tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286762082024-03-07T13:36:16.897-05:00Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals BlogBeginning in 2005, The African Queen and I enjoyed Section 320 at RFK Stadium. Our Washington Nationals and the Nats320 Blog came to life for us there. Since 2008-we've sat in Section 218 at Nationals Park, but our blog name has not changed. Our roots are in Nats320-and we will never forget those good times. But, as always, we will attempt to provide fun, information and commentary about Our Washington Nationals. All photos, unless otherwise attributed-COPYRIGHT Nats320--ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger1926125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-4907664948044829592011-07-01T16:28:00.001-04:002011-07-01T16:28:59.320-04:00ziMS Foundation--2nd Annual "A Night At The Park"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4hPjGNYUwTVp2fwryuIb4QkfiUP-7D12WCVeQUSwb1u6_grYQEnJxv-GRPIjJ_EHaiWoT1zoiCH4gqgRuawQn77e9GHK1O7biSVGFsVAowBtcfWtSjqmPVzNPdRKLSR-kbEH/s1600/IMG_5664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4hPjGNYUwTVp2fwryuIb4QkfiUP-7D12WCVeQUSwb1u6_grYQEnJxv-GRPIjJ_EHaiWoT1zoiCH4gqgRuawQn77e9GHK1O7biSVGFsVAowBtcfWtSjqmPVzNPdRKLSR-kbEH/s320/IMG_5664.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span>“The hardest thing, believe it or not, is to figure out how to give all the money away that we’ve raised," stated Ryan Zimmerman. "We’ve worked hard and people give their hard earned money to us and we just don’t want to give it away. We've built a mutual trust. And we feel like we’ve found a good group of four or five organizations that deserve to get the money and we are going to do the right thing with it.”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSZvZogQMJjkmjc3UvMoPnUXFyW-BSMUaQ7ke7NVmDNfPnLh54VP7KPW5U_dg8zb7B4UW8TW_bD8_WbYpU8dTHCpUUpPuHWAQFUtjkL_FblCLM2K9R6k8viG4OioGLcgHYBpf/s1600/IMG_5740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSZvZogQMJjkmjc3UvMoPnUXFyW-BSMUaQ7ke7NVmDNfPnLh54VP7KPW5U_dg8zb7B4UW8TW_bD8_WbYpU8dTHCpUUpPuHWAQFUtjkL_FblCLM2K9R6k8viG4OioGLcgHYBpf/s320/IMG_5740.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1toyQnvK_Ih6qHWSPCY8EeQx8TNsfa6GvOPQYI5oCrZK4SNFg_xrPZrQ2vzWZWxG3j2CnCltO9VjpOa0S84_3gyU266nHUvP1LSr7Xpom8Qu3vvFZIMVXnXq7hv7WaawMIkg/s1600/IMG_5743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1toyQnvK_Ih6qHWSPCY8EeQx8TNsfa6GvOPQYI5oCrZK4SNFg_xrPZrQ2vzWZWxG3j2CnCltO9VjpOa0S84_3gyU266nHUvP1LSr7Xpom8Qu3vvFZIMVXnXq7hv7WaawMIkg/s320/IMG_5743.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9UqH_kEpT40AUVRa4hWymP0ZQIU_yEzfgvpNLZiSKpdwPDM2kxFKHsxmfhdYNLCHeYqbPUYRmeYp8Yb6o_ESsgvgHRspNhre3ei8HXWgzWlVMGvya7BA7YuDWETl9ETZoDN8/s1600/IMG_5750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9UqH_kEpT40AUVRa4hWymP0ZQIU_yEzfgvpNLZiSKpdwPDM2kxFKHsxmfhdYNLCHeYqbPUYRmeYp8Yb6o_ESsgvgHRspNhre3ei8HXWgzWlVMGvya7BA7YuDWETl9ETZoDN8/s320/IMG_5750.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Our Washington Nationals star player was standing on the red carpet next to his parents, Cheryl & Keith, just outside the PNC Diamond Club at Nationals Park talking about their charitable organization. For <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2010/08/ryan-zimmermans-night-at-park-zims.html" target="_blank">the second year in row</a>, the<a href="http://www.zimsfoundation.org/" target="_blank"> ziMS Foundation</a>--dedicated to finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis, was holding their Washington, D.C. signature event--"A Night At The Park". As many Nats Fans are aware, Ryan's family oriented effort is personal in nature as Cheryl was diagnosed with MS in 1995. Since 2006, the ziMS Foundation has awarded over $500,000 to needy organizations. Non-profit groups that are dedicated to not only finding a cure for MS but for the treatment, support and the building of educational programs necessary for inflicted families.