Cleveland Rocks!

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Yes, and emphatically, Cleveland Rocks! Fountains at Public Square - a few blocks from the ballpark Cleveland is one of those underrated "rust belt" cities that I never thought got its due. Some only know it as - "the mistake on the lake" where the Cuyahoga River caught fire. However, I always found it to be a cool city with great restaurants, nice places to stay, and friendly people. Finally, Cleveland is a great baseball city. I've been to Cleveland and Progressive Field many times. It was where my father and I ended our baseball journey that started in 1964. As the story goes, it began with him leading me around the ballpark when I was six or so. It ended with me pushing his wheelchair almost 50 years later. He moved to Cleveland - his wife's hometown - in the early 2000s. I worked for a company based outside of Cleveland and was there often. My business travel enabled us to find our way to the ballpark many times. With that said, I had only been back to Cleveland and Progressive Field a few times since we buried dad. This trip was a revelation. Could it be that the city was even better than I remembered? I've always liked Progressive, but in the five years since I've been there, it seems to have gotten even better. Fountain of Eternal LifeWar Memorialin Public SquareTerminal Tower & Old Stone Church Rock & Roll Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum Cleveland has been associated with Rock & Roll ever since disc jockey, Alan Freed popularized the term there. The city incorporated the phrase into its branding when the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame opened there. Not surprisingly, the All-Star Game captured the city's Rock and Roll lineage. Guitar Logo Each day, I wanted to get down to the city early so I could walk around and take pictures. On Tuesday, as I was entering Public Square - the centerpiece of downtown - I found a kiosk that was displaying Fender guitars painted to represent each team. I especially loved the Baltimore Orioles one that included Baltimore's favorite (rock and roll) son, Frank Zappa. He is a personal favorite. Frank Zappa/ Baltimore Orioles Fender Guitar Naturally, I found the Mets guitar fun. I'm a fan and love all things Mets. Cincinnati's was designed to recognize the 150th anniversary of professional baseball that originated there in 1869. The Reds have been celebrating the first professional baseball team (the Cincinnati Red Stockings) all season. However, it's interesting that the Reds are not descendants of the Red Stockings, the Atlanta Braves are. So in a sense, the Reds are celebrating the Braves' birth. New York MetsCincinnati Reds PlayBall Park I thought that MLB did a credible job selling the joys of baseball at the London Series, but I wasn't blown away. I didn't think there were enough displays or activities, and there certainly wasn't a wide variety of merchandise. However, Cleveland was another story.…

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Farewell to Citi Field

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I ended my previous post about Citi Field saying that I couldn't go back. As I was, sitting in this ballpark I love and watching the team that I have been a fan of for over 50 years, I realized, that it's all a bit of a facade. Citi Field is a mere replica of Ebbets Field, located in Queens, not Brooklyn, and the home team is the Mets, not the Brooklyn Dodgers. The organization mimics a modern MLB club, the way its stadium mimics the great ballpark of Fred Wilpon (The Mets owner) dreams. So, I'm saying "Farewell to Citi Field" until things change. NOTE: I'm quite aware that as I started writing this piece, and decided to publish it, the Mets started winning. As of Monday morning August 5th, the team is 15 and 6 since the All-Star break. They are firmly back in contention for a wild card spot in the playoffs. I still stand by my statements herein that the Mets organization and ownership is weak and needs to change. Citi Field at Night I love the team, bleed orange and blue, etc, but I can't handle the owners' mismanagement and poor decision making any longer. The problem is not that the Mets have finished under .500 eight out of the last ten years. The sad fact is that Fred and Jeff Wilpon are horrible owners. They don't seem to want to build a competitive organization focused on putting a great product on the field. The last two years have been especially troubling. Credit Where Credit is Due That's not to say that the Mets front office has not had some successes. Quite the contrary, they drafted and developed last year's Cy Young Award winner - and possible baseball's best pitcher Jacob DeGrom. Additionally, the starting staff is also one of the best. The organization drafted or acquired in the minor leagues a good core of young players. These include Pete Alonso, this year's Home Run Derby winner and possible Rookie of the Year and Jeff McNeil who is in contention to lead the majors in hitting. The Mets will always be my team. I'll read about them and watch them at home, but I can't go to Citi Field until I see something positive from the organization. The Problem Is… Leadership Theo Epsteinslate.com Consider two baseball executives, Jeff Wilpon, and Theo Epstein. Both Wilpon and Epstein became head of baseball operations for their respective teams in approximately 2002. Epstein was hired based on his talent and experience. Wilpon took over when his father bought the team with little ability and no experience. In the approximately twenty years since they assumed their roles, Epstein broke the Boston Red Sox's 96-year and the Chicago Cubs 110-year eras of futility. Meanwhile, Jeff may be considered one of the worst leaders in the game. Jeff Wilpon Jeff Wilponamazingavenue.com Wilpon's defenders could point out that the Mets have come close to winning a championship during Wilpon's tenure. The Mets came…

