There Used to be a Ballpark

 
And there used to be a ballpark
Where the field was warm and green.
And the people played their crazy game
With a joy I'd never seen.
And the air was such a wonder
From the hot-dogs and the beer.
Yes, there used to be a ballpark right here.

And there used to be rock candy,
And a great big 4th of July
With the fireworks exploding
All across the summer sky.
And the people watched in wonder
How they'd laugh and how they'd cheer!
And there used to be a ballpark right here.

Now the children try to find it,
And they can't believe their eyes
'Cause the old team just isn't playing,
And the new team hardly tries.
And the sky has got so cloudy
When it used to be so clear,
And the summer went so quickly this year.
Yes, there used to be a ballpark right here.

Had to meet my friend Kevin today. He was driving from Myrtle Beach to Gulf Shores, so we met downtown at Tuner Field. While the recently refurbished Georgia State Football Stadium looks good, the parking lot that used to be Atlanta Stadium looks worse than ever. Most of the parking lots are locked up. A couple of nefarious looking vehicles were backed up against the old stadium wall, in the shade. I snapped a few pictures then drove up the hill to a safer spot to wait on Kevin. The old Blu Lot had chunks of concrete to avoid. At least the 22 year old Olympic Cauldron stills looks good.

While construction on the new GSU baseball stadium has yet to begin (on the footprint of old Atlanta Stadium) there was working being done on Ralph David Abernathy Jr Blvd (reducing it from four lanes to two?). There was also construction being done in the southwest corner of the parking lot.

Paw Sox at Stripers

With the threat of storms in the area, I headed out to CoolRay Field slightly earlier than usual today. Turned out to be a delightful afternoon and evening, with a gentle breeze blowing through the ballpark.

Two hours later a decent line had gathered, including number 24

- Johnny, his sidekick Old Hugh in his ever present orange shirt,

with several grandkids in blue.

Tonight's prize: a bobblehead of Braves all star pitcher Mike Foltynewicz.

I easily scored three bobbles, and could've gotten more.

They're not selling, so I might I have to offer them in trade.

 Had nice seats in the shade near the first base dugout.

Former Brave Brandon Phillips patrolled second base for Pawtuckett,

though he rarely hustled. His average hovered near .206.

Not a huge Saturday night crowd. In addition to Johnny and Hugh,

I got to see LJ, Bobby, Alan's parents, Stripers GM North Johnson, Ginger and Scott Hales, Sandy, the Maldinado family, James Cleary, and a few other bobblehead regulars. 

 Lots of Red Sox fans in the house. More on that tomorrow.

With phenom Austin Riley called up to play third base,

Rio Ruiz has been relegated to right field duty.

But for the second time this week Ruiz hit a go-ahead home run. 

Pawtuckett was able to tie the game,

but the Stripers scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.

This past week the Savannah Bananas, a college summer team, made headlines by playing a game in kilts.

Top Ten QB's of the 90's

The NFL Network’s Top Ten Quarterbacks of the 1990’s. Dates of Super Bowl appearances are noted.

 

Best of the Rest: Jeff Blake, Mark Brunel, Chris Chandler 1999L, Doug Flutie, Jeff Garcia, Jim Harbaugh, Jeff Hostetler, Erik Kramer, Rick Mirer (?), Scott Mitchell, Neil O’Donnell 1996L, Mark Rypien 1992W, Kordell Stewart, Vinny Testaverde, Kurt Warner 2000W. Several of these picks are sketchy at best. Why not another of the Falcons’ QB’s?

 

10. Randall Cunningham: Eagles, Vikings, Cowboys. Much better than number nine.

9. Jeff George: Colts, Falcons, Vikings, Raiders, Redskins.

8. Drew Bledsoe: Patriots, Bills 1997L

7. Warren Moon: CFL, Oilers, Seahawks. Add in his yards from the Canadian league, and he threw for more yards than anyone. Made him a shoo in for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But never won the Super Bowl.

6. Jim Kelly: Houston (USFL), Bills 1991L 1992L 1993L 1994L. Never won a Super Bowl. First played in the rival USFL, but still made the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

5. Dan Marino: Dolphins. Never won a Super Bowl. Passed for a lot of yards. But still made the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

4. Steve Young: Los Angeles (USFL), Buccaneers, 49ers 1995W. Started off in the rival USFL but still made the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

3. Troy Aikman: Cowboys 1993W 1994W 1996W. Won three Super Bowls with a loaded team stocked with the yield from the Herschel Walker trade.