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Ryan Zimmerman: “Our main benefactor is the Neurology Department at the University of Virginia. We’ve given them over $280,000 now. They’ve become, in essence, our main partner. They are one of, if not, the top clinic in the country involving MS--whether it’s for finding a cure or developing new medicine to help cope with the disease. Back closer to home (in Virginia Beach, Virginia), we've given almost $150,000 to the local chapter (MS Society of Hampton Roads). They’ve been instrumental with my mom from the beginning. And in the past couple of years, they’ve organized a few getaways for those with MS. But it’s just nice to have someone at home to help.”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrD79Ri10rGu5U27J5Mvdq1pMeoaMiPwsiTehOuuWUTmwStnc0We8Lz2ExxHdSMFwHuFqGF6pXsuSpJYxKFlti9Ci487gJw24AO64dBjQGcRTqxBjo_FyTgJu1YnZl1kUJ2Pn/s1600/IMG_5714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrD79Ri10rGu5U27J5Mvdq1pMeoaMiPwsiTehOuuWUTmwStnc0We8Lz2ExxHdSMFwHuFqGF6pXsuSpJYxKFlti9Ci487gJw24AO64dBjQGcRTqxBjo_FyTgJu1YnZl1kUJ2Pn/s320/IMG_5714.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmELamJy6o_KzTgi-LgR7AxlDbCKv2OJ48Rrmmbz3_592vVwcmdK-n4uu1uq8jJcmj5f3Ef_slUftzOq0MDcQ-5K-ZX__6gKzp9y_Bd4Ov5oCbSRs_tkt4kYm_iz88Ka6C4Zv/s1600/IMG_5763.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmELamJy6o_KzTgi-LgR7AxlDbCKv2OJ48Rrmmbz3_592vVwcmdK-n4uu1uq8jJcmj5f3Ef_slUftzOq0MDcQ-5K-ZX__6gKzp9y_Bd4Ov5oCbSRs_tkt4kYm_iz88Ka6C4Zv/s320/IMG_5763.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gar's Mikey Mo' Stance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWqiejepH5tgWe5raYpBBQewpi3ARj2Cxrcy21LiiJsZ8IZb_827fIjvFdvLqX8HbwvNzm6TElu2l0p1o1fR0kJtMUlwtF4THU7EY0qPzrVk9oG2MRHpMnwSMlhm-LWQT6fIj/s1600/IMG_5705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWqiejepH5tgWe5raYpBBQewpi3ARj2Cxrcy21LiiJsZ8IZb_827fIjvFdvLqX8HbwvNzm6TElu2l0p1o1fR0kJtMUlwtF4THU7EY0qPzrVk9oG2MRHpMnwSMlhm-LWQT6fIj/s320/IMG_5705.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Gar Ryness-The Batting Stance Guy</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Approximately 1000 tickets were sold for last night's 2nd Annual Event at Nationals Park. Magician <a href="http://davidblaine.com/" target="_blank">David Blaine</a> returned to give a special performance for VIP Ticket Holders in the PNC Diamond Club. Country Music Star <a href="http://www.rodneyatkins.com/" target="_blank">Rodney Atkins </a>performed on the temporary stage placed overtop the Presidents Club Seats and <a href="http://www.battingstanceguy.com/" target="_blank">The Batting Stance Guy</a>, Gar Ryness (a funny, funny man), was the Master Of Ceremonies. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBxsPLango8fbC4n7WMkcOy_GyZllP1-JraqibH9eJ72TOXzoSWEH_UYAWbGH_4QCN3WW_wFcahowDTcAkLhDqA2xFk3SYpCHmgWs-xyb71ybasrVl48OC9UrE_PxmrdSC7M3/s1600/IMG_5665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBxsPLango8fbC4n7WMkcOy_GyZllP1-JraqibH9eJ72TOXzoSWEH_UYAWbGH_4QCN3WW_wFcahowDTcAkLhDqA2xFk3SYpCHmgWs-xyb71ybasrVl48OC9UrE_PxmrdSC7M3/s320/IMG_5665.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">"Logistically, we learned a lot from the first year. We've moved the VIP Room up (from Presidents Club to the PNC Diamond Club) so the two groups (VIPs & General Admission) can really interact in a way that wasn't possible last year," stated Brodie Van Wagenen (Ryan's Agent from CAA Sports) before the event began. Last year, it was isolated for both groups. We are expecting a much smoother night and double the amount of guest from last year. In fact, we've got 14 corporate sponsors--up from the seven from last year. It's a nice step forward."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfTqc5jbVDDPSjCsAlgzi_BR6cyLQ-ZNVy2_vfiZMlkBcbBk6tOEKmH8GheYtUM5Ir84qIdyIRMjaOwlvShk-SfQECHL3CVTQR1egXvM19p_7kHjGt3pNl6ZgFA3knmbhrw7I/s1600/IMG_5670.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrfTqc5jbVDDPSjCsAlgzi_BR6cyLQ-ZNVy2_vfiZMlkBcbBk6tOEKmH8GheYtUM5Ir84qIdyIRMjaOwlvShk-SfQECHL3CVTQR1egXvM19p_7kHjGt3pNl6ZgFA3knmbhrw7I/s320/IMG_5670.