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Fred Wilpon’s Brooklyn Dodger Obsession

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Mrs. Nomad and I made the Subway Series at Citi the last stop on my Midwest Odyssey. The two-week-long odyssey took me through St. Louis, Kansas City, Field of Dreams, the College World Series, and the London Series. Now I was back in the States at Citi Field - a place I refer to as "Fred Wilpon's Brooklyn Dodgers Obsession" - with Mrs. Nomad. From the 7- Line heading out to Citi It's become an annual Nomad family tradition to go to Citi Field. We're Mets fans and its a great place to see a game or two. I rank it high on my list of best ballparks. Citi may also be the best ballpark for food in the major leagues. Unfortunately, as much as I love the place and the team, this may be my last visit to Citi for what could be a very long time. As I will explain in my next post, I'm saying Farewell to Citi. Mets Fan For Life I've been a Mets fan most of my life. As I recount in my "Why Collect Ballparks," I've been intrigued with this beguiling team since my father took me to Shea Stadium for the first time in 1965. My family had moved to St. Petersburg, Florida and the Mets opened a training complex across from my school, Azalea Junior High. I remember riding my bicycle to watch them play the newly minted Montreal Expos in 1969. Later that year, I was in Mr. Wilson's Earth Science class when the Principal announced that this team of assumed misfits had won the World Series. A few years later, we moved back to New York City and I started following my cousin and sister to Shea Stadium and the rest is Nomad history - check out the post, you'll enjoy it. Merchandise....7 Line Army and Alonso t-shirts The point is I love my Metsies. Through thick and thin I start the season with high, usually, delusional hopes and then by July I understand the epic tragedy that reality presents. The Mets usually aren't that good. But I digress, I liked going to Shea Stadium and love Citi Field. Fred Wilpon's Brooklyn Dodger Obsession Fred Wilpon is obsessed with the Brooklyn Dodgers of his youth. He was born in Brooklyn and went to high school with Sandy Koufax. His fondest memory is likely his beloved Dodgers finally winning the World Series in 1955 when he was 18. Wilpon went to Lafayette High School with Sandy Koufax and they remain good friends. Interestingly, they both played on the school's baseball team. I've read that Wilpon was the pitcher and Koufax played first base. If true, I consider it an eery preview of Wilpon's way of getting most things related to baseball backward. Of course, Koufax would become a hall of fame pitcher. Wilpon became a notoriously bad team owner. Citi Field is supposed to honor both of the Met's National League predecessors, the Giants, and Dodgers. However, while it has…

