the bottom of the 4th inning. The
whole crowd got up and went crazy as soon as he was announced, and
he even came through with an RBI single! Then when all the hoopla
was going on around Mr. Hillebrand, it was clear that the crowd knew
history was potentially being made. Also, unlike many other
stadiums that I have visited, I did not seem to hear many fans of
the opposing team at all.
Lots of information about the players and the game is available
throughout the stadium. The lineups for each team are presented in
left and right center field on scoreboards listing the averages for
the batting team and the positions for the team on the field. This
is one of my favorite in-game features of the BOB. The pitcher's
pitch count and pitch speed are listed in both center field and left
field and the home team pitcher's Ks are tracked in the Circle K
section for both the game and the season. I have to admit that
keeping track of the total Ks for the season does not serve much of
a benefit and I don't know why they think the fans would care. They
do this at Shea Stadium as well, but I just don't get the value of
it. They also show an unusual triple-statistic feature for the
batter including batting average, games and at bats. I never seen
this grouping on a scoreboard before and am still not sure why they
do here, but it is interesting, nonetheless.
Some other in game features includes two separate electronic races.
The first is between a red, blue and silver car around a track and
the second was a more common hot dog race between ketchup, mustard
and relish. The red car won the first race and mustard won the
nightcap. I found it both unusual and amusing that when the
pitching coach of the Rockies came out to talk to Jennings, the
Jumbotron had a big "Blah! Blah! Blah" written on it to goof on the
opposing team.
During the game there is plenty of food to choose from. Chains such
as Garcia's (Mexican food), Panda Express (Chinese) and McDonalds (I
shouldn't have to explain), Coyote Fresh Fruit, and Ben & Jerry's
Ice Cream are located all throughout the stadium. You can choose
from an assortment of beers as well. What makes the food at this
stadium interesting is that at the Taste of the Majors concession
stands they serve a sampling of foods available at other stadiums.
You can also eat at Friday's Front Row, where you can watch the game
while sitting at a table in the upper level of left field. Note
that a special feature for those that want to focus on watching the
game is the fact that the ushers won't allow you to walk back to
your seat (after getting food or using the rest rooms) during the
game until there is a break in the action. This is the first place
I've seen that and love it!
I know I am kind of working backwards on this one, but Hillebrand
just stole the show and I wanted to present it that way. However,
back to the beginning. As soon as you get to the BOB, you in a
festive atmosphere with McFaddens Bar across from the main entrance
where you'll be enticed with the beer and attractive waitresses
staring at you as you attempt to enter the ballpark. Sometimes,
there is even a band playing music before and after the game outside
by Jefferson St. As you enter the ballpark's main entrance you are
greeted by Greek-like art work in a circular room featuring baseball
and sports from ancient history to the present. But, before you
even notice the Greek art work you stare straight at the World
Championship Trophy that they won in 2001 by defeating the Yankees
on Luis Gonzalez single off Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th
inning in the 7th game of the series. Sorry for the detail, but I
enjoy saying and writing that phrase. Once you pass the opening and
enter the inner part of the stadium you are bombarded with the
ever-important feeling of air conditioning, but please note that at
the end of the game, the reverse experience is quite lousy.
Once inside, make sure you walk through DiamondTown and Peter Piper
Playhouse. DiamondTown is in the main concourse of the stadium and
includes loads of TV screens showing historic moments of baseball
games and historic facts, figures, and pictures of Baseball's past
great teams and players. Since the D'Backs history only goes back to
1998, they do a good job of presenting baseball history in general
to the fans. Note that when I was here a few years ago, they
actually had a small Baseball Hall of Fame in center field that had
various artifacts from the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Peter Piper
Playhouse contains various video games, and play tools for children
of all ages, but what caught my attention was the lockers set up for
different Major Leagues teams presenting both vintage and current
baseball uniforms. Also located here, is Baxter the Bobcat's Den,
which is the team mascot's lair, and he is even present sometimes.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention two very unique features of the
BOB. First, this is the only stadium that has a pool and Jacuzzi in
right center field just over the wall, where people can enjoy the
game for parties while in the pool. In addition, if a Diamondback
player hits a home run into the pool a lucky fan can win a car. The
other interesting feature is, for some reason that I do not know, a
dirt strip between Home Plate and the pitcher's mound. The BOB was
the first place I've seen this and need to research its
significance.
Bottom line - This stadium is typical of many of the newer stadiums
that have all the amenities that you can think of for both enjoying
the game and for ignoring the game and still having a good time. I
do like this stadium, but I'm starting to wonder with these new
stadiums if the actual playing of the game of Baseball is being sold
or if the goal is to just the come out and have a good time and
spend money.
Basic trip facts:
* Stadium # 16
* Old Stadium Sites visited - None (Total - 9)
* Under construction Stadium Sites visited - None (Total - 1)
* Miles traveled - 930 via Car (Totals: Driving - 8,829, Subway -
20, Air - 3,196, Total - 12,065)
* States, provinces and/or commonwealths passed through -
California, Nevada, Arizona (Totals: States - 26, Provinces - 0,
Commonwealths - 1)
* Seats - Section 130, Row 22, Seat 13 - Field Level near 3rd Base
* Prices: Parking - $8.00, Beer - $6.00 - $8.50, Hot Dogs - $3.00 -
$5.00, Program (including pencil) - $1.00 (usually #.95), Souvenir
Soda Cup - $5.50
* Credit Card giveaway - Diamondbacks T-shirt
* First Pitch - 6:38 PM
* Attendance - 34,455
* Results - Diamondbacks 14, Rockies 6, W - Stephen Randolph, L -
Nelson Cruz, S - None
* Home team record to date - 9 wins, 10 losses
* Record of "team I was routing for" to date - 6 wins, 13 losses
* Lodging - Boulder City, Nevada (7/5), Williams, Arizona (7/6), and
Phoenix, Arizona (7/7)
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