Brockton

On Leaving with Hint of Nostalgia

Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Manchester, CT

Outside the Game: 
It was another stupid, stressful day at work before the artificial long weekend. I stopped working at 6:30 PM to pack, pick a hotel two-thirds of the way there, and got ready to go.

I headed out around 7:30 PM, and I had an okay drive out, although construction held me up at various points, and I lost the satellite radio for a stretch. But at least I wasn't on 95.

I pulled into my motel at around 10 PM. One Indian gentleman was sitting around waiting for me and checked me in with a real old-school motel key. I drove to my room and dragged all my stuff inside. I bought a soda and unpacked, prepared for tomorrow, and hit the sack.

The Accommodations:

Best Stay Inn, Manchester

The Best Stay Inn was, as mentioned, and old-school motel. It was clearly a family-run affair, and while frayed at the edges, it was still well-maintained.

The door opened into the main room, with a desk (filled with local attraction brochures), dresser and TV on one side, a little alcove with the wall AC units, and the bed and dressers on the other wall. On the wall to the outside were two over-stuffed chairs and a small table. The bathroom was on the far wall, with a vanity, toilet, and leaky tub shower.

It was very nostalgic, and the only real problem was that there were no outlets anywhere near the bed, leaving my phone to recharge on the desk and make me really face how addicted I had become to that thing.

On Inspiration

Campanelli Stadium, 2025

Thursday, June 19, 2025
Trois-Rivieres Aigles vs. Brockton Rox
Campanelli Stadium
Frontier League
Brockton, MA
7:00 PM 

Outside the Game:
I slept poorly, but that was my back's fault and not the hotel's. I was up early and showered and packed up before a nap. Check-out involved dropping my key in the appropriate box by the office and going back to my car. A middle-aged Indian man was doing the housekeeping, which reinforced that it was a family business.

There was a local breakfast place, but it was nearly twenty minutes out of my way, so I went to a McDonald's right by the motel, I was pleasantly surprised when my McMuffins were actually made with the slightest of care. It makes all the difference.

I was on the road by around 10:45 AM, and the last leg of the drive, as was the first, was hampered by nearly constant construction. But at least I wasn't on 95.

Topaz Internment Camp

I stopped in at the Fuller Craft Museum, a local arts museum that was built in this modernist building in the 60s. It was a ton more than what I was expecting. A lot of artsy stuff goes over my head, but I can at least appreciate the skill of construction with craft items. There was one wall hanging called Topaz Internment Camp that hypnotized me. The artists mother had been a teacher at one of the Japanese Internment camps, and she had constructed a map of the facility made from old kimonos, and striped with Kintsugi to symbolize putting their lives together after the camps. I seriously might buy it. I've looked up the artist and everything.

The building is a gem regardless of the art, and I would have enjoyed their stylized patio by the lake a lot more if it wasn't a billion degrees out with 99% humidity. I hit the gift shop on the way out, buying a wood burl bowl and a small piece from artists who makes lacquered bronze.

With some time to kill still before check-in, I headed over to a local antiques store to get that part of the trip out of the way. I wandered around, looking into each overstuffed room. As is tradition, I ended up picking up a lot of little things, including a Field of Dreams baseball and a piece of china made and labelled from Occupied Japan. I talked with the owners for a bit. One of them went to fantasy camp for the Red Sox, so we talked baseball before I left back out into the brutal mid-June weather.

I stopped at a Wendy's for lunch before heading to the hotel at check in. I was greeted by a heavily tatted receptionist who checked me in without no problems. I dragged all my stuff to my room and did a little unpacking before napping like the dead.

I woke up and grabbed my bag and camera for the a short, odd drive to the ballpark. I didn't know where to park, so I parked at an adjacent lot, and there was no one to ask about it anywhere. I walked around and took my pictures and found the statue of Rocky Marciano at the football field next door (Brockton is self-titled the "City of Champions" because it spawned Marciano and Marvin Haggler [who doesn't have a statue for some reason]) before heading back to find a small group of people waiting by the entrance.

Eventually, the team store opened, and I was able to confirm that I was parked legally, as well as get a logo ball, before exiting to find the ticket booth opened with a small line. I bought my ticket, and climbed the mountainous step inside.

The game was over just shy of 10 PM, and it was a short drive back to the hotel, elongated by stopping to fill up my tank. I bought a Gatorade, went up to my room to finish my scorecard, pack up, and hit the sack.

The Stadium & Fans: 

Home plate to center field, Campanelli Stadium

Campanelli Stadium was the local team's home stadium when they were a collegiate team, and after that team folded and the erstwhile "Knockouts" took their name and their field.

It is a weird one, at that. The park is set with the standard promenade, but it is at the top of a built-up stand area, and you need to climb a steep flight of stairs (or use the elevator) to get up to it from the entrance. The promenade only runs from outfield to outfield and not around the whole park. The seating bowl runs from third base, around to right field. The left field area is a rentable picnic area. The second level of press and luxury boxes only rises around the periphery of home plate.

