Going, going, gone to Coors Field

/ August 2, 2015

We gave ourselves an 75 minutes between leaving the Denver Zoo and the start of the game between the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. After all, GPS told us the trip between the two downtown landmarks was merely a few miles and 15 minutes or so.

George Three didn’t fancy the in-city driving, so I got back behind the wheel. Traffic wasn’t bad until we got near the ballpark, the phone voice didn’t tell me to turn when I was supposed to get into the big lot, I needed to drive past and find a side street to make a U-Turn …

I fought my way back across three lanes, made a left down off the elevated bridge and onto a side street, and found a satellite lot for a mere $10. We walked back up to the main drag, stopping to buy six much-needed bottles of water from some dude with a cooler at a buck a bottle. Deal.

Coors Field, down there.

Coors Field, down there.

Marching with the fans.

Marching with the fans.

Coors Field looked fine from afar.

Up close, we noted further the glut of cars. And people. There was no line at the box office windows, bowever, which puzzled me slightly.

I walked right up and asked the rep in which sections I could purchase six seats together.

She told me we’d not be attending this game unless I was willing to pay big bucks. I had plastic in my pocket and didn’t much cotton to the thought of telling the sweet gang waiting behind me to walk back to the car game-less. I asked what was up. “We’re almost sold out,” she said. “You can sit up behind the foul pole for $50 or behind home plate for $80.”

This New Yorker, a lifelong Mets fan, thought the price for outfield upper deck seats was outlandish. Behind the plate for less than a century note, though … Transaction completed.

Who played here in the short history.

Who played here in the short history.

The foyer.

The foyer.

Nice stadium, I thought. Nothing real fancy.

We'll duck in down there.

We’ll duck in down there.

But the seats were something special, indeed, as advertised. They were behind the screen for protection from those nasty balls fouled straight back, some two-dozen rows up from the field and safely in the shade.

With my zoom on.

With my zoom on.

With my iPhone 6 zoomed to the max, I was able to get comfy with the pitcher and batter.

An afternoon at the park.

An afternoon at the park.

Karen, Elisabeth and George Three approved, while Drew and Kimi were out scouting for food and such.

Coors Field lived up to its reputation as a hitters’ ballpark. They say the thin air helps the baseball carry. And, how.

In the bottom of the third, the home squad clouted three home runs.

Around and around they went.

Around and around they went.

The Rockies smacked the horsehide and the fans stood and cheered. Repeatedly. I started standing and yelling, too. It was hypnotic, all that hitting and scoring.

The players celebrate and the fountain dances.

The players celebrate and the fountain dances.

Coors Field has quite a routine when a member of the Rockies hits a homer. A loud tune rocks and the fountains behind the center-field fence dance.

And the fountain dances some more.

And the fountain dances some more.

Not even a pitching change in the middle of the inning helped. Another long fly carried over the fence.

Look at that linescore.

Look at that linescore.

It’s not often a baseball fan gets to see 10 runs scored by a team in one inning. I told Karen we’d have to go to four or five Mets games to see them score that many.

New York Dog, please and thank you.

New York Dog, please and thank you.

I took a trip to the concessions thereafter. After a look-see, I went for the New York dog, with kraut and spicy mustard. The green peppers under the kraut surprised me when I got back to my seat and unwrapped the dog. We do not put peppers on our hot dogs in New York, Colorado makers. Sausage, yes.

The Rockies won 17-7. I was not surprised. On a trip to the men’s room, a flier on the wall had informed me as to why this game between two teams a colletive 20 games below .500 had drawn more than 40,000 fans. It was Faith Day. There was a concert by popular Christian artist Michael W. Smith after the game. We did not stay.

Tomorrow: Walking along a creek

Tuesday: Way, way up

What’s the highest scoring baseball game you remember seeing, and what teams were playing? What’s your favorite stadium antics to celebrate a home run? What is your favorite photo, and why?

