The Baseball Trip 2021

Day 8 Tuesday 6/29 

So. it's raining. Really?

We decide to eat at Milly's, because all of our breakfasts have been good at diners with women's names: We left Chicago after eating at Ann Sather's. We ate at Susan's in Des Moines ,we ate at Addie's in El Paso .We wanted to eat at Lucy's, but she was closed. 

Today is a travel day as we wend our way through Arizona toward Prescott and the ponies. On the way we passed through Petrified Forest National Park:

"The Tepees"

Crystal Forest petrified trees.

Mesa

The Agate Bridge

Painted Desert

Favorite signs:    The Red Door - Open Beer Carry-out!

                            Zero Visibility Possible  (editor's note: WTF!!??)

Favorite Town Names: Temporary, NM

                                      Goodwater, AZ

                                      Show Low, AZ

Random Observation from Randy: Isn't this about the time when we see a UFO?

Barns - 0

Bridges - 3

Satellites - 4

Next: Prescott

 

The Baseball Trip 2021

Day 7    Monday, June 28

Oh guess what? It's raining!

We are on our way to Albuquerque, New Mexico to see the Isotopes take on the Tacoma, Washington, Raniers. The odds of getting this game in are daunting, but we managed! A full nine-inning game. The Isotpoes scored 5 runs in the bottom of the first with no outs. They lost 6-5. What the hell?

A base hit RBI, a 3-run homer, and a solo shot with nobody out. In the first! With nobody out!

Oh well. Here are some shots of Isotopes Ballpark. I guess they have no sponsor:

Right field berm.

Private suites near home plate.

Left field Jumbotron/scoreboard.

Outside the park.

With my friend, Orbit. He has a mask. For God's sake, his costume is probably more diseased.

Right field before the storm.

Favorite town names: Mountain Air, New Mexico.

Favorite signs: Inn of the Mountain Gods

                         Pistachioland! Go Nuts! World's Largest Pistachio!

                         International Space Hall of Fame

Random Observation from Randy: Ok, we're now in New Mexico. When do we see turqoise shops?

Here are some pictures of the scrubland, courtesy of Randy. Because I was driving:

Love the beer bottle.

Weird cactus.

We saw a sign wishing us well as we left Tularosa, New Mexico:

Random Observation from Randy: Vaya Con Dios. but there is a picture of a kangaroo on the sign. At first I thought nothing of it. But then I thought, Wait a minute!

Barns - 0

Bridges - 1

Satellites - 0

Next: Petrified Forest.

The Baseball Trip 2021

Day 6    Sunday, June 27

We leave Midland the same way we came in - rain. It rained all morning, at least until we were west of Odessa. On the bright side, we discovered Addie's, a cozy little diner trying to keep the Route 66 spirit alive with funky collectibles and plenty of rock n roll.

Vinyl LP's hanging from the ceiling.

Minnie, Pepsi, Rte. 66.

Rnadom Observation from Randy: The food was ok, but the ambiance was much better.

Actually, after the skies cleared, we arrived in Pecos for a pit stop and water and found it to be a pleasant 72 degrees with - wait for it - sunshine! Ok, so it didn't last.

We got to the ballpark in El Paso at 4:20, thinking we missed the first inning. The man at the event parking site told us they had changed the time to 6:30. Lucky us, a break for once. On the other hand, there is no bar in a 12 block radius of the ballpark. Except: The Courtyard Hotel!

Our luck was to turn bad again, as the El Paso Chihuahuas (that's right, they are the Chihuahuas) only lasted 4 innings before the rains came. I'm sorry, I meant to say MONSOON! 50 MPH winds sideways rain shut the windows in the right field bar cause we're all going to drown where is my parka 52 degrees!

Let's cool the hysteria for a minute and we'll give you just the facts: El Paso was playing the Round Rock Express, but since the game was postponed after four innings, it will be continued at a later date. I think Round Rock was winning 3-2 at the time. Round Rock is based in Austin, and are a AAA affiliate of the Texas Rangers. The Chihuahuas are an  AAA affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

Even so, I did manage some pix of the park: Southwest University Park.

Right Field

Behind home plate.

Left-center field bleachers.

Third base line.

With my guy, Chico.

Southfield Dairy mascot during a milk promo. Me and a braindamaged-emaciated cow.

On the way, we traveled through the Guadalupe Mountains. Her are a couple of shots:

Guadalupe Peak, highest point in Texas.

Favorite town names: Kermit, TX

Favorite signs: Holy Cross Cowboy Camp

                         Did You Pray?