The smallish by modern standards scoreboard and video board are in left-center field. There are two retired numbers in dead center. There was a second entrance by the first-base side that was closed off. It led over to the high school, where I'm told the main parking lot is for bigger games, but not a Thursday night game in June.

The boxing kangaroo mascot KO was around for most of the game, schmoozing with fans and probably greatly enjoying the hot, humid weather in the giant felt suit. The between-inning events were minor-league standards except for the "Brockton Bread Race," a mascot race of various bread products. The sparse crowd was at least paying attention to the game.

At the Game with Oogie:

Cafeteria vibes

I entered the gates with a small group, and was soon quickly done with my tasks of taking photos in the small park. Having hit the team store outside, I made my way to the concession stand to grab a cheap Powerade and hot dog. Not quite full and wanting to finally get the fad over with, I went to the "walking taco" stand and purchased a Tostitos one. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I was still disappointed. It was... okay, I guess. It would have been a way bigger hit with me when I was twelve.

A taco while walking. Science has gone too far.

I saw the guitars who played all the national anthems practicing as I came in and was walking around. The grounds crew were goofing around when they saw me taking pictures, and kept mugging for the camera until I took a shot of them.

I purchased another Powerade and a pretzel and went to my seat to find I was in a row that didn't exist. A little more exploring found they took my desire to be in the shade quite seriously and put me in the handicapped row on the promenade, but I just sat in the last row behind home plate, still very much in the shade.

There was a sparse crowd, but no one immediately near me. The guys behind me in the handicapped row were bitching about work most of the game.

The Game: 

First pitch, Aigles vs. Rox

The Trois-Rivieres Aigles and the Brockton Rox faced off in this bi-country contests, and our friends from up north had it handily.

The Aigles went in order in the first, however, while Brockton stranded a one-out double. Trois-Rivieres got going in the second, getting two runs off a double and two singles for an early 2-1 lead. The Rox answered with a solo homer in their half to close it to 2-1. In the top of the third, the Aigles kept going with a bloop and a blast to extend their lead to 4-1, while Brockton stranded a single.

Trois-Rivieres got back on the bike in the fourth, with a hit batsman and a blast, and then a walk and a double bringing home three more, for a 7-1 lead. The Rox got a single to third and home with a sacrifice fly to close it to 7-2 in their half. The Aigles went in order for a second time in the fifth, while Brockton stranded a double. Trois-Rivieres got two lighting-assisted runs with a walk, a "single," and a "double" (see below) that made it 9-2. The Rox went in order.

In the top of the seventh, the Aigles could only manage a single, while Brockton stranded two singles. Trois-Rivieres went in order again in the eighth, while the Rox got two back on a walk, a double, and a "single" lost in the lights, closing the gap to 9-4. The Agiles tacked on two more in the ninth, with a single, error, and hit batsman starting the inning, and a couple of fielder’s choices bringing in the runs. Brockton tried to rally with two outs and a double and a walk, but a dribbler to the pitcher ended it up at 12-4 loss.

The Scorecard:

Trois-Rivieres Aigles vs. Brockton Rox, 06/19/25. Aigles won, 12-4.

I was back to the BBWAA Scorebook and the erasable pens due to the lack of a home scorecard.

There was tons noteworthy, mostly because of the inadequate lights that led to three misplays (two by the home team) in the later innings. In the top of the sixth, when the lights just turned on, there were back-to-back plays where a single and double were just due to the outfielders not being able to find the ball in the lights, which were only pointed down and seemed to help the ball get lost when it rose above them. The same happened in the bottom of the eighth to the visitors.

In the top of the ninth, there was a vicious single that bounced off the pitcher (who was okay). And the McDonald's strike out batter finally got got in the top of the seventh.

The Accommodations:

Country Inn & Suites, Brockton

The Country Inn & Suites in Brockton was a contentious choice. There were several over-priced boutique hotels on an area of town, but for the just above average hotels, there was a great deal of review wars going on, and I eventually couldn't be bothered and booked this place.

The room was exactly what I expected. It had a slightly above-its-aspirations bathroom and a "contemporary" bedroom, with a king bed and night tables on one side and a dresser, TV, desk, and refrigerator on the other.

It was pretty much what I was looking for, and reviews aside, there was no dope smoking or racist front desk people that I ran into.

On Driving

Friday, June 20, 2025
Clifton, NJ

Outside the Game: 
I was up early and down at breakfast just as the buffet was opening. It was quite a nice spread as hotel breakfasts go, and the woman in charge clearly took pride in the proceedings, hovering nearby and always asking if you needed anything.

I ate and went back to the room for a traditional nap before getting up and finishing my packing. I was out on the road a little after 10 AM, and as soon as I got on the highway, the lens fell out of my glasses.

Driving with one eye closed, I made it out to the turnpike and pulled off at a rest area, finding that the screw was gone from the glasses, so I retrieved my game glasses from the trunk and completed the drive with them.

