Pirates in Pittsburgh....

On our National League docket this year was a trip to Pittsburgh to play against the Pirates. We always say it is a shame the team isn't playing better as the ballpark has a terrific view back into the city and over the Ohio River.

The park itself has a beautiful layout and is a great baseball field. From the different views, to the club seats, to the field dimensions, to the eateries, this park has a lot to offer its fans. It's too bad that over recent history the team has suffered through some tough times. Their last World Series appearance was in 1979. Names like Bill Mazeroski, Willie Stargell, and Roberto Clemente are just some of the storied names on the Pirates roster to have played over the years.

Forbes Field was the original home of the Pirates and was demolished in 1971. Over this past summer, the Heinz Museum in Pittsburgh featured an exhibit with artifacts from the old ballpark. Some facts and figures are located on the web regarding this original stadium.

Time does march on...and there is still time left in this season for more pics and info...For now, here is a look at some of the TV side of PNC Park....

Catching Up......

Sorry for the long delay, but this season has been one for the books... As we move into the last two months, it has flown by with so many developments on and off the field....

So to sort of re-group, let me take you back to a couple of our interleague battles that took place in two very different environments - Wrigley Field in Chicago and PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

First to Wrigley...If you haven't been here, it is as much a party as it is a ballgame. The park is surrounded by many outstanding watering holes for adults creating a festival type atmosphere on a game day. But it does have quite the history which you can check out here....

So here are some of the pics from our weekend, and here are some other pics and history as well...

PNC Park is next.....

More Intrepid....

Here is the final installment of the Intrepid Museum from New York.....We are now so used to the digital displays that we see everyday that this older technology really stands out. It is truly an informative and outstanding museum in the greater New York City area. If you are in the neighborhood, be sure and stop by to visit this tribute to the men and women who dedicated their lives to our country.

More travels of the season coming up.....

Clear The Flight Deck....

With a sunny day and a full deck of planes, it made for great picture taking at the Intrepid Museum. The list of planes was impressive feature the SR-71 Blackbird, one of America's premiere reconnaissance planes. There was also selection of Russian jets, assorted helicopters, and other jets from different periods.

You can literally walk from one end of the deck to the other to see these assorted aircraft. It is a diverse collection - indeed.

There is one more set of photos coming that show the inside of the carrier and some of the devices that they used back in the day. The technology has changed so much over the years that to see the technology then and knowing what has evolved is short of amazing.

Takin' Off....

From the history department......

Here are some shots from the Intrepid museum in New York of the world famous Concord jet aircraft that has been retired from passenger service. The stories of its speed across the Atlantic are legendary.

Here in New York, they have placed it on the pier right next to the Intrepid. You have the opportunity to walk through it and see the narrowness of the fuselage. There is also a chance to peek inside the cockpit and view the instrumentation of the aircraft.

The plane itself has a very rich history. Since it has been retired, folks have built models of the aircraft for display. It is one of those planes that will live on in history for the ages because of its supersonic capability.

Coming next...more planes from the Intrepid....

Opener in the Bronx......

The opener in the Bronx was quite the spectacle. Beginning early in the morning, the whir of helicopter blades was unmistakable as news crews prowled along the Grand Concourse area of the Bronx around the new Yankee Stadium.

For the home television folks from the YES network, it marked a couple of years of preparation for the first telecast from the Yankees new home. For those of us on the visitor side, it was more like weeks of conversing about the various issues we may confront upon our arrival.

Once we really were involved at the site, the local crew really helped in setting up our cameras inside the ballyard. Finding the right connections, and delivering both audio and video signals were the main focus of the day. To their credit, just about everything worked. We were never able to receive the data for the pitch speeds from the ballpark. Recent conversations with Yankee folks have lead to the same result - they are still unable to retrieve a signal.

We did not have much time to really see much of the hoopla of the opener - but the Tribe came out on top - and that made the opener in New Yankee Stadium good for us!

Opening Daze.....

It has been a whirlwind of a month as we have gotten the 2009 baseball campaign underway. Our group went through 3 opening days - Texas, Cleveland, and New York. The weather, which was great in all 3 openings, can be a factor. The worst was a cold snap in Arlington and our Texas friends were forced into heavy overcoats for our setup that started at 7 AM....but they survived and actually accused us Clevelanders of bringing in the cold weather...cold in Cleveland? Brisk maybe, but not cold to us natives!

From the last out in Goodyear to the latest weekend here at Progressive Field, the time has flown....and we have moved into the season without any delays. Upcoming will be some pics of the new Yankee Stadium as well as the Intrepid - the aircraft carrier museum docked on the Hudson. New York is always a grand place to visit - oh and beat up on the Yankees!

But for before this season is too far along, here is a question, what will be the top 10 stories this year? For a starter, check out this link to MLB.com's thoughts... look at their thoughts , but then make up your own - sort of like new year's resolutions - and see what happens at the end of the season.....

In the meantime, a little baseball humor never hurts - and here truly are some humorous thoughts on the boys of summer.......

When they start the game, they don't yell, "Work ball." They say, "Play ball."

Willie Stargell, 1981

I managed a team that was so bad we considered a 2-0 count on the batter a rally.

Rich Donnelly, minor league manager

Finish last in your league and they call you Idiot. Finish last in medical school and they call you Doctor.

Abe Lemons

There have been only two geniuses in the world. Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare.

Tallulah Bankhead

I could never play in New York. The first time I came into a game there, I got into the bullpen car and they told me to lock the doors.

Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles