I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism. Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set. Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us.
~Walt Whitman
~Walt Whitman
My boy, Ty enjoying the drinks before the game.
Me, Ladybug, Ty, and Brian
The two page tribute to our neighbor and friend, Jo Ann
Yoga? Stretching? Praying? Raising the roof? Soliciting applause? Not sure what the catcher was doing here...but thought it was a funny picture!
Good to see some players still pray before the game.
Warming up in the Bullpen. 90 feet of speed! Click to enlarge...can you see the baseball in mid-flight? Look for the white dot on the brick wall.
The end of the video tribute for Jo Ann on the Jumbotron.
Watching the game from the party deck!
The stretch...the ball is still in the pitchers hand but the batter is already in motion as is the third baseman!
The sunset behind the stadium. The building you see on the right of the image is a hotel that was constructed to look like the warehouse behind the Oriole's stadium, Camden Yards. On the other side of the hotel is a field for the kids' Babe Ruth League. It is an exact replica of Camden Yards!
Life: Last Monday night Brian, the kids, and I went to Opening Night at Ripken Stadium to watch the Ironbirds play the Staten Island Yankees. Our Rec Council buys tickets every year and we go and have a buffet of stadium food while watching the game. Usually our friend and neighbor, Jo Ann, takes care of everything since she is one of the staff members for the Ripken family and the Ironbirds office. Unfortunately, she passed away earlier this month, so that was not to be. The Ironbirds and the Ripken Family (Vi, Cal, Billy, and Elly) honored the memory of our dear friend by having a moment of silence, playing a video tribute on the JumboTron, adding a two page spread in the program, and painting her initials on the field. Our community was touched by the heart-felt actions of the stadium in honor of our friend.
The Ironbirds, who are a farm team for the Baltimore Orioles, beat the Staten Island Yankees, a farm team for the New York Yankees, 2-0. It was a great feeling to see the home team win, especially on Opening Night!
About the Pictures: Taken with my Canon 5D at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Maryland.
Weigh In: Do you watch Major League baseball? What team do you root for and why?
Yay, glad your team got a win! I've seen the Richmond Braves (AAA team for the Atlanta Braves) but I have yet to see a MLB game live.
ReplyDeleteMy American sport of choice is NFL Football. Being a native Virginian and DC suburbanite, I do root for the 'Skins, but heaven help us, they haven't been doing so hot. Being 100% Irish-American, and having lived in Ireland for 10 years, I also follow Irish sports. Glad to see you posting again!!
I am a Yankee fan. Through and through. And how wonderful is a day at the park? Those skies are glorious;)
ReplyDeleteThe pictures were great. I could almost smell the popcorn and hotdogs when I looked at the last one. Baseball is so much fun to go and watch in the summertime. Something about stadiums.
ReplyDeleteThat was really awesome how they paid tribute to your friend. I am sure that her family was really touched.
I don't follow sports at all. (I know shameful!) We do like our Braves though, mainly because Atlanta is so close for us to go and see some games. I have always wanted to go to a Yankees game and a Cleveland Indians game though.
What a grea documentation of s special time not only for you and the family, but for your recently lost friend!!! That is so special. We are not really a baseball family, but if this was NASCAR....LOL
ReplyDeletei'm sorry to say that i am not a "sporty"...but i enjoyed your pictures all the same!
ReplyDeleteespecially the sunset one.
awesome:)
looks like you had a beautiful night.
andy
Since I am a native Marylander, of course I root for the Baltimore Orioles. Baseball is the only sport that I will actually sit down and watch. I have fond memories of the old Memorial Stadium and the now retired ball players like Booge Powell, Eddie Murray, Jim Palmer (I had a major crush on him)and don't forget Cal Ripken. It's a shame what the major league B.B has become because of steriod use.
ReplyDeleteYour family always looks so happy! Looks like a great day to be out there and I love the green field - maybe they could do my yard. lol
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great time and a beautiful night for baseball. Our PA Farm team is the York Revolution. Our Youth Group plans trips to several games throughout the year. That was nice that they paid tribute to JoAnn. I am sure it was very sentimental.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to one here - but the girls and I are going to a Key's game this summer!
ReplyDeleteYou all looked like you were having a blast and that sunset picture is just lovely!
What a touching way to honor your friend, I'm sure everyone loved it.
First off, your family is adorable. And your pictures were great.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad they honored your friend. Doesn't it seem like too many young people have died? I need to figure out a way to slow down and smell the roses. Instead of pruning them.
You, my dear, are a wonderful photographer and have great talent.
Cynthia
I've been a Red Sox fan all my life...it wasn't really an option growing up in RI with a baseball obsessed father...I love going to the Pawsox games too...they are a farm team for the Red Sox here in RI...Great Photos!
ReplyDeleteThe pictures you captured are fabulous, especially all the ones with the sky, WOW!!
ReplyDeleteIf I do follow baseball it's the Seattle Mariners all the way!