                         Meteor Crater 1/4 mile

Random Observation from Randy: We can fill in the crater for them. We'll develop a new subdivision.

Things we cannot hang around for: BBQ Cook-Off, El Paso, TX

Barns - 0

Bridges - 0

Satellites - 0

Next: Albuquerque

The Baseball Trip 2021

Day 5   June 26

We left the Dallas-Fort Worth area and headed west to Midland, Texas for another Texas League battle between the Midland RockHounds and the Wichita Wind Surge. For the first time on this trip the temperature broke 100. 102 to be exact.

Again, this is AA ball. The RockHounds belong to the Oakland Athletics, and the Wind Surge are affiliated with the Minnesota Twins.

We arrived in Midland with enough time to book a hotel before game time. Only problem was, it rained. No, it was a torrential downpour. Streets flooded. No game.

That's the second rain-out in 5 days. So, no ballpark pictures.

Here's what I got:

As we head into oil country, these are the first real oil derricks we saw, as opposed to those small goose-neck pumps. Nothing but scrubland and mesas along the way.

As a consolation, we found the Clear Springs seafood restaurant; I had the catfish and chips, and it was delicious.

Favorite town name: Blanket, Texas.

                                    Early, Texas

Random Observation from Randy: Early Christian Church. It's the Early Christian that gets the wafer.

Favorite signs: Bad Habits Emporium

                        There are two unwritten rules in life: 1.      2.

                        Goforth Road

Events we cannot hang around for: Bull Sale, Comanche, Texas

                                                             Rabies Clinic Coming July 11, Granbury, Texas

Barns: 0

Bridges: 0

Satellites: 0

Next: El Paso

The Basebal Trip 2021

Day 4   June 25

We left Tulsa on our way to Dallas, or should I say Arlington, Texas for a game between the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals. Before the game we stopped at my sister Liz and brother-in-law Jim's for a visit. It would be rude to be in the area and not stop in. Well, they had already arranged for us to stay for the night as opposed to a short pop-in and hello. Gracious hosts, they gave us each our own bed and bath and even drove us to the ballpark and picked us up afterwards. They live but ten minutes from Globe Life Field and wouldn't hear of us paying for parking. 

The game was close until the 4th inning when the Rangers blew it open with four runs.  Two innings later they scored four more, and it was now 9-2. Kansas City rallied for two in the ninth, but came up short. Final score: 9-4 Rangers. The home crowd was happy. I have to say though, there were thousands of KC fans there, putting up a roar when their heroes did something good.

Some shots from Globe Life:

Outside the gates.

With Rangers heroes giant bobbleheads.

Centerfield Jumbotron.

Along the first base line.

Left field.

The infield from way up high.

After the game we sat with Liz and Jim and talked and had a beer or two. The next morning Jim cooked breakfast for us before we said our good-byes. And of course I had to take a picture of their dog, Tex, a labradoodle:

Tex with Jim.

Random Observation from Randy: I like that dog.

Special Baseball Trip shout-out to Liz and Jim for their hospitality.

Random Observation from Randy: It's 95 degrees. It's a cow -in -the -shade day.

Favorite town name: Horntown, OK

Favorite sign: Spunky Creek

                        Just Dirt

                        Brush Clearing and Dirt Work

Events we cannot hang around for: Gun Show, Dallas-Fort Worth

Barns - 0

Bridges - 1

Satellites - 0

Next: Midland, Texas

The Baseball Trip 2021

Day 3 June 24

We are headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to see the AA Tulsa Drillers take on the Sringfield Cardinals in another Texas League game. Tulsa is an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Guess who Springfield is associated with. It was a tight game going into the bottom of the ninth inning with Tulsa down 4-3. but Carlos Rincon hit his second home run of the night to send it into extra innings. Tulsa then won in the tenth on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. There was a close play at the plate, but an excellent head first slide around the catcher plated the winning run.

Here are a few pictures of the ballpark, Oneok Stadium. It's pronounce One-oak, as in One Oklahoma. Oneok is a natural gas company. The stadium was built in 2010.

Front entrance.

Left-center field.

Apartments behind right field.

Stands behind the third bas line.

Right-center field,

The ballpark is right next to the historic Greenwood district, home of the infamous 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Here is a mural commemorating the event.

This is what Black Wall Street looks like today:

Randy and I camped that night at Spencer Creek Recreational Area on Lake Oologah, developed by the Army Corps of Engineers. The game lasted 4 1/2 hours, and the camp was an hour north of Tulsa. We did not build a fire at 12:20 am.

Randy did not sleep in the tent:

Nice view of the lake in the background. 