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEDBSzMG2fwN8KPMxpudCjRbY8nWL6ugl0S-rOcjTkeQiRUcTYUNKont0DRwy-DhDAWZPA5Hs07xINtpjtq5a4BO0rjwVhOLywJAA0oeV5A8lLNOWLHOkWWAqT64Dj9YeJIvl/s1600/IMG_5698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEDBSzMG2fwN8KPMxpudCjRbY8nWL6ugl0S-rOcjTkeQiRUcTYUNKont0DRwy-DhDAWZPA5Hs07xINtpjtq5a4BO0rjwVhOLywJAA0oeV5A8lLNOWLHOkWWAqT64Dj9YeJIvl/s320/IMG_5698.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjTzVVOj4HJo18cmyKiNqBor0YyNvkK8nv0uE8ec2FLx7fFEKMxI3ME8rT8IhPzUtJH9Tw1EoZSRx9OkSgsu00KkKdehmmgx9OjTORD0dR6As3O9-LiyAz8L1OEaXMD94BrYa/s1600/IMG_5707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjTzVVOj4HJo18cmyKiNqBor0YyNvkK8nv0uE8ec2FLx7fFEKMxI3ME8rT8IhPzUtJH9Tw1EoZSRx9OkSgsu00KkKdehmmgx9OjTORD0dR6As3O9-LiyAz8L1OEaXMD94BrYa/s320/IMG_5707.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">A silent auction was set up along the main concourse, 1st Base Side, of Nationals Park. CCA Sports not only lined up charity items from Ryan Zimmerman and his Washington Nationals teammates, but also a variety of sport and entertainment memorabilia ranging from basketball to The Beatles to the glamor of Hollywood. Also on hand in support of the ziMS Foundation were quite a few of Ryan's Washington Nationals teammates and coaches. Over the course of the evening, we encountered Rick Eckstein, Jim Lett, Trent Jewett, Jayson Werth, Michael Morse, Danny Espinosa, Adam LaRoche, Alex Cora, Roger Bernadina, Laynce Nix, Brian Bixler, Jordan Zimmermann, John Lannan, Drew Storen, Collin Balester, Todd Coffey, Tyler Clippard, Sean Burnett, Jason Marquis and Ryan Mattheus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNKepeoW4uFyMzf2niVJ0uMA0xd9N6NpLbzaSZ8tmJzlyHgsRQhrE0nfFu8_P7IMNv67TpX6e6X-1Dmd4W7P9E0ca7AsYWkDji-cVQzWLlGwBzc7OJwh_cgbo3JWteFVu7Anx/s1600/IMG_5768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNKepeoW4uFyMzf2niVJ0uMA0xd9N6NpLbzaSZ8tmJzlyHgsRQhrE0nfFu8_P7IMNv67TpX6e6X-1Dmd4W7P9E0ca7AsYWkDji-cVQzWLlGwBzc7OJwh_cgbo3JWteFVu7Anx/s320/IMG_5768.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORB5WSbCf-RlLXSc7pydehO_Rm0IbLEU5wCuytehM7dyImYJAB1807pJhlfS8OzwoHmZLzFCpF2qZOH_raoCLvsEskBxEE5zqzpyEl_MR9XxHE0eD1BRJKaDdLtNRYYw_5kaX/s1600/IMG_5772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhORB5WSbCf-RlLXSc7pydehO_Rm0IbLEU5wCuytehM7dyImYJAB1807pJhlfS8OzwoHmZLzFCpF2qZOH_raoCLvsEskBxEE5zqzpyEl_MR9XxHE0eD1BRJKaDdLtNRYYw_5kaX/s320/IMG_5772.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">During the live auction of "A Night At The Park" attendees had the opportunity to bid on a Fighter Pilot Experience (Top Gun Flight Training), VIP Trip to the 2012 Masters, VIP Trip to the 2012 Grammy Awards, a 2011 US Open Tennis Package, a 2011 VIP MLB All-Star Game Package and Private Visit with Ryan Zimmerman (with 15 tickets included) for a suite at Nationals Park for a mutually agreed upon Nats game in 2012. Over $63,000 was raised during the Live Auction after two bidders in hot pursuit of the Grammy Awards Show package both were granted as winners when their bids reached $15,000 apiece. The ziMS Foundation goal for "A Night At The Park" 2011, including silent auction, ticket sales and corporate sponsorship was $200,000.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrzrwcCUL094fW9qJjqOo0MWYYgl6j5s2RLQQ06vI8UPTYpc62i4EaRHPlUGmxUOe-bbjBHFP4ZME_YEBSuxgYZzD6LpfK6qMwQAAitYt38rT8CFkloJaYVZP5HToxby0JfqE/s1600/IMG_5761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrzrwcCUL094fW9qJjqOo0MWYYgl6j5s2RLQQ06vI8UPTYpc62i4EaRHPlUGmxUOe-bbjBHFP4ZME_YEBSuxgYZzD6LpfK6qMwQAAitYt38rT8CFkloJaYVZP5HToxby0JfqE/s320/IMG_5761.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQPiSMh5y9zWDott4NgOcipDlhWI8UJsoLitZHjRFhJ9W61WvTNQ5BzjR7hWCVZqSPVOnTY1pUbymaZHRXsl9wepESQt2XUrsfichVEZE1flHVfuBJWglMQqKX0qMYIYjDAei/s1600/IMG_5754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQPiSMh5y9zWDott4NgOcipDlhWI8UJsoLitZHjRFhJ9W61WvTNQ5BzjR7hWCVZqSPVOnTY1pUbymaZHRXsl9wepESQt2XUrsfichVEZE1flHVfuBJWglMQqKX0qMYIYjDAei/s320/IMG_5754.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kGoyQhBrE42Wz8UacqyiOhV6n7ReMidv-Ff5UhnptIf-JKynlFBNgcMQ7wBhyphenhyphen_TERPI2ctc-ba7v-n2niXGmgcqes9wDgRX3eOdBuLmSjtb3_HJCXx253OwnmnQqzC0eZbNy/s1600/IMG_5795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kGoyQhBrE42Wz8UacqyiOhV6n7ReMidv-Ff5UhnptIf-JKynlFBNgcMQ7wBhyphenhyphen_TERPI2ctc-ba7v-n2niXGmgcqes9wDgRX3eOdBuLmSjtb3_HJCXx253OwnmnQqzC0eZbNy/s320/IMG_5795.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">"In each of these fundraisers," continued Van Wagenen, "the money is being put directly back into these communities. That’s why this event is so important. And that’s why having the corporate community show such an overwhelming support is so important for our success in being able to raise some serious money." Last night, <a href="http://www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/DCW/index.aspx" target="_blank">The National Capital Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society</a> received a check from the ziMS Foundation for $35,000. And <a href="http://msdreammakers.org/" target="_blank">Dream Makers</a>, a Washington D.C. area non-profit committed to supporting and empowering children whose parents have MS was granted $25,000. "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">And I think it’s this recognition by others of Ryan’s efforts reflecting dollars back into local D.C. Charities that is getting the corporate community to recognize what's going on here and getting them to come out to support their own within their own town," concluded Van Wagenen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlhqcUVLYECjUDfGQS6S7sTojH81tvBH1U5LlBM8tg2TDpqHjz3ruE_T4bvknB18pzRH4pumEVin-FAZjbDirCKtNlkXcyOZc0taIwUUE_F48y41dpvvZZgSfF_0F_QPzQ9Kv/s1600/IMG_5758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlhqcUVLYECjUDfGQS6S7sTojH81tvBH1U5LlBM8tg2TDpqHjz3ruE_T4bvknB18pzRH4pumEVin-FAZjbDirCKtNlkXcyOZc0taIwUUE_F48y41dpvvZZgSfF_0F_QPzQ9Kv/s320/IMG_5758.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">“Like in any other venture, you make strides every day," says Ryan Zimmerman. "The more money these groups get, the more research they can do. It's a day-to-day thing, like it is with the actual disease. So just like everyone else involved, we hold out hope and continue to do what we have to do to help find a cure. In fact, It’s amazing (how far the ziMS Foundation has come) because when you start something, you don’t even know how much it will grow. And how quickly things develop. We’ve given away more than $500,000 in less than six years. Those first couple of years we were just figuring it all out. Now, were hoping to take this to the next level and make it very, very special.”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmS7K-mrywGG4hXf2MOuOQ12TCdnspO_UUDx7kSDqbdVEhlEtaR1vnai12Pt4u6oLDbDW3N8Ln_i-fWd5PMNtcUeIqFOyaoVW4G_9rOWhXYeIhGKbIm9opk9Uf2EhxbvwlhW4Y/s1600/IMG_5798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmS7K-mrywGG4hXf2MOuOQ12TCdnspO_UUDx7kSDqbdVEhlEtaR1vnai12Pt4u6oLDbDW3N8Ln_i-fWd5PMNtcUeIqFOyaoVW4G_9rOWhXYeIhGKbIm9opk9Uf2EhxbvwlhW4Y/s320/IMG_5798.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">Remember, the entire ziMS Foundation is a volunteer organization run by Ryan, his parents Cheryl & Keith, brother Shawn, with the help of many family friends in Virginia Beach, Virginia.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">P.S.--Ryan also mentioned last night that the annual <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2010/10/5th-zims-foundation-gala-golf.html" target="_blank">ziMS Foundation Golf Tournamen</a>t has maxed out. "Unless we get another 18 holes we are in trouble," he joked. "We are proud though how that event has gotten better and better each year to where we have the Gala on Friday night--which basically runs like clockwork now. It's become a fun event for us back home. Golf attached to a charity fundraiser like this, we've found--is a great time!