Baseball Memories

I love blogs based on other blogs.

Shoo recently wrote about how he wants a new ballpark in Springfield (not really sure why). This got me thinking of the old stadium in Springfield I used to visit with my dad to watch minor league games. We would sit in too-cold weather, hoping to catch a fly ball in our TV 20/Dr. Pepper glove, eating crappy concession food. Those were some of the most vivid memories I own.

Good Old Lanphier Park.

I still sometimes come across the old Springfield Cardinals baseball cards in my stuff and wonder to myself, "Wow... who the heck was THAT guy? and what's with that mustache??"

Man, what a GREAT Stadium. The outfield wall was still wooden, and full of signage, so any player reaching for a deep fly ball was in for a hard landing. There were train tracks in the outfield on the other side of the fence, and I remember when the train would pass by during the games, all my brother and I wished for was for one of the players to hit a dinger right into the train. Don't think it ever happenned.

With the old rickety field lights, the metal bleachers and the inadequate restrooms and concession stands, I can't imagine a more charming and memorable place to hold a minor league game.

This webpage I linked is some random dude who spends his free time in the summer reviewing baseball stadiums. The only thing saving him is that he chose PNC Park in Pittsburgh,PA as his front page image. I surfed around for a while looking for reviews of the ballparks I've been to, and I pretty much disagree with every review I read.

He took alot of places that are near and dear to my heart, and pretty much tore them a new one.

However, I give this guy props for his dedication to his web project. It's a pretty good site, with a good search method to find pretty much any ballpark in the country. He updates the site with new ballparks every season.

On first glance, when I read his review of Lanphier Park, I was hurt. I thought to myself, "This guy clearly hasn't been to old Damaschke Field in Oneonta, NY, because it's WAY crappier than Lamphier, but it's still one of the best old-school minor league parks I've ever visited."

Well, apparently I spoke too soon, because indeed, there is a review of Damaschke on his site. Man, brings back memories.

I am dissapointed with his reviews, since he speaks of Damaschke as "minor league baseball at its purest," yet, he describes Lanphier Park as "really not suitable for anything higher than an independent league" and projects that " it's doubtful it will ever host professional baseball again of any level. "

This is my official blog of disagreement with Brian Merzbach. If Damaschke is pure minor league baseball, then so is Lanphier, and even MORE so. The feel of a ballpark smack in the middle of a city going about it's business is one of the most important elements of the minor leagues, to me. Right down to the neighborhood house-tops visible past the outfield wall, the train passing by, and the really bad parking situation.

I would go as far to say that Lanphier Park is a BETTER baseball experience than Damaschke. Just because Oneonta, NY is minutes away from the birthplace of baseball doesn't make it any more of a magical experience for real baseball fans. In fact, I think the location of Damaschke is an unfair advantage. Sure it's a beautiful countryside, and in close proximity to the Baseball Hall of Fame & Doubleday Field, but they don't even serve BEER there for God's sake!

Their seating capacity is about equivalent to a high school practice field, the player's clubhouse is as big as a garden shed, the dugouts look like bunkers, and did I mention they don't serve beer?

So, to make a long story short... If you are a fan of baseball parks, you should visit this site, because it sparks these sort of debates about ballparks that some of us have grown up with.

I am going to email this guy and request a comment section so we can defend the parks where we grew up, where we worked, and where we made some real baseball memories.

Anyone with me?