There were a lot of construction issues that slowed me down, but at least I wasn't on 95. It took about 4.5 hours to get home, and I neglected to stop for the duration. I pulled into my garage, grabbed all my stuff, and I had a late afternoon of laundry, re-arranging my china cabinet, and fixing my glasses.

The Accommodations:
Clifton, sweet Clifton

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

Stand-Alone Trip

Schaumburg

On the Sun, Planes, and Making Friends

Wintrust Field, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Windy City Thunderbolts vs. Schaumburg Boomers
Wintrust Field
Frontier League
Schaumburg, IL
11:00 AM

Outside the Game: 
I was up early again and down as soon as it opened for a much nicer hotel breakfast. I then was just as quickly back to my room to pack up, book my hotel as close as possible to the early game tomorrow, and nap until I had to leave for the early game today.

After checking out at just after 10 AM, it was an incredibly short drive to the stadium, and their parking lot was even free. I bought my ticket, hit their team store, and then walked around to take my outside pictures and drop off everything at the car before heading back to the entrance to get in right as the gates opened.

With an unoccupied afternoon ahead of me after the game, I went to the Cosley Zoo, a small enterprise nearby. It was originally a one-man operation that he dragged along to official accreditation, and it was a lovely little farm zoo that was completely re-doing their duck pond during my visit.

New friend

It was mostly petting-zoo level of animals, and there was one goat that looked at me with tired, tired eyes. I scratched her behind her ears, and based on the noises, I'm pretty sure I got some years taken off of purgatory for it. A zookeeper said she was the mom for all the baby goats that were bleating all over the place, and it being just after Mother's Day, I figure she deserved some special attention. I scratched her ears until she eventually wandered away. I also saw a raccoon that seemed to be having an anxiety attack, and I felt very, very close affinity to that animal.

Over the top, boys.

After seeing my fill and inevitably hitting the gift shop, I drove over to another nearby museum for the First Division of the US Army. It was another well-done affair, talking about history of the division's engagements through the years on one side of the building, and on the other, talking about the various missions and uses in more modern times. They had a giant tank park outside (along with a Huey attack helicopter, for some reason), as well as an interactive trail exhibit on D-Day that dragged you through the sand and up the heights to learn about the events of the invasion.

There was supposedly a French restaurant attached to the museum, but it was definitively closed, so I started my drive out to Indiana, hitting real, annoying traffic for the first time on the trip. I didn't have anyplace to be, but I was hangry, which did not help.

I eventually made it to my hotel outside of Gary and checked in. After getting situated, I took the advice of the hotel clerk and walked to the brewery next door for dinner, having a beer and burger, and then indulging in a giant fudge brownie cooked and served in a skillet, as the sun set on another day.

I waddled back to the hotel, washed up, and settled in for the night, catching up on YouTube and organizing my paperwork for the trip.

The Stadium & Fans:

Home plate to center field, Wintrust Field

Wintrust Field was largely cut from the same template as all these indie parks I was visiting this week, with its own little difference. There were stairs up to all but the main entrance, and the luxury boxes had their own entrance on the third-base side. There was a main promenade around the top of the seating bowl that extended from first to third with a picnic berm at each end, but it did not go all the way around the park.

A second level of press and luxury boxes ran on top the facility from about first to third, with championship banners on the press box facade. A kids zone and corporate picnic area were in left field, and a small special seating area in right, with the main video board rising majestically up from left-center.

Misunderstood hydrofluorocarbons

The place was packed for another education day early start. Coop, the boomer owl, was the mascot de jure, and again the between-inning events were stuffed with kids and teachers from the various schools. They also has an aerosol can mascot race, sponsored by the local aerosol can manufacturers' conglomerate, pushing the message of how "misunderstood" they were. Don't ever change, Midwest.

Also, I'm pretty sure that the person who bought the team named it such just so he could get the chant "Let's go, Boomers!" screamed at him by succeeding generations of people who do not like his generation, nor would ever chant that in any other circumstance.

At the Game with Oogie:

"Breakfast"

I went around with my normal business of taking a lap and pictures before scaring up a brunchfast of a hotdog and souvenir soda. (I had also been mistaken for press about three times this day.) The ticket guy had given me a seat smack dab in the sun, so I tried my previous tactic of just sitting in the last row of the last area in the shade, but I was bounced by a school group, so for the first couple of innings, I was on the railing on the shaded promenade. 

A guy who worked at the park was talking to me about my scoring while I was up there, and he explained the infrequent--but hardly ignorable--small planes flying low over the park were landing at the regional airport just past the outfield walls. 

During the late innings, the school groups started to leave, so I absconded to an unclaimed seat in the shade to give my back a rest.

The Game: 

First pitch, Thunderbolts vs. Boomers

This early-day contest between the Windy City Thunderbolts and the Schaumburg Boomers was the first blow-out I had so far this trip, but at least the home fans went home happy.

Windy City went in order in the first, but the Boomers just started scoring. A walk, two singles, and another walk, two singles, wild pitch, and sacrifice fly staked them to an early 5-0 lead. The Thunderbolts went in order again in the second, and Schaumburg, perhaps tired, did as well. Windy City got their first hit in the top of the third (though it was almost a nifty play), while the Boomers kept scoring with a walk, a balk, and three singles, plating two more runs, making it 7-0.