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61 thoughts on “Going, going, gone to Coors Field”

  2. Hi Mark, I don’t think I have ever been to a baseball game. But it sure looks like a lot of fun. I love the photo of your family, they looked so relaxed and really seem to be enjoying themselves!!!!!

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  3. I used to love baseball, and was a Yankee fan. Then they were moved out of NYC, and I didn’t like that, so I lost interest, until some of my cousins started playing. I think they are all minor league though–Tim Blandford & Cinn. Reds? Cardinals? It has a red bird in the logo. He’s retired now anyway. And Chris Swauger, but I can’t remember his team. He coaches high school now, after an injury shut him down. Keep hanging around me bro Mark. If you are in to NASCAR, the Green Brothers are also my cousins. Jeff, the biggest winner is losing his fight with cancer right now, but Chris still seems to think he’s a winner and a girl magnet. I have my own opinion about that but he’s bigger than I am. Can’t remember if the third one is Mike or Dave, but they have all retired so the question is moot. I was better than they were though, with the possible exception of Jeff.

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      • One of my grandsons went to his first NASCAR race last month–a birthday gift from Gina and his dad, so when I told him he had some cousins that were NASCAR drivers he was excited. Laurie is one of the twins Gina and Bill adopted from Romania, and has ADHD, and his latest thing is NASCAR, so when he heard about the Greens he wanted to know more. I brought up the FB page on them, and tried to prepare him about Jeff, but he wanted to see for himself. Big mistake on my part bro Mark. Laurie looked for a few seconds, then asked me to close it please. He is an exceptional young man, extremely intelligent, but with only one subject at a time.

        BTW, if you ever want to go to a UK game, I can probably swing a deal for you. A pass to the Blue Room at the very least, and maybe if the Gov’ner’s box is empty that night Bill might even let you have that. He’s the Chief of Staff now, and some perks go with the job. Poor guy, he HAS to go to every home game. Doncha feel sorry for him?

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      • You know of course that you will also have to come on a bit west to Owensboro for a meet and greet, I hope, bro Mark?

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  4. I liked this whole post and didn’t mind the prices, either. I guess it is what you do when you go out of town. We have great prices at the Indians’ games on some of the holiday weekends, since most people are off picnicking or enjoying family while we are splitting a bucket of KFC or something we have packed into a backpack. We buy the brews, pops, popcorn and sometimes I like a smoked sausage sandwich with onions, mustard, relish and pickles. I have to be careful not to spill on my Indian’s shirt. My brothers and Dad (with an ex or two) would head north to Detroit Tigers to see the Indians play for even less cost than in Cleveland. My Dad had the game on his “Bucket List” so that makes those photos even more precious, Mark.

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      • Thank you for this sentimental and kind response. Sometimes I tend to bring my parents up (annoyingly much.) I think you know I am not trying to make anyone fell bothered. Baseball games are fun for me, my sister in law and brothers once a year. Hey, I am not sure I told you but Skyler’s team won the city of Delaware 8- 10 year old championship! Last year, you may have seen *silence* or nothing mentioned about Sky’s baseball games. They NEVER won one game the whole summer and the year before only once. Hard to stay cheery st losing games for the players more than Nana. I kept saying “I see progress. . .” 🙂

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      • Way to go Skyler’s team for winning the championship! That’s a big year, and great improvement. And Sky, I read about your big catch in your grandma’s blog. Very impressive! Keep practicing hard, and you’ll be even better next year. 🙂

        Robin, you can never bring up your parents too much. We love to read about them, you know.

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      • Mark, this comment came from the “Vacation” post. I found it in my unsent replies.
        Beverly D’Angelo is great and I liked Christina in many different past roles. So, hope she did well this time, too. 🙂 I know you like Ohio and Michigan gals, as well as all kinds of connections you have made over the years.

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      • Thanks for your support of family in this well thought out comment. Nothing less than the best from you, Mark. My visiting day is tomorrow do will catch up.