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London Series

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Surprisingly, I let good sense take precedence over my ambition and I decided to play it safe. I was in Omaha on Wednesday morning, roughly eight hours from St. Louis where I was scheduled to leave for London on Thursday afternoon. Rather than try to make the whole drive on Thursday, I didn't stay for game three of the College World Series. I started my trip to the London Series on Wednesday morning by driving back to Kansas City. The drive took me by the results of the rainstorms we experienced earlier. I drove past swollen lakes and rivers and flooded farm fields that looked like lakes. On Thursday, I dropped off the hats I acquired during the first part of the trip and drove another 3 hours or so to St. Louis where I boarded a flight to London via Atlanta. These are pictures from my three days in London - I'll add more text soon. Truman Brewery Friday afternoon I headed to the London Yards where there was a London Series gathering place. Games, food, music, and merchandise. I was in search of hats and a few gifts for friends. My goal was to find the hat I saw online (no size 7 1/2 available) - Boston or New York with the Union Jack design in the emblem. My online hat. Brick streets, centuries-old buildings, and many packed pubs surrounded the Truman Brewery on Friday night. Unlike in the states, there were overflowing crowds outside the pubs, beers in hand. The hat selection was weak. I did get one with "London Series" on the front but didn't find the ones I was looking for. Moreover, I was wearing a Boston hat, with Big Ben on the front, that I bought online (this one adjustable). People were asking me where I got my hat. After the rather disappointing search for hats, I stopped for Fish and Chips. Murals on the corner....old and new architecture RetailTea Shop Statues - outside pubs....and on rooftops Outside pubs and....fish and chips Kensington Gardens Since Saturday's game started later in the day, I decided to spend the morning in and around Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens. Swan statue near the SerpentinePeter Pan Swans at the Serpentine The Diana GateKensington Palace The Albert MemorialThe Albert Memorial Outside The Albert MemorialThe Royal Albert Hall Dog statue at the gardensKensington Gardens The London Series I'll post text about this extraordinary experience soon. From my seats on Saturday. Sunday I was right of center. Opening ceremoniesAn American style hot dog Food trucks outside the stadium......including fudge! I'll add more text soon. Thanks!

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Field of Dreams

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Is this heaven?

Pictures of the Day Here are pictures of the fun adventure to Dyersville, where Nomad the Younger and I visited the site of our favorite baseball movie. I'll add the story of the day soon. There is no admission fee to walk the grounds. You're free to use the field and play catch etc. "Try and hit my curve....Yeah you can hit the curveball" Unfortunately, the corn isn't tall until the fall. Art for art's sake... Inside the House It's a $20 fee to tour the house, I recommend you do so. Just make sure you don't miss the start - more on that later. Is Fenway the one with the big green wall?... I'll help you pack!" "Daddy, there's a man out there on your lawn." "Hey, what if the Voice calls when you're gone?" "Take a message." The tour guides dress like the 1919 White Sox. More text to follow.

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Museums at 18th & Vine

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After the aborted game at Kauffman Stadium, we headed downtown to the Negro League Museum. The museum is in the Museums at 18th & Vine complex. The museum occupies a large space on the right. Across the lobby is the American Jazz Museum. This connecting lobby includes displays of the 18th and Vine area and a film that discusses its rise and impact on the Civil Rights movement. We didn't have a lot of time (or energy) so we went through the Negro League side relatively quickly. After the College World Series, I headed back to St. Louis through Kansas City, where I spent the night. That gave me time to see more of the Negro League Museum, take some pictures and also visit the American Jazz Museum. Negro League Museum I describe the Negro League Museum in two parts. In the first, a series of displays provides a detailed account of the league's history, it's triumphs and ultimate demise. The exhibits explain the initial impact of black players in the major leagues. Interestingly, I knew that black players dominated the National League MVP selections in the fifties and transformed the league's style of play. Their play included bunts, the hit and run, aggressive base running and stolen bases. In comparison, the American League played a slower, "station to station," and power-hitting type of game. However, I never entirely made the connection between the dominance of the new players and the dominance that the national league started to demonstrate in the 1960s. The best thing about the museum is the other section. In the center of the museum is a great room that contains a replica of a baseball field. There are near life-size statues of great players at their defensive positions. For example, Satchel Paige is on the mound, Josh Gibson is behind the plate. Accompanying Gibson at home, Nisan umpire and hitter. Buck O'Neil watches from the first area. This is simply the most impactful baseball display that I have ever seen! American Jazz Museum For a music lover - which I am - the American Jazz Museum is a blast. The colorful displays wind around the museum taking you past the great players and the styles they developed. The museum also explores the nightlife where Jazz was performed. It opens into The Blue Room one of the more famous and still active Kansas City clubs. I left the museums, went back to the hotel and rested. The next morning I drove to St. Louis and boarded my flight to London.