The Thunderbolts finally got on the board in the fourth, with three singles and a passed ball getting across two, making it 7-2. Schaumburg took those runs back with a hit batsman and a homer, stretching the lead back out to 9-2. Windy City went in order in the fifth, and the Boomers only had a leadoff walk to show for their half. The Thunderbolts got back on the board in the sixth, stringing some singles and a throwing error into a run, closing it slightly to 9-3. Schaumburg got that back and more in their half, with three walks, a passed ball, and two singles turning into three more runs to leave it 11-3.

Windy City went in order in the seventh, while the Boomers snuck another one across with a walk, single, and sacrifice fly, to make it 12-3. The Thunderbolts sat down in order again in the eighth, while Schaumburg piled more on with two singles and a three-run homer, to blow it out to 15-3. Windy City, perhaps just wanting to go home, went in order yet again in the ninth, leaving it 15-3 final. 

The Scorecard:

Windy City Thundbolts vs. Schaumburg Boomer. Boomers win, 15-3.

I was again testing the new generation of erasable pens on the BBWAA scorecard. Lots of runs in this one, and even a balk, but not too much worth noting.

The first hit of the game in the top of the third for the Thunderbolts was an infield single that was almost an incredible 6-5-3 put out after being deflected off the shortstop, but the runner beat it out. In the top of the sixth, there was an overthrow home by the right fielder that let the other runner advance. In the bottom of the same sixth, the catcher completely lost track of a passed ball that allowed a run to score from second. And in the eighth, the Thunderbolts put in a position player to try and save the bullpen, the first time I ever saw that in person.

The Accommodations:

Hampton Inn & Suites, Hammond

There are, not surprisingly, no hotels in Gary, IN, one of the poster boys for the rust belt. For that, and many other reasons, I stayed relatively close by in Hammond at the Hampton Inn & Suites, about fifteen minutes from my last early game the next day. As I was going to have an extended time in the hotel again, I went for a slightly nicer than average place.

There was a big bathroom just off the entrance to the room, and the same slightly nicer bed, night tables, and easy chair on one wall, and bench, dresser, and desk on the other.

I lazed around after dinner, so the little bit nicer was well worth it for the extra time I spent there.

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

2025 Main Trip: Illi-noise

Joliet

On a Mission from God

Duly Health & Care Field, 2025

Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Quebec Capitales vs. Joliet Slammers
Duly Health and Care Field
Frontier League
Joliet, IL
10:30 AM

Outside the Game: 
I woke early this morning and starving, so it is good I was still waking up at 6 AM right as another breakfast buffet opened. This one was a little better than the day before, and I ate to my heart's content before slumping back up to my room to pack up, wash up, and then nap to the last possible moment (which was much earlier this morning).

I booked my hotel in Schaumburg for the night, as there was another early morning game tomorrow (though not this early). Outside of some problem with my rewards number that made the whole process longer than it needed to be, I finished up, packed the car, and headed the short distance to the stadium.

And found there was no where to park. There was an employee standing out in front of the park, and he said the stadium usually used the municipal lot next door, but because of the early start during work hours, it was still being used municipally. As he was new, he ran inside and came back with directions to the closest public lot, which I was able to find, park in, and walk back with minimal issues. The gates were already open at this point, but I bought a ticket and took my pictures outside before going in.

"We're ahn a mishon fram gahd."

The game being over at 1 PM, I looked for things to do. The famous prison was closed until Thursday, but there were a couple of local museums within walking distance of my parking lot. I barely made it inside the Joliet Area Historical Museum before I received the answer to the question, "Do they acknowledge the Blues Brothers at all?", as I was confronted with a "mission from god" diorama right in the lobby. I love me a good local museum, and this was certainly it, delving into the history of Joliet and its industries, as well as the jail and route 66. Right around the corner from that place was the in-progress Illinois Rock & Roll Museum of Route 66. A British couple that I had seen in the first museum had the same idea I did and were leaving this place just as I entered. The museum sold nifty stickers of Abe Lincoln with headphones on and "Illinoise" printed on them.

Cue the horn section.

Before I left, I headed just south of town, where the Blue Brothers car was mounted on a pole right next to a gas station, for some reason. Checking that off the list, I headed out to Schaumburg around 3:30 PM, reaching there after an uneventful drive though cloverleaf intersections. At the hotel, I was originally put in a handicapped room by accident(?), and the overworked attendant apologized profusely then put me in a correct room. It seems like they were short-staffed in a bad way.

I settled into my new room, unpacked, and got my paperwork in order. I went down and had dinner at the hotel restaurant (also short-staffed, but it was fine, despite what some Karens also dining at the same time would have you believe) before heading back up to my room to spend the rest of the night in the tub, watching the finale of Andor. I eventually showered up and went to bed, exhausted as the trip to this point caught up to me a bit.

The Stadium & Fans: 

Home plate to center field, Duly Health and Care Field

The mellifluously named Duly Health And Care Field was pretty standard for the indie parks that I would run across during this trip, with some nice exceptions. There was a promenade around the entire park, with the seating bowl and two outfield berms extending down beneath it. There were different levels to the berm, serviced by a stairwell in left and an escalator in right. The concessions and stores lined the promenade, including notable ones like the Old Smokey Distillery in left, adored with a statue of steelworkers on top of it.

A second level of press and luxury boxes loomed above from first base to third base. The main video board sat in left-center, with a speed camera board in right. An very well-used play zone was in left field, and a Miracle League field (used for a modified version of baseball for disabled people) was in center. There was also a small local hall of fame near the home plate promenade, and a baseball player statue and some dedication plaques by the main entrance.

A recurring theme so far

The mascots were Spikes, the dog, and J.L. Bird, a crow-ish thing in an old-timey jail outfit (thus marking the second day in a row of criminal mascots). There were tons of minor-league level-games between the innings, most featuring some of the school group members who were filling the park this morning. The park staff were also inordinately proud of the netting around the seating area. Every time a foul ball hit the net, the announcer in the booth exhorted the crowd to say, "Thank you, Net!"

At the Game with Oogie:

"Breakfast"

Once I made it inside the park, I did my lap on the promenade taking pictures before hitting the team store ("The Clink") before getting... breakfast? Lunch? Brunch? It was a hot dog and a soda because I wasn't adventurous enough to get anything else. I joked about getting a beer with one of the concession ladies at 10 AM-ish, and to my horror, she didn't even imagine that I was kidding, and I had to stop her pouring me a morning beer. Are you okay, Chicago?

I found my seat, which wasn't quite in the shade, so I shuffled over the last rows of the first shaded area of the park and squatted successfully. There was one lady in the row ahead of me, and then three rows down of nothing until the rest of the area was claimed by a student group, who filled most of the entire park. The kids were incredibly loud, especially when the mascots showed up or there was a giveaway, or--god forbid--when the mascots did a giveaway.

The Game:

First pitch, Capitales vs. Slammers

Besides its ridiculous start time of 10:30 AM, this early season, "school day" matchup between the Quebec Capitales and the Joliet Slammers didn't have a ton of action. Perhaps both teams were tired from waking up so early.

The Capitales all struck out in the first, with a double in the middle, while Joliet went in order. Quebec kept it going by going in order in the top of the second, but the Slammers had a leadoff hit batsman, a single, and a walk to load the bases, all erased on a one-out double play. The Capitales got the scoring started in the third, oddly, with a leadoff single, two walks, and a passed ball, to make it 1-0. The bottom of the third was equally bizarre--if not as productive--for Joliet, with a walk, fielder's choice, another walk, a batter reaching on a strikeout that got away from the catcher to load the bases, and then an out to kill the rally.

Quebec scattered two walks in the top of the fourth, while the Slammers went in order. The top of the fifth saw the Capitales get their own hits batman and walk combo, but stranded both, while Joliet left a leadoff walk to die on the vine. Both teams spent the sixth inning meekly going in order.

In the seventh, The Capitales managed a two-out single only to have him quickly picked off, while Joliet just went in order. Quebec had a leadoff homer in the eighth and a stranded double to push their lead to 2-0, while the Slammers went in order again. The Capitales had a single to show for the top of the ninth, while the Slammers went in order yet again, sending the visitors home victorious, 2-0.

The Scorecard:

Quebec Capitales vs. Joliet Slammers, 5/13/25. Capitales win, 2-0.

Once again, I was continuing my erasable pen experimentation in the BBWAA scorebook.

And once again, there wasn't a ton going on out of the ordinary scoring-wise for this game. The Slammers had a knuckleballer starting the game, which was good enough for a note, and a "double" in the top of the eighth in reality fell between three fielders and hit the center fielder's glove.

A player did reach base on a strikeout in the bottom of the third. I noted that the ball caromed away and made it to the backstop.

Otherwise, nothing worth mentioning.

The Accommodations:

Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Schaumburg

As I'd be spending some appreciable time in this room, I went a little bit nicer with the Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Schaumburg, close to my early morning game the next day.

Another slightly nicer bathroom off the entrance with a big, well-enjoyed tub, and a slightly nicer bedroom with the king-sized bed, night tables, and easy chair on one side and a bench, dresser, TV, and desk on the other side.

No elevators or ice machines this time, and I spent a good deal of time in the room this evening watching my programs. 

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

2025 Main Trip: Illi-noise

Pomona

On Using Up a Holiday

Clover Stadium, 2024

Friday, August 30, 2024
New England Knockouts vs. New York Boulders
Clover Stadium
Frontier League (Independent)
Pomona, NY
6:35 PM


Outside the Game:
Another holiday weekend, another scorecard to try out at a revisit to a close-by park.

I had a languid morning of chores and laundry, before having lunch with my mom, a long nap, and my historic cooking before heading over the border to New York.

It was a quick and uneventful drive up, and outside of missing the stadium entrance twice, nothing worth mentioning. I parked up, took my pictures, and entered.

Despite the inclement weather and the delay to the game, I was still back home and dry by 10:30 PM.


The Stadium & Fans:

Home plate to center field, Clover Stadium

I had been to Clover Stadium before, under its original name, and not a lot had changed about the park beside the name of the park and the name of the team (expanded to "New York" instead of "Rockland"). The park was clearly too much park for an indie-league park, and they were hoping to cash out in the Manfred re-alignment/murder of the minor leagues, but somehow got left holding the bag. It's not that the park isn't nice; it is like wearing a tuxedo to Nathan's.

There was a decent-enough crowd that night for a drizzly holiday weekend and the promise of fireworks. There wasn't a ton between innings, though the unimaginatively named "Boulder Bird" did his rounds. There was also an elderly dance group named the "PaceMakers," whose youngest member was 55. Imagine someone that old...

A costly two-base error by the home third-baseman in the top of the third was met with one of those minor-league park moments of eerie silence right as he screamed "Fuck!" at the top of his lungs.


At the Game with Oogie:

A gyro, before the incident

It was food truck night at the park, and I decided to chance it on a lamb gyro, which was, in fact, delicious, but I also managed to spill all over my pants, requiring some emergency pants laundering with what I had available at the park.

I had a seat right behind the home dugout, with sun not being an issue for the game. I sat down with a Gatorade and a pretzel and didn't move house until the rain got serious towards the late innings, retreating up to the covered concourse.

Around me was a family that showed up in the middle of the first. The son  was quite into the game, but the tweener daughter was not as enthused, with her nose in her phone for most of the game. A little further on my left there was an old vet who was dutifully keeping score as well. We did the nod.


The Game:

First pitch, Knockouts vs. Boulders

This indie-league matchup pitted the newest expansion team, the New England Knockouts, against the flagship team of the league, the New York Boulders. The contest did not follow the script.

The game began with the Knockouts getting a leadoff triple, which the somehow managed to strand. The Boulders got off hotter, with a one-out walk, two singles, and a double leading to two runs, giving them the early 2-0 lead. New England stranded another runner (this one on a walk) in the second. While New York got a deadly leadoff walk in their half, he made it no further than second as the side struck out after him. The Knockouts out it in gear in the third. A single, fielder's choice, two-base error and a homer quickly got three runs across, surging them ahead 3-2. New York had back-to-back lead off singles in the third, but went in order afterwards yet again.

New England striking out in order in the fourth was only broken up by a two-out single. The Boulders for their part were unable to convert a two-out hit batsman followed by a walk. The Knockouts were knocked out in order in the fifth (get it?), while New York stranded a leadoff single. New England again went quietly in order in the sixth, while the Boulders stranded a leadoff double with a bizarre double-play.

The Knockouts only managed a walk in the top of the seventh, while New York got back in the scoring mood, turning back-to-back walks and a double into a run, tying the game at three. New England quickly regained the lead with a single and an inside-the-park homer to march back to a 5-3 lead. Pehaps out of gas, the Boulders only had a single in them in the eighth. The Knockouts, well, went for the knockout in the ninth, tossing four runs across with a single, two doubles, and two homers, stretching the lead to 9-3. Unable to muster the heroic comeback, New York struck out in order in the ninth, securing the Knockout win.


The Scorecard:

Knockouts vs. Boulders, 08/30/24. Knockouts win, 9-3.

This was another outing to test out scorecards, and I went for a full-sized on this time after spending the summer with the tiny cards. This was the spiral-bound #22 Scorebook from the Numbers Game. After using the small cards the last couple of months, the full-sized format struck me as luxurious, perhaps even decadent.

The top of the card had team and cumulative statistics. The visitors side had the team name, manager, uniforms, a little place to doodle the logo, and the umpires, as well as how you were watching the game (home, TV, etc.) and first pitch. The home side had all the same team areas, as well as the ballpark, attendance, date, weather, and final out.

The main scoring area had space for nine players and replacements and eleven innings. Each inning had a compilation area, and each batter had at bats, hits, runs, and RBIs. Each scoring frame was crammed with info. There was a pre-printed diamond, with two boxes above to record hits (boxed) or other ways of getting on base (unboxed), with the second box to record any RBIs. Three columns in the right of the scoring square were to record balls and strikes. (It was the first time I had run balls and strikes in a while, and it took a bit to get back in the groove.)

Below was a defensive alignment chart for the opposing team, as well as the pitching line for the opposing team, with nine lines for pitchers, and stats on handedness, innings pitches, pitches, batters faced, hits, runs, earned runs, walks, and strikeouts. The visiting team side had cumulative box scores, while the home side had copious space for game notes. It was on good cardstock paper and held up to the elements well.

There were a number of plays of note. In the top of the third, a routine grounder to short was ruled a hit even though the shortstop should have made the play. In the bottom of the fourth, the third baseman made a spectacular play leaping backward and still getting the out at first that deserved a longer description than "5!-3". In the bottom of the sixth, there was a "DP L5-5" where a liner straight to the third baseman lead to the runner at third getting doubled up that needed an explanatory note.

In the top of the seventh, a liner bounced straight off the pitchers foot into his glove, which should have been a line out, but the umpire thought it hit the ground, and the pitcher safely threw him out at first. After the play, they both had a laugh about it. And in the top of the eighth, there was the first inside-of-the-park homerun I ever saw in person, bouncing off the back wall away from both players into the outfield that got legged out around the bases.

Also worth mentioning was a pitcher with the Boulders with the unfortunate name of "Garret Coe," which is close, but not actually, "Gerrit Cole." And considering that in two-thirds of an inning, he gave up five hits, and four earned runs after facing only seven batters, there are other, subtle differences.


The Accommodations:
Home, sweet Clifton

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

Stand-Alone Trip

Paterson

On the Poor Rebirth of a Legend

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Hinchliffe Stadium, 2023

Sunday, May 21, 2023
Sussex County Miners vs. New Jersey Jackals
Hinchliffe Stadium
Frontier League
Paterson, NJ
4:00 PM  

Outside the Game:

The Great Falls with the stadium in the background

After a deluged rainout the day before on Saturday, the New Jersey Jackals were going to have their home opener at historic Hinchliffe Stadium this Sunday, so I decided to take a trip out to see them after visiting my mother. It was an afternoon game, so I made the short drive with a couple hours to spare, arriving early enough that the newly built parking lot in left field was barely open. The attendant let me park and then work out the Website I had to go to pay for parking and show him the code and go about my day.

As I walked out, they were still doing batting practice, which could be observed through the chain-link fence in left field. I walked around and took pictures and saw they were nowhere close to being ready to open for the small crowd already there, so I took more exterior shots (along with one or two other ballpark collectors obviously there early that day), and made the short walk over to the Falls to walk around there for a bit.

I came back to find a small line forming at one of the ticket windows, which I thankfully got on early, as it would grow quite large in short order. The Jackals always seemed to have problems getting things moving at home openers at Yogi Berra Stadium, and that's when they knew what they were doing. My decision was rewarded as the line got longer and longer as they struggled to deal with the first customers, who wanted to exchange tickets from yesterday's rainout to tickets for today--not that they were much faster to new transactions for the day's game, as I discovered when I got up to the window. But ticket in hand, I eventually walked past the increasing disgruntled people on line and walked around until it was time for the gates to open.

After the game, I walked right to my car in the lot, pulled out with no issues, and was quickly on my way to route 80 and my mom's house to drop off the car and grab a Lyft back to my apartment.

The Stadium & Fans:

Home plate to center field, Hinchliffe Stadium

Hinchliffe Stadium is one of the last remaining Negro League ballparks that was still standing. It, like most of Paterson, had fallen into decrepitude over the decades, just avoiding demolition long enough to get federal grant money to renovate it. They also somehow lured away the indie-league New Jersey Jackals from their only home at Yogi Berra Stadium to start this year's contest at the renovated venue.

Hinchliffe was always a somewhat wonky venue for baseball, being located in a classic amphitheater, with a track running around the perimeter. The original layout had the infield nestled inside the track, facing away from the grandstands, with the outfield wall facing towards the open end of the stands. They changed that sometime in the 90s to angle it towards the stands, and for some reason, they decided to keep that layout for the new renovations. Which I consider a mistake for a ton of reasons. Firstly, the dimensions (stated as 320-385-327) were too small, as evidenced by the numbers of homers that flew out of the park. Also, it was awkward. They have to cover parts of the track with turf overlays in the outfield, creating a seam, and they had to artificially restrict the foul ground on the first base line with temporary fencing, behind which they put on-field tables and two giant blow-up attractions for kids--which, by the way, completely obstructs the view from the first-base seats, which is probably okay as they are about a quarter-mile from the field anyway.

They built a new building in what is now center field which effectively block the view of the Falls, which was one of the big selling points of the park. That building (rumored to eventually be a team store and museum) was just gutted out with nothing inside at the home opener. There were just one bank of overpriced concessions ready, as well, with an extremely limited selection, which was more forgivable (especially with the food truck promotion at the game that day). Outside of a few original stadium signs outside of right field and left field and the original historic marker, there was nothing about the park's history at all.

They also had to put up temporary foul ball netting, and some of those supports are in fair territory in the outfield, but at least thankfully padded to prevent outfielder homicides. Every last one of these things could have been corrected by going with the field's original orientation, and I would be very interested to know why they chose this mess.

There is an average scoreboard out in left center field, a party area in left, and on-field tables and party area in the voluminous area behind first. All of the seats except the on-field ones are uncushioned bleachers, which were only bearable with portable cushions. The view out to downtown Paterson was still available from right field, at least.

