I attended the 2008 Bakersfield Blaze Home Opener on Thursday night with a couple of buddies. It was also Thirsty Thursday promotional night, dollar beers through the 5th inning.
A charter member of the California League, the Bakersfield franchise is rich in baseball tradition. Known as the "Blaze" these days, and affiliated with the Texas Rangers, Bakersfield has also been the home of the "Badgers", "Indians", "Boosters", "Bears", "Outlaws", "Mariners and "Dodgers" over the past 53 years.
Pregame ceremonies included skydivers presenting the American Flag
A charter member of the California League, the Bakersfield franchise is rich in baseball tradition. Known as the "Blaze" these days, and affiliated with the Texas Rangers, Bakersfield has also been the home of the "Badgers", "Indians", "Boosters", "Bears", "Outlaws", "Mariners and "Dodgers" over the past 53 years.
Pregame ceremonies included skydivers presenting the American Flag
Close to 200 current and former major league players have sharpened their skills at Sam Lynn Ballpark, the home field of the Blaze. The 58 year-old facility has seen many grand events over the years. Cleveland Indian pitcher Don Mossi was married at home plate, Hall-of-Fame pitcher Don Drysdale began his professional career as a nervous 17 year-old in 1954, six National League Rookies-of-the-Year (Rick Sutcliffe, Eric Karros, Mike Piazza, Rual Mondesi, Hideo Nomo, Todd Hollandsworth) donned Bakersfield uniforms along their paths to glory
Despite the great players who have passed through Bakersfield, Sam Lynn Ballpark is probably best remembered for being built backwards (the sun sets in the hitters eyes) and the shallow 354 foot centerfield, perhaps the shallowest in professional baseball.This is the reason for such a tall outfield fence.
1 comment:
Looks like fun! The kids love it out there - we don't go often enough. (I prefer Chavez Ravine to Sam Lynn, personally!)
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