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Kansas City – Royals and Museums

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Day Two on the "Midsummer Odyssey." The day I pondered my existence and walked the tightrope between sanity and insanity. No, stop! It wasn't that bad. We had a difficult time seeing the Kansas City Royals and Museums but maintained our sensibilities and made it to the next day. Friday Night - Look at The Tickets! Somewhere between the raindrops, standing ovations, beer, and tornado warnings, Nomad, the Younger decided to check the next day's schedule. "So the game starts at 1:10 tomorrow?" "Nah," I respond, "they play tomorrow night." Sweetly, yet forcefully persistent, Nomad the Younger explains that if they are playing on Saturday night, someone should tell the Royals. "The Royals are playing at 1:10." Yes, an unforced error by the Nomad. The Kauffmans Here's the problem. The plan was to go to the Negro League Museum and the game, and we don't have any extra time. Thus, we need to squeeze both into Saturday so that we can see the Field of Dreams movie site on Sunday. We can't delay because I need to get to the College World Series on Monday. Not to mention the younger Nomad has a plane to catch. OK, no problem. It's a three and a half-hour drive to Kansas City, give or take. We'll leave at 6:30 and be in Kansas City by 10:30, see the museum and make it to the game by 1:00. Who cares if we are a little late? Saturday Morning - The Drive From Hell Another inaccurate, overstatement. Hell is probably worse, and I've never heard about rain in Hell. The stories I hear refer to fire and heat, not SUVs and pouring rain. As we leave, it starts to rain. Then it starts to rain harder. For a while, the rain stops, and we begin to make good time. As we talk, the sky starts to darken into an eerie purple. The sky continues to darken, then darken some more. Soon it was the color of eggplant or the center of a nasty bruise. The purple sky correlates with the wind blowing wildly. I grip the wheel while we look for tornados, houses blowing over, or a woman on a bicycle flying through the sky. Then the heavens open and sheets of rain pour down. This is the type of storm that windshield wipers won't solve. The wipers simply push water back and forth, the water coming down too fast to actually keep the windshield clear. Inside Kauffman Stadium We crawl along - following other slow-moving vehicles. We're creeping our way through a creepy, artificial night caused by clouds, wind a rain. Finally, I can't take it anymore, and we take the next exit looking for shelter. The hoped-for shelter is "Ozarkland." Roadside America describes Ozarkland as "a gift shop/tourist trap." The description is a tad harsh. There are cute knickknacks, what looks like fantastic fudge and the bathrooms are clean. Most of all, the patient salespeople who let a couple of wet nomads hang…

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Homecoming in St. Louis

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Cool Pappa Bell and George Sisler

