The Baseball Trip 2019

Day 4, Tuesday, July 16

I forgot to take a picture of the front gate at Peoples Natural Gas Stadium in Altoona, so here it is, thanks to Randy:

We started our day at Tom & Joe's diner in Altoona:

 Random observation from Randy: This is probably the best diner we have ever eaten at. If not, at least top five.

He's talking decor as well as food:

Afterward, we had some time to do some sightseeing. We wanted to take a look at the great Horseshoe Curve up close. Much to our chagrin, there was nothing much to see unless you had an aerial view. A little tram took you up the hill to the tracks for eight bucks. Then you look around. We took a pass. Instead, here you go: an aerial photograph.

We took off for Poe Paddy State Park and the adjacent Bald Eagle State Forest. 40 miles of gravel roads. Nothing much going on up there except for fishing. Are we getting jaded? As we left, a hellacious storm brew up and followed us for miles. We stopped a few times for crews to clear trees that fell across the highway.

Nonetheless, we made it to PNC Field in Moosic, PA, to watch the Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders play the Columbus Clippers. Moosic is exactly halfway between Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. The RailRiders are a class AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees. Columbus belongs to the Cleveland Indians.

But wait. They were not the Railriders tonight. They have an alternate name, the Vejigantes. According to Wikipedia, this is a tribute to the growing diversity of Northeast Pennsylvania. A Vejigante is a multi-colored figure present during carnivals, a combination of African, Spanish and Caribbean influences. Minor League Baseball has been encouraging this attitude of welcoming diversity at the ballpark for a few years now, and this is how the RailRiders have responded.

Anyway, the Vejigantes defeated Columbus 3-1 in a well-played game. The pitcher for Scranton Wilkes-Barre threw 10 strikeouts in 6.2 innings, walking none. Everyone received a coupon for Dunkin Donuts, so all is good.

PNC Field:

 Home plate from left field.

 Left field wall.

Right field party deck. That photo is damn fuzzy.

Supposedly, they have a mascot, a porcupine. (You tell me why.) But it was nowhere to be seen.

Favorite town names: Geeseyville, PA

                                      Foot of Ten, PA

                                      Piney, PA

Random observation from Randy: More lazy founding fathers: "I don't know. There are a lot of pine trees here."

Favorite signs: Blue Knob Auto

                          Fresh cow and goat milk.

Things we cannot hang around for: Wing Festival, Duncansville, PA

Stopped by construction: 2

Confederate flags: 2

Shirtless drivers: 0 (disappointing)

Carnivals: 0

Next: Staten Island, NYC