2. John Elway: Broncos 1990L 1998W 1999W

1. Brett Farve: Falcons, Packers, Vikings, Jets 1997W 1998L.

Destin

Sunday: since Anna had homework to turn in we made breakfast tacos-eggs, bacon, Mexican sausage after a trip to Whole Foods. Didn't turn on the TV.

Monday we stayed on the beach most of the day, after grits, eggs, bacon, and toast for breakfast. M came and went to and from the beach, borrowing my flip flops. Water was calm. Sunny most of the day. We could see clouds out in the Gulf, also to the east and west. Clouds to the north as well. But we had sun. Ceil spend a long time out in the water. I joined her, but accidentally left my cap in my chair. Got plenty of sun on my face. Ceil went back to the condo. She’s taking an on-line art class this summer and she did Book a Million and Publix. M and A got flip flops at Old Navy. Also stopped by Target. Got back late so I didn’t pull out my laptop. Did see some of the Home Run Derby and Celebrity All Star Game.

 

Same breakfast on Tuesday morning, then out to the beach. Most of the day we sat out there reading. More of a breeze, and the waves were stronger, but Ceil and I stayed out in the water for a while. I finished two short books, one by John Maxwell and one by Andy Stanley. Read three quarters of Pete Van Weiren’s book “Of Mikes and Men.” Stayed out on the beach until after 5 pm. Anna and Matthew went to Whole Foods for chicken and fish, and we had tacos. Drove over to Borders Books, and later Whole Foods for peaches. Came back and ate ice cream and watched the end of the all star game.

Long day on Wednesday. Woke up at 5:30 and set out on my two hour drive west to Gulf Shores. Traffic wasn’t bad and most of the scenery was nice. A killer putt putt course… (https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/19405 ) the oldest surviving Goofy Golf course in the country – 60 years old in West Pensacola.

The Roadkill Café in Elberta. An amusement park built and run by Indians just outside of Gulf Shores. 

And Kitty’s Kafe in Gulf Shores, where I ate breakfast with my former coworker. We both had an omelet and French toast. A good visit, which included the short ride over to their new house about a mile away. A worthwhile morning. My first trip heading west from Destin, so I was able to see all the boats headed out and back to sea from the big bridge.

 

Got back around noon and joined C and A out on the beach. Another sunny day with a gentle breeze. In my haste I had forgotten book number four, so when I finished the Pete Van Weiren book I took a nap. We came in a little early, got cleaned up, and fought traffic east past Silver Sands to Seaside. Boy is there gridlock on 30A. Everyone was hungry but no one wanted to decide where to go. Ceil didn’t want to go to Pizza by the Sea, a place we’d been to several times before. Instead we stopped at The Hub and ate at Mile Marker Five, a burger joint. Decent food but the place was full of young families. We could’ve had a nice quiet dinner at Outback. Traffic wasn’t quite as bad on the way home. Of course we stopped by Publix on the way home.

Thursday: long day on the beach. Anna and I went out to the beach around 10:30 am. Ceil went to Silver Sands and brought back Chipotle for M and Anna. M came out to read. He seems intent on getting a sunburn. Anna went in around three, Matthew at four, and Ceil and I got back at five.

Thursday night we got back from Bonefish in time to see the fireworks in the bay.

 

I read 150 pages of 56, a book about DiMaggio’s streak. Lots of info about the Yankees. Rizzuto was a rookie that year who looked up to Joe. Lou Gehrig died that year. Lots on Joe and his wife at the time, the actress Dorothy. Lots on his family back in San Francisco. His parents weren’t citizens, and FDR was facing war with Italy and Germany. Ballplayers like Hank Greenberg were being called into the service.

 

I remember cutting my arm on my beloved Tonka truck when I was five, then having to watch while they stitched it up.

 

The Midsummer Classic

Four Braves made this year's all-star team. They all had to wear the ugly cap, but at least Freddie had the good sense to not wear the ugly socks.

Folty pitched (above). Last week the Pirates wore some nice Negro League throwback uniforms.

 My fantasy camp buddy Jimmy Piersall slides home.

Brad's Anniversary

In late June we celebrated Brad's 30th anniversary. I wrote this speech but chickened out of giving it during his ceremony. Instead I slipped a copy of the speech into the cake box he took home, where his whole family got to read it. I also taped this video of Brad talking about his career while returning to work after his anniversary lunch.