Jack the Jackal made the trip, always followed around by a gaggle of kids. The mayor and Yankee great Willie Randolph were there for the ceremonial first pitches. There weren't many activities until the later innings, but that was less of an issue. There was a good crowd, but given the grumblings already from their suburban fan base, one wonders how long they are going to stomach $15 each game for parking in crime-ridden Paterson. Time will tell, and this historic field deserves so much better.

At the Game with Oogie:

Overpriced hot dog and Gatorade

I went in as soon as the gate opened, and after an announcement that no bags were going to be allowed and then seeing a sea of people who, in fact, had bags, they did an impromptu bag check, and eventually I was into the park. (They did not give out the seat cushion giveaway from the day before, nor did they wear the Negro League throwback jerseys originally scheduled for this game.)

I took my time doing my walk-arounds, most of it in complete amazement at the layout of the park. Nothing was open yet except for the one concession, where I grabbed an over-priced hot dog, Gatorade, and pretzel. I eventually settled into my seat behind home plate (though it was pretty much open seating for the first game). I was jarred by the fake first-base line that they had put in ended in another screen which made the seats right behind home plate have a partially obstructed view of home plate, which was just nuts.

The game had a decent crowd. There was a man teaching his kids the rules of the game as it progressed, which always warms my heart. After overhearing me explaining a play to a group behind me earlier, a group in front of me asked me about the teams, and I had to explain the whole concept of independent baseball to them. I swear to god, as soon as you have a scorebook in your head, people assume you know everything. They were right in this case, but still.

After the first four or so innings baking in the heat, I retreated to a seat in right field, which had the benefit of being in the shade and having an unobstructed view of the field due to the lack of netting. It was definitely the preferable of the two seats, which you don't often say about home plate seats right behind the plate. There was a group of loud locals seating nearby who were drinking beers and going on about local politics as you might expect to see at a local high-school football game.

The Game:

The first pitch in the game between the Sussex County Miners and the New Jersey Jackals.

This game was house money for ownership, who happened to own both of these Frontier-league franchises. The Jackals were doing better so far in the nascent season, with Miners bringing up the rear of the league. A pitcher's duel this would not be.

As was indicated by the fact that the first batter for the Miners in the newly reopened park took one dead center for a homer. A strikeout later, a batter went yard to left, very accurately setting the tone for the game and staking the Miners to an early 2-0 lead. New Jersey started the game with a hit batsman, but their second batter got in on the fun, christening right field with its first home run. A two-out rally followed with a single, a catcher's interference, an error by the third baseman, and a single to bring in two runs before a strikeout ended the batting-around with a 4-2 home lead. Sussex County went in order in the second, while the Jackals only managed a walk in their half of the frame. The Miners only managed a two-out single in the top of the third, and he was promptly picked off first. New Jersey limped along in the bottom of the inning, stranding two walks with two outs.

A leadoff walk went for naught for Sussex County in the fourth, but the Jackals ended the intermission on scoring. A leadoff double was picked off, but a one-out walk was driven in by another homer to left, followed one out later by yet another homer to left, leaving the Jackals with a commanding 7-2 lead. The Miners got one back with another leadoff homer to left in the fifth, and New Jersey got that back with another homer to center, leaving the score 8-3 for those trying to keep up, presumably while dodging home run balls. Sussex County went back to more conventional scoring in the top of the sixth, with a leadoff double moved over on a wild pitch and scoring on a single, to close the score to 8-4. The Jackals just hit another home to left to start the sixth and then stranded a single and hit batsman to extended their lead back to 9-4.

The Miners went quietly in order in the seventh, and NJ only managed a single in their half. After a two-out walk for Sussex County in the top of the eighth, another homer to left brought in two to close the lead to 9-6. The Jackals got it back with a two-out homer to right to get the score up to 10-6. And there it stayed as the Miners went in order, sealing the Jackals home opener win.

The Scorecard:

Sussex County Miners and New Jersey Jackals on 5/21/23. The Jackals won, 10-6.

I used the BBWAA scorecard, as there was nothing on sale to given away at the park, and even when they did have their store up and running last year, they didn't have a scorecard.

One word: homers. There were nine in the game--five to left, two to center, and two to right. The wacky field layout definitely had an impact, as well as raising some legitimate questions about the stated field dimensions. Even indie-ball pitching isn't bad enough for hitters to take them yard nine times without some ballpark help. The other impact was the copious foul territory, leading to a play in the bottom of the second where the left fielder ran somewhere close to a mile to catch a foul ball for an out.

And then the other plays of note. I saw my first clock violation ball on a pitcher in the top of the third. In the bottom of the fifth, there was a sharp grounder to first, fielded by the first baseman who took it to the bag for the put-out, and both teams left the field. Except the umpires protested that the ball was foul, and made both teams return to the field to continue play (which eventually ended in a strikeout). In the top of the sixth, there was an infield single that I felt needed the clarification that it nearly murdered the pitcher, bouncing solidly off of him. There was also a rare catcher's interference in the bottom of the first, and one of the Miners got a golden sombrero.

But seriously: nine home runs.

The Accommodations:
Home, sweet Jersey City

Click here to see all the photos from this trip.

Stand-Alone Trip