On Thursday, June 20th (my wedding anniversary), I started my 10,000 miles “Midsummer Odyssey" to the Midwest and London. During the 14 day’s journey, I made six stops, visited three MLB ballparks, and saw eight games. A somewhat exhausting and exhilarating adventure with Mrs. Nomad and Nomad the Younger traveling with me at times. The first stop was to see Albert Pujols homecoming in St. Louis. Albert PujolsRic Tapia/Icon Sportswire The Nomads lived in St. Louis for a short time when the youngest one was an infant. So, a trip back was a bit of a homecoming. That night's game was a more critical homecoming for Cardinals' fans. The mighty Albert Pujols was returning to St. Louis for the first time since he joined the Angels in 2011. I planned the trip to St. Louis to coincide with the game as I wanted to see the crowd’s reaction. Prince Albert Pujols will enter the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, possibly unanimously. I can’t imagine anyone voting against him. Mariano Rivera’s election last year broke the silly rule that no one can be elected into the Hall unanimously. I’m guessing Derek Jeter will also be unanimous when he is elected next year. Certainly, Pujols deserves to be a unanimous selection also. Albert Pujols connects on his 3000th career hit. Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports Accomplishments A brief list of his accomplishments in his 19-year career: 2001 Rookie of the Year2005, 2008 & 2009 Most Valuable Player2006, 2011 Member of World Champion St. Louis CardinalsTied with Alex Rodriguez for most seasons with 100 RBI (14)32nd player to achieve 3,000 hits in his career4th player to achieve 2,000 career RBI9th player to hit 600 career home runsCurrently ranks 6th on the career home run list4th player to record both 600 home runs and 3,000 hits Leaving, Anger and Reconciliation Cardinals fans were angry when he turned down a lucrative offer from the Cardinals and accepted an offer from the Angels. For example, at spring training, I saw a boy’s Pujols jersey with the number 5 covered in duct tape. My opinion was that he should continue his legacy in St. Louis and win a few more championships. After all, he had a chance to have his statue next to the great Stan Musial if he stayed. On the other hand, Pujols says that he did not feel appreciated in St. Louis. That he felt "more appreciated" by the Angels' owners. Any anger from the time Albert left had certainly dissipated by the time he returned. The organization shared a highlight reel, and the crowd showed its appreciation every chance they could. There were standing ovations each time he came to the plate. They cheered some more when he left the game, replaced for a pinch-runner in the 7th inning. Rain and The Old Haunts On Friday morning, after I worked on my blog, I took a short walk to the Gateway Arch. I wanted to check it out before I…

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Deep in the Heart of Texas

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After Friday's travel and a late-night watching the Braves, my alarm chirped me awake very early Saturday morning. I needed to catch a flight to Dallas/Fort Worth for three games “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” The first two with the Rangers in Arlington and then one in Houston to see the Astros. Including Atlanta, I saw five stadiums in four days that represented a few different design concepts. One was a clear favorite. The reason I scheduled the entire weekend in Arlington was that the Astros wouldn't be in town until Monday. OK, why not stay in Arlington and watch another Rangers game? It would be more convenient than flying back to Houston later. However, I must have good Karma. It poured on Saturday; the game was delayed a few hours. So much so, I lasted just a few innings. I went back on Sunday, a great day with beautiful weather. Five Stadiums During the four-day trip to Atlanta, Arlington, and Houston, I visited five stadiums. Each had a different "something-something." SunTrust Park SunTrust Park My first stop was Atlanta's SunTrust Park. As mentioned in my previous post, SunTrust is a charming new ballpark where they built a community "Boomtown," adding fun and commercial activity. Its biggest fault is that they encourage racially insensitive behavior that has no place in polite society. All other esthetics are excellent, except they are new, and the feel walking through Boomtown is like walking down Main Street at Disney. Fun, but a tad artificial. Minute Maid Park Houston's Union Station houses the team store, the other building is Minute Maid Park My last stop was Houston's Minute Maid Park. It was quite the opposite of SunTrust as it is firmly ensconced in Downtown Houston. Moreover, it incorporates the century-old Union Station, and so it fits somewhat nicely into the neighborhood. Inside, Union Station's main concourse is used as Minute Maid's main lobby. Brick and other design elements help retain the Union Station flavor throughout the first floor of the stadium. The Astros didn't need to build a Boomtown, the facilities were already there. It does not feel artificial. In short, I liked it a lot. In the middle of the trip were three stadiums in Arlington. AT&T Stadium AT&T looming over the Nolan Ryan Expressway next to Globe Life Park The Dallas Cowboys play in AT&T Stadium - sorry, l know football should not be mentioned during baseball season. However, AT&T was near my hotel and Globe Life Park - where the Texas Rangers play. It looms over the landscape like a huge, football-shaped edifice that reminds me of an alien spaceship landing in the middle of a parking lot in suburbia. I imagine scientists, soldiers, and citizens surrounding it looking so small in comparison. They have this look of wonder. "What is it?" "Are there living beings inside?" "Can they communicate?" "Do they mean good or harm?" Globe Life Park Globe Life Park If you stand in the right spot, you can…

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