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3X6lFB4e2n26XcoGShRIrSpbUDXnZI3to9eq_TbJNKUdRXYinPK-9D9uSz6K_mcBVbZJDcFfWOWgB8nvcqqV1hJ7TQTzbCOG2xLI8dYwXDrW_42ZTS7FIDSNzgZTH2vKrAkE/s1600/IMG_5686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3X6lFB4e2n26XcoGShRIrSpbUDXnZI3to9eq_TbJNKUdRXYinPK-9D9uSz6K_mcBVbZJDcFfWOWgB8nvcqqV1hJ7TQTzbCOG2xLI8dYwXDrW_42ZTS7FIDSNzgZTH2vKrAkE/s320/IMG_5686.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">P.P.S--Odd Ball Auction Item of the night: Baseball Bat signed by Pete Rose stating: <b>"I am sorry I bet on baseball."</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-68158049378555091632011-04-25T14:50:00.005-04:002011-04-25T15:00:39.368-04:00The Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club & The PNC Park Lexus Club<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjfFwS1vwXefsItupNmFEuZLhRSreY45Lo7YcQfReKI6wYaDZroFd8IN_-qguCr55iLO1_-_E4ADaYLCqYk_dGZb3g_FmHND2vuwcwj5ShAsQfFtILZNQMeLCjQijB4buJdyB/s1600/IMG_3618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjfFwS1vwXefsItupNmFEuZLhRSreY45Lo7YcQfReKI6wYaDZroFd8IN_-qguCr55iLO1_-_E4ADaYLCqYk_dGZb3g_FmHND2vuwcwj5ShAsQfFtILZNQMeLCjQijB4buJdyB/s320/IMG_3618.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgQ3XuvRio77USCaw_hw2X3DcbhyW0pEEFHvnPMh7CcVgxsOG95JK-ZGKyAwpFAY9Gn4MaihpBymrx7G8HKT4vGzHprNfqNQ0GKTbfiYtW64Hm3UCN1ir1Y_cT-sjkU7m_V79/s1600/IMG_3621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgQ3XuvRio77USCaw_hw2X3DcbhyW0pEEFHvnPMh7CcVgxsOG95JK-ZGKyAwpFAY9Gn4MaihpBymrx7G8HKT4vGzHprNfqNQ0GKTbfiYtW64Hm3UCN1ir1Y_cT-sjkU7m_V79/s320/IMG_3621.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooF_7jLjHt2VP1duEa0-JKv5W8oevciB8MtiC9ZUQoYE-fj4l8i_WFyTppQMRsW-5sl8CxOXS_620CjkKssYZJWOLMq0-Ujm2wCHhtXisuzUPluqs0iuRrjdjK1pKxKDXymeJ/s1600/IMG_3622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooF_7jLjHt2VP1duEa0-JKv5W8oevciB8MtiC9ZUQoYE-fj4l8i_WFyTppQMRsW-5sl8CxOXS_620CjkKssYZJWOLMq0-Ujm2wCHhtXisuzUPluqs0iuRrjdjK1pKxKDXymeJ/s320/IMG_3622.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>As excited as "Mikey Mo" was in slamming out his first home run of 2011 at PNC Park yesterday, our weekend visit to one of baseball's nicest and friendliest ballparks was just as exhilarating. Having visited Pittsburgh each of the past fours years to watch Our Washington Nationals take on the Bucco's, The African Queen and I chose premium seating at Pittsburgh's ballyard for Saturday & Easter Sunday.<br />
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</div><div>The perfect decision.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyN0qayVh4MoWI1tBkN8Tk9NlSzXmnGzYft2bY9u8m34PM_9iyo3GMaBwekJ_u1N3x-qWeueka-OYFoG2-IaOqno62mgFvk4unnlccSd7sobMIqwMUl_-DE5J3U-rpVMhLrJt/s1600/IMG_3511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtyN0qayVh4MoWI1tBkN8Tk9NlSzXmnGzYft2bY9u8m34PM_9iyo3GMaBwekJ_u1N3x-qWeueka-OYFoG2-IaOqno62mgFvk4unnlccSd7sobMIqwMUl_-DE5J3U-rpVMhLrJt/s320/IMG_3511.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJkuF-sh8IaVscgOp_H9NdCHuf3Su8oIjrPEiAnQayi5_khAUaLcGRLecxHOT2AynVTSq2OxyMT6VbAnuLVDNDWo7O1GdQRNNLaFokyf1mUVGqv7Doh-gIZr_axd1FyumFpEO/s1600/IMG_3508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJkuF-sh8IaVscgOp_H9NdCHuf3Su8oIjrPEiAnQayi5_khAUaLcGRLecxHOT2AynVTSq2OxyMT6VbAnuLVDNDWo7O1GdQRNNLaFokyf1mUVGqv7Doh-gIZr_axd1FyumFpEO/s320/IMG_3508.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBfEP7pHpVJhLZ8bhlLekpTtTV2A-yTWmD4xVJU12RWmeUQU929Oh5laud_vGIxXeUYufM1yfjBfntCoAgbdYEIv8n5aPGdB4QQccEB8bOVFbeBSC6zc7UsaY8zL3m4CHn709/s1600/IMG_3649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBfEP7pHpVJhLZ8bhlLekpTtTV2A-yTWmD4xVJU12RWmeUQU929Oh5laud_vGIxXeUYufM1yfjBfntCoAgbdYEIv8n5aPGdB4QQccEB8bOVFbeBSC6zc7UsaY8zL3m4CHn709/s320/IMG_3649.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVici95fEeH5FdOnMZPI2oFzJ15P4RuJvSE3mlq2S4yuKoN0KjDDTIcyLtUGDjWR2UqSkmEvWvGkbHwPSZZHp9ei3jvja156Coru6zGcFzXgotuytD8TorV3HoB_tUQcyMQIbl/s1600/IMG_3620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVici95fEeH5FdOnMZPI2oFzJ15P4RuJvSE3mlq2S4yuKoN0KjDDTIcyLtUGDjWR2UqSkmEvWvGkbHwPSZZHp9ei3jvja156Coru6zGcFzXgotuytD8TorV3HoB_tUQcyMQIbl/s320/IMG_3620.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div>First off all, it rained all weekend in Western Pennsylvania. Friday night's game was cancelled. Saturday evening's was delayed. On Sunday, the wetness never really let up until the final out was recorded. With Mother Nature not cooperating, the comforts of The Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club and The Lexus Club provided two great retreats from the elements.<br />