 

The speech: Brad has done many different things at Ryerson, starting off as a second shift truck loader and working his way up the ladder ever since. But one thing Brad hasn't done at Ryerson: he doesn't have a nickname.

 

I started about the same time as Brad but hardly knew him for about twenty years. Eventually they put us in desks facing each other. When you're looking at someone all day you get to know them pretty good. 

 

In my own mind I used to think I was a pretty good employee. Hard-working, helpful. Knowledgeable about the system and stuff. Well maybe I used to be. Go ahead and laugh. But I can't hold a candle to Brad. He can do all these downloads and pivot tables and spreadsheets, and figure out things light years faster than I can. Compared to Brad I am a slouch.

 

Who wouldn't want to be like Brad? Loves God, loves his family. Fixes his own cars. That's his tan Suburban in the parking lot with the mag wheels. Likes to go fishing. Cuts his son's hair. Exercises every day, rain or shine. Runs marathons. You might not know it from looking at him, but he plays basketball with his sons. Church softball. Eats chicken nachos. Country buffets. Has a bowl of ice cream every night. Heck he's got a freezer full of ice cream. If he ran for office I would vote for him, but he's too honest to be a politician.

 

When his father passed away Brad rented a brand new Suburban and drove the casket back to Missouri for the funeral. His dad always drove fast, so in his father's memory Brad drove 90 MPH the entire way.

 

The bad news: Brad plans on retiring early. No 40th anniversary for him. He's 8 years younger than me but he will probably retire before me. Not sure what I'll do without him here to help out. He helps everyone. Who stops to help people on the side of the road with broken down cars? He's an actual Good Samaritan!

 

Maybe that should be Brad's nickname.

 

Brad is always in a good mood. His bad moods are better than my good moods. Everyone likes Brad. One day I was having a bad day and I snapped at Brad. No one could believe it. Poor Steve Garrett had to pull me aside and chew me out - something I deserved. Steve looked at me like I was crazy. How could anyone get mad at Brad?

 

Here's all what Brad has done in his 30 years...

1. 2nd shift: load and unload shuttles

2. Bulk Depot (over at what's now the tube laser building)

3. Will Call Counter (to get on first shift)......packaged 60-100 UPS shipments a day.

4. Packed for plate saw - it ran 3 shifts cutting close tolerance orders

5. Pulled bar / pulled sheet

6. CAD Drawings

7. Local quality

8. Corporate quality ( ISO audits )

9. Inside sales for NABI Bus (worked at RMP, North Berkeley, and out here at the second floor sales office).

10. Program Group - Caterpillar

11. EZGo sales team

Vacation Pictures

Anna is helping commemorate the vacation in photos.

 In Whole Foods

 Laura posted the family photo from her wedding.

Our team was featured on the corporate website,

though none of our names were mentioned.

Front L-R: Angie, Brad, and Rachel.

Rear: me, Jonathan, Rodney, and Alex.

Norman family photo.

Front L-R: Becky, Charles, Annie, David's wife Beth, Catherine.

Back: Willis, Spencer's wife Mattea, Spencer, Joel, and David.

 Will & MC's new apartment.

Peachtree Pictures

More photos from the Peachtree Road Race.

A good picture of Carol and Holly Smith.

 Andrea Irwin Nickell has become a beast.

 Coworker Rachel just had to accessorize.

Co-worker Brad was smiling as usual.

Didn't have to stop for water because he brought his own.

Was disappointed to run two minutes slower than last year...
...only 48 minutes.

Coworker Steve, a Peachtree veteran (27 years?),

beat last year's time by two minutes.

This was coworker Shane's first Peachtree, and he ran it alone.

Said he was looking forward to doing it again.

Pretty sure this photo was taken right after he sprinted to the photo bridge,

only to discover he still had almost a half mile to go.

Note his cool wedding band.

Former coworker Phil runs every year.

I goofed off this year and let him beat me.

Mr. Gadget Danny Downing: patriotic compression socks. American flag singlet. Sports watch. The latest in wireless headphones. And the 2018 lime green sweatbands handed out by the Shepherd Spinal Center.

Editorial comment: Coworker Steve used to run the Peachtree with headphones, but had discovered how delightful the experience is to run without them - instead experiencing all the sounds the come along with the race...the cheers, the music, etc.