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  5. I find it amusing when places that are not New York, label some food item as “New York” style. I guess it’s supposed to add some level of sophistication to the appeal, but after seeing the item, I always wonder what part of New York would possibly make it like that because it’s never anything I was ever familiar with. “New York” style pizza is the worst offender. It’s always only the same pizza the place ever made, only stretched out wider.

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  10. All I know is that the Orioles lose every single time I go to Camden Yards. Yet, I still feel like I have to prove them wrong and show up. Sorry, fellow O’s fans!

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  11. I have been to Coors twice during two family trips we made out that way in 96 and 97, back in the days of the Blake Street Bombers. The Rockies won both games by one run… 13-12 over the Braves, and 10-9 over the Rangers. The Rockies scored the winning run both times on a bases loaded walk to current manager Walt Weiss… not exactly a guy who got walked often with the sacks juiced (just 12 times in his career, per Baseball Reference). We sat in the Rockpile, that section above the batters eye in center field, for four bucks a seat. Back in those days, that was about the only way to see a Rockies game if you purchased seats the day of the game…. that section’s tix were sold two hours before gametime, first come, first served. I got a terrible sunburn at the second game that I still blame for my early baldness…

    And since you asked, the highest scoring game I ever attended was a 16-14 slugfest between the Padres and Cards back in 2001. The winning runs for the Redbirds scored on a throwing error by the Padres catcher on an attempted double steal which was aided by the fact that the batter (Bobby Bonilla) lost his bat while striking out and the third baseman had to bail from the bag to avoid getting clocked by it. The Padres protested for an interference call, but were denied.

    And I have only seen 10 runs in an inning twice, so it is a rare event indeed!

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    • I love your total recall, Bill. … No, I love the fact that you keep score every game you attend and keep the scorecards, and know how to Google Walt Weiss, who was a Met, too. 🙂 I’m glad we didn’t have to sit out in the Rock Pile in the beating sun this day, my friend. It was HOT.

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      • That’s pretty cool. I live about as far from an MLB park as you can get and would love to be able to go. It’s gotten pretty hard to follow on TV in the last few years.

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      • We live in a Triple-A city, and we go to a half-dozen or so Syracuse Chiefs games a season. They are the top minor-league affiliate for the Washington Nationals, and the ticket prices are very reasonable, Craig. We also get the Mets and Yankees games on the regional sports networks, being in the same state. Sorry to hear you have a hard time following it on TV.

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  14. Also a lifelong Mets fan, also originating from New York, and I remember the Mets winning the series when I was in elementary school!!! It was the thrill of my child’s heart. I loved Shea Stadium, the noise, the crowd, the enthusiasm 😃

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    • I didn’t know we had this very important link in common, Chess. Yes, Let’s Go Mets! I grew up on Long Island, driving to Shea with my folks and then my friends on the LIE, taking the train from Brooklyn while visiting my grandfather … Now the trip from Syracuse to Citi Field is every couple of years because of the expense and distance, but well what a sight that new joint is! This could be our season of bounce back to glory, Chess. ❤

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      • Oh my gosh Mark! I went to Hicksville High School, then moved later to Manhattan. Where did you grow up? And this is going to be the season the Mets win the series again, I have faith 😃

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      • OMG, I lived in Levittown through seventh grade (Division), then out to Stony Brook, and graduated from Ward Melville! So you went to Billy Joel’s high school. Ha! I swam at that Village Green pool between our two towns all the time, and went to Holy Family Church right between us, too.

        And our Mets are only one game out going into tonighjt’s game on EPN. Fingers crossed.

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  15. That is so neat that you got to take in a game in Denver Mark. 40,000 attendees! Wow! Amazing pictures – so clear and colorful – and not an empty seat to be seen, I thought that was odd until you mentioned the faith singer afterwards. Still, a faith singer would not draw like that here. Whew!

    I didn’t go to many ball games Mark, so I don’t have any answers to your questions. But I enjoyed your pictures very much.

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