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Second off all, both sections were OUTSTANDING!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZTDfM4M4cNmHQcnfHtOqv32lGl4pyDWOxrrEBH58Bw-duVuUsdwsS5DDZ-WDs91rVjLqK4pD01wKFplyi3LHO0sVlmfynSJ6hIKGBerCCYQgFP8OFYoFhcOP-0M8VwPFrU_F/s1600/IMG_3446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZTDfM4M4cNmHQcnfHtOqv32lGl4pyDWOxrrEBH58Bw-duVuUsdwsS5DDZ-WDs91rVjLqK4pD01wKFplyi3LHO0sVlmfynSJ6hIKGBerCCYQgFP8OFYoFhcOP-0M8VwPFrU_F/s320/IMG_3446.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIljmByZ5BSF_4flNIMRAyRr3v26MQKdAc06lzaDM58ealOHtqBDNqLY_i054pp94Ttw5lnzPVbdQXuMzz4WTmC0FiiI7tO-lQMHTFNt-nShD-Tqa7DlfATyUQ8FFGb3NmJeCG/s1600/IMG_3496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIljmByZ5BSF_4flNIMRAyRr3v26MQKdAc06lzaDM58ealOHtqBDNqLY_i054pp94Ttw5lnzPVbdQXuMzz4WTmC0FiiI7tO-lQMHTFNt-nShD-Tqa7DlfATyUQ8FFGb3NmJeCG/s320/IMG_3496.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOznhmT7PDMfzKkbC5Vev_kkWY8RgtFyTkW7UhVHeSpHppaMF9vi00wCtaMy2B_yINLcceLJBwVVJsTm47RptWnu0Mwel5XocGlqvugL-jFfw91yBJXc8r84e6klow8oBkehD5/s1600/IMG_3497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOznhmT7PDMfzKkbC5Vev_kkWY8RgtFyTkW7UhVHeSpHppaMF9vi00wCtaMy2B_yINLcceLJBwVVJsTm47RptWnu0Mwel5XocGlqvugL-jFfw91yBJXc8r84e6klow8oBkehD5/s320/IMG_3497.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>For Saturday evening's game, Sohna and I purchased Pirate Baseball Club Seats (similar to the Stars & Stripes Club at Nationals Park). PNC Park's features were impressive. Inside, there was plenty of room to stretch out, countless leather lounge seats and sofas, four pool tables. pinball and hockey games, three bars including the rather large Club 3000. Fans could sit down and order food from a waitress, or purchase some upscale offerings from one of the handful of vendors located throughout the club level concourse.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaMQ5X-bpZD7M11AFaSrp3k1672Bkv96ebqcRDhe_1n6Pa00A6YNZYLGoXGs_LbpvCV3dRLuMKV-RnoZRSdJVJxGsTSSPZNmrDeGl5wkx0HdQzRc-TGPbujzekmOI7U1MJgGj/s1600/IMG_3467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKaMQ5X-bpZD7M11AFaSrp3k1672Bkv96ebqcRDhe_1n6Pa00A6YNZYLGoXGs_LbpvCV3dRLuMKV-RnoZRSdJVJxGsTSSPZNmrDeGl5wkx0HdQzRc-TGPbujzekmOI7U1MJgGj/s320/IMG_3467.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq73HJtP-TUuQvOMPXzJxBGR4JMCzBT1cK_aZHBPi-8LOW9dZgsV88tWPzMdwhYCBGVgwI3W5Js_FDHAdmwig1_64L4JwPKb-k1-6vGtuPIyStYDWslj7vj4p6Ux26z_irPokV/s1600/IMG_3478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq73HJtP-TUuQvOMPXzJxBGR4JMCzBT1cK_aZHBPi-8LOW9dZgsV88tWPzMdwhYCBGVgwI3W5Js_FDHAdmwig1_64L4JwPKb-k1-6vGtuPIyStYDWslj7vj4p6Ux26z_irPokV/s320/IMG_3478.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Walking past the BucsWok, it was easy to notice that all offerings were served up fresh and made to order. After finishing off our rather large servings of Teryiaki Beef and Sweet & Sour Chicken ($9 apiece)--we have to say that was one of the better meals we've ever had from a vendor at any ballpark, anywhere.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqsQmL-6Di8vxYlSsJmks73v0PHySx4WA-6QJX2L2NtfI0I2DGymHBVGLGTSo16NpLIKKD2AAHabfkvqh3NBrC6eS6hsIhAv3c-Qe_0Twvu31sprWqTZJBSwuGYU0k2RlChIg/s1600/IMG_3573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqsQmL-6Di8vxYlSsJmks73v0PHySx4WA-6QJX2L2NtfI0I2DGymHBVGLGTSo16NpLIKKD2AAHabfkvqh3NBrC6eS6hsIhAv3c-Qe_0Twvu31sprWqTZJBSwuGYU0k2RlChIg/s320/IMG_3573.