Favorite town name: Okmulga, OK

Favorite signs:   Clear Boggy Creek

                           Muddy Boggy Creek

                           Axe and Knife Throwing Inside.

                           Country Fried Steak - Actual Size!

Barns:  4

Bridges:  3

Satellites: 0

Random Observation From Randy: Air conditioning? That's against my upbringing.

Things we cannot hang around for: World Famous Sucker Day, Altooka Ok.

Next: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington.

The Baseball Trip 2021

Day 2  Wednesday, June 23

We head straight south from Des Moines to Missouri, and straight south still through the entire state of Missouri. We are on track for Fayetteville, home of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The Naturals are a AA affilliate of the Kansas City Royals. They are up against the Seattle Mariner AA affiliate Arkansas Travelers. Why are they Travelers? I don't know. The Naturals are Naturals because Arkansas is the Natural State. Again, I don't know why.

Random Observation from Randy: This used to be the main route between Kansas City and Des Moines. A lot of people died on this road.

Anyway, this drive takes longer than expected (bridges out, detours, etc.), so we are very late arriving at the ballpark. Like, say, the fifth inning. Parking is $5.00, but no one is there...it's free! So what do we do? Head right up to the ticket window to buy tickets. When we get to the gate, there's no one there! Could've gotten in for free as well, but we never put two and two together! Idiots!

Nonetheless, here are a few pictures of Arvest Park:

Left-center

Right field video board.

Action at home plate.

Third base line stands.

And, of course, the Arvest Field Trolley. Gotta love the minor leagues.

By the way, Arvest is a prominent bank chain. Just so you know. The Naturals won 5-2 on $1.50 BBQ Sliders Night.

Favorite Town names: Fair Play, Mo

Favorite signs: Civil War Road

                          Prescious Moments Chapel

                          Napp Inn - Dream in Comfort

Random Observation from Randy: ...and wake up missing a kidney.

Things we cannot stick around for: Back Yard Days in Lamoni, Iowa

Broken barns: 5

Broken bridges: 3

Old satellites: 1

Random Observation from Randy: Goats. It wouldn't be a baseball trip without goats.

The Baseball Trip 2021

Day 1    Tuesday, June 22

So yes, we are back after a covid-cancelled 2020. It is good to be on the road again. 

We are heading in a zig-zag manner into Iowa, down through Missouri to Arkansas, over to Tulsa, down to Dallas. Also, other stops in Texas, Phoenix, Albuquerque and more. Of course, by "we" I mean me and Randy, navigator and observer of the human condition.

Along the way we count things to amuse ourselves. On previous trips we've counted Confederate flags, women on riding mowers, cash-for-gold stores and other signs of the apocalypse. This year we are counting broken fallen barns, bridges in need of repair, and old fashioned satellite dishes. If you don't remember what those look like, here's a picture of one circa 1992:

Remember?

Anyway, we start in Chicago and drive west into Iowa, on our way to Principal Park in Des Moines to watch the Iowa Cubs -Chicago's AAA affiliate -battle the Omaha Storm Chasers (the AAA affiliate of the Kansas City Royals). By the way, this is Iowa: corn, corn, corn, corn, corn. Soy beans. 

Unfortunately, the Storm Chasers did not do their job as the game was rained out. As we drove into the parking lot, I saw people coming out of the stadium. I asked some of them if they had decided to call the game. Yes, they have.

Nonetheless, Randy and I walked up to the gate, and the old man who was scanning tickets told us the bad news. I told him I knew that, but we just drove seven hours from Chicago and could we please use the bathroom? He actuall said yes, and he'd wait for us to let us out. He also told us not to forget to wash our hands.

Uh, ok.

But when we emerged, he asked us if we wanted to go up to field level and take a look. "It's really a beautiful park." So we did, and I took a few pictures. He told us he hardly ever gets to look at the field because he's always at the gate scanning tickets. It was a treat for him too. 

Here's what I got in a semi-hurry:

Tarp covered field near home plate.

Center fied scoreboard.

Left field.

Random observation from Randy: Is lime green the color of the outside of the lime, or is it the inside? I just saw a lime green VW, and I'm trying to remember.

Favorite town names: Sandwich, IL

                                    Big Rock, IL

                                    Shabbona, IL

Broken Barns: 6

Old satellites:   1

Bridges:   0

Events we cannot hang around for:  City-Wide Garage Sale, Mechanicsville, IA

Random observation from Randy: Amana Colony Museum. It's probably just one of their houses.

Tomorrow: Fayetteville, Arkansas