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>On display throughout the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club Level are artifacts from the 124 year history of one of baseball's oldest franchises. For example: 1905 Fred Clarke style baseball bat, 1971 Nelson Briles World Series Glove, Doc Ellis No-Hitter Cleats, Hall Of Famer Paul Waner Glove, a replica Louisville Slugger Authentic Babe Ruth Bat and some very colorful sportcoats from longtime Pirate great play-by-play announcer Bob Prince.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C0KWhgxqbKYPWEoKV5yLspl_K2FtyfF8Pfqc781orqjNfDqXfjXqOyeEd2N0344ZBWW_NxA_9X4jxU-uWZKPSLBu_B7SWlHDreRp4zP2qtP1aAGnZ92fXMYthyphenhypheneA7EznALX0/s1600/IMG_3713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0C0KWhgxqbKYPWEoKV5yLspl_K2FtyfF8Pfqc781orqjNfDqXfjXqOyeEd2N0344ZBWW_NxA_9X4jxU-uWZKPSLBu_B7SWlHDreRp4zP2qtP1aAGnZ92fXMYthyphenhypheneA7EznALX0/s320/IMG_3713.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Much like the Lexus Presidents Club at Nationals Park, PNC's version is roomier inside. Leather loungers and sofas--with a nearby fireplace--greet patrons as they enter the ballpark from a private street entrance. The Lexus Club Bar is located behind the lounge area. The buffet meal set up along a walkway that separates the lounge & bar from the sit down food and waiter service. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are part of the ticket price. Beer, wine and liquor are extra.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7Ohk7f5Gq1Wtwr8CgRUtWdPLq4DiV-ycy9atnpbp1J3KVs8uwVCn3crugpZP2ShhaNlzydo6Xs3JP7tw3oj-2ey7hGejmQgNcqQmi88_y_vLYedZYPfDEPBn7toWv3m6nUKQ/s1600/IMG_3586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR7Ohk7f5Gq1Wtwr8CgRUtWdPLq4DiV-ycy9atnpbp1J3KVs8uwVCn3crugpZP2ShhaNlzydo6Xs3JP7tw3oj-2ey7hGejmQgNcqQmi88_y_vLYedZYPfDEPBn7toWv3m6nUKQ/s320/IMG_3586.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUg_AyWO_yrmMNqPBqBPs8EIbJ0e75RiklhcYHkRx7wCS_5CQxLaWit69sfha7AOeyARtR-oDSC3REcs6xdZ9vEQDt1HiKRpEdFsY1oslCzh4icGYP9Sq2RbdCexGUzvPRm9d/s1600/IMG_3589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUg_AyWO_yrmMNqPBqBPs8EIbJ0e75RiklhcYHkRx7wCS_5CQxLaWit69sfha7AOeyARtR-oDSC3REcs6xdZ9vEQDt1HiKRpEdFsY1oslCzh4icGYP9Sq2RbdCexGUzvPRm9d/s320/IMG_3589.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx62qEtg6zM4BQ7P3N_VVQMAp5CKdzJAzIPFkfwdSu4b0gfwgdaf5v5YslH3FIP-61r8Z8WYAtaYH0htNZ6H1xDxVWzCYB4HrX9r4T1_H-tQ78-GE3Va_U5QGU61ijwzlMGNV/s1600/IMG_3708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFx62qEtg6zM4BQ7P3N_VVQMAp5CKdzJAzIPFkfwdSu4b0gfwgdaf5v5YslH3FIP-61r8Z8WYAtaYH0htNZ6H1xDxVWzCYB4HrX9r4T1_H-tQ78-GE3Va_U5QGU61ijwzlMGNV/s320/IMG_3708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Just like at Nationals Park, Levy Restaurants runs the Lexus Club in Pittsburgh. The food offerings though were different. On South Capitol Street, the Lexus Presidents Club always offers two carving stations, a cheese and antipasti bar and a host of cold and hot desserts at each game. That's not the case in Pittsburgh. The Pirates Lexus Club has just one carving station and Levy's changes every food offering for each home game.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigcpGZM-UT6KcH2-fpdOIpzlVx-KKv6Wybk1jtHbAqgrO4TohN2BVaIieXywbBEZ8PtHA77YqTH4L4YBuYThKYzit7DdhogI4RrMlvK0Mv4virHiMcFrd6co3nagm9Gx57xNb/s1600/IMG_3640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigcpGZM-UT6KcH2-fpdOIpzlVx-KKv6Wybk1jtHbAqgrO4TohN2BVaIieXywbBEZ8PtHA77YqTH4L4YBuYThKYzit7DdhogI4RrMlvK0Mv4virHiMcFrd6co3nagm9Gx57xNb/s320/IMG_3640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fn_5o3TCXP5zLFtW35oLC5QA1s0C3OfZ3E1nAd4NZEGPVP6fz2CkkBhNlOjdc7-eOcq9dyLwlVhqU_LNFa6_Fh9_5yckdSrtTQmIJUZThMpVRuvi63bB9fgeErDr7fbU-sUY/s1600/IMG_3642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fn_5o3TCXP5zLFtW35oLC5QA1s0C3OfZ3E1nAd4NZEGPVP6fz2CkkBhNlOjdc7-eOcq9dyLwlVhqU_LNFa6_Fh9_5yckdSrtTQmIJUZThMpVRuvi63bB9fgeErDr7fbU-sUY/s320/IMG_3642.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Also in Pittsburgh, the sit down meal concludes shortly after the game begins and the restaurant shuts down. At Nationals Park, the buffet meal is served until the 4th inning and desserts until the 7th. In the Pirate Lexus Club seats, ballpark snacks, hot dogs and drinks are served. The seat menu in Pittsburgh not as extensive as the seat menu in Presidents Club at Nats Park.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz9FwOi_Syksm2qF_SF2q1MPW9mIwVuJHyntKkxMeLVmbbYxNrfjVoEq3EMlGTPyYzG5FcuTClDREcaGu-gDTD7v3wOxIqax5NROg_5s-fFoklYtz7VQSbduxeuAaLY22IAB5/s1600/IMG_3683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguz9FwOi_Syksm2qF_SF2q1MPW9mIwVuJHyntKkxMeLVmbbYxNrfjVoEq3EMlGTPyYzG5FcuTClDREcaGu-gDTD7v3wOxIqax5NROg_5s-fFoklYtz7VQSbduxeuAaLY22IAB5/s320/IMG_3683.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTOpwXsS7FEn-iH-KVid1_8G1dx4R6DKBt0DeimIxzq67OjGP5WuhwxnJcb3f7BGfqjG6CqhpSJ4ZN3i6zI4ZU3w99z8haMZtwHwd4QUl9FEryT4gcO3_ynRABqD8KVO2gXTZ/s1600/IMG_3687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTOpwXsS7FEn-iH-KVid1_8G1dx4R6DKBt0DeimIxzq67OjGP5WuhwxnJcb3f7BGfqjG6CqhpSJ4ZN3i6zI4ZU3w99z8haMZtwHwd4QUl9FEryT4gcO3_ynRABqD8KVO2gXTZ/s320/IMG_3687.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The padded seats were very comfortable, but don't offer as much leg room as Washington's Presidents Club seats. Still though, The PNC Park's Lexus Club was very, very nice.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAERNaVNKWIZtJhh7sROCqanlLffdGV5iqrBsLeLUKAVP-HzVSnd-VYknmruoGPSKX2R7yP9wiP2IO_DviGKMHC9SFKkyi3A7fYC6g58vBgXspWhqIYYSvnDCS8Wth6nNEBGv6/s1600/IMG_3452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAERNaVNKWIZtJhh7sROCqanlLffdGV5iqrBsLeLUKAVP-HzVSnd-VYknmruoGPSKX2R7yP9wiP2IO_DviGKMHC9SFKkyi3A7fYC6g58vBgXspWhqIYYSvnDCS8Wth6nNEBGv6/s320/IMG_3452.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnOveWW71GEFmntI_WgbbhZWH8Dn6lODrqxopqmEqj9dvvJiQkcml3ErVPms1Uj2NtMWTaUrH1MllkY0WX6xbfq9CHSogPWom-JY_TwdWazhO8vt3vPaJQiiDlWhvrcFuT19Z/s1600/IMG_3702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnOveWW71GEFmntI_WgbbhZWH8Dn6lODrqxopqmEqj9dvvJiQkcml3ErVPms1Uj2NtMWTaUrH1MllkY0WX6xbfq9CHSogPWom-JY_TwdWazhO8vt3vPaJQiiDlWhvrcFuT19Z/s320/IMG_3702.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>But what made both premium level sections at PNC Park so inviting--was how the park's employees greeted every single fan. Every usher, waiter, waitress, server, hostess had a smile on their faces. These employees made us feel at home. Ushers in both the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club and The Lexus Club welcomed us upon entering and explained all the features and what was included with our ticket. If we had any question, someone was always just a few steps away to answer. The employees at PNC Park could not have been nicer and that friendly, attentive, attitude stood out more than the actual comforts of both club levels.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3YxDyio6LJ7SDh4pE5Yeceh4caWPA0wa60g2e9EmszU4cA1daBXcYW_1cs49iG1HenoAqhJDMFqenZ43cHTQBaky2R3jQgH92iFNSUvgHsQSyhol-Ma95g13l1ZEsDUXgHwP/s1600/IMG_3437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3YxDyio6LJ7SDh4pE5Yeceh4caWPA0wa60g2e9EmszU4cA1daBXcYW_1cs49iG1HenoAqhJDMFqenZ43cHTQBaky2R3jQgH92iFNSUvgHsQSyhol-Ma95g13l1ZEsDUXgHwP/s320/IMG_3437.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We loved watching Our Washington Nationals take on The Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park this weekend--despite the rain--because The Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club level and The PNC Park Lexus Club added great value to the experience.<br />
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<b>Game Notes & Highlights: </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RWweVrZe7Snfra_jEhk3SSX6Ga7ftQ57Cq0Dv1qkzObs1_xMGsgkaujtWYyT0BEtGi-W3ZSVUEAEJ7PhmT9E0GUJQe9nRUJ5_M4Aq9CpqZd9MtctxytjNR_I6BTZSZEytHyF/s1600/IMG_3407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RWweVrZe7Snfra_jEhk3SSX6Ga7ftQ57Cq0Dv1qkzObs1_xMGsgkaujtWYyT0BEtGi-W3ZSVUEAEJ7PhmT9E0GUJQe9nRUJ5_M4Aq9CpqZd9MtctxytjNR_I6BTZSZEytHyF/s320/IMG_3407.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVAkrehQNmhKYJj5jXu6HOMS423JjYcrYiyL-ah6oFSMwZ5g1mPU-0jQwJG0PrLG6_qBzRsAemSZgSwiAWYEjiR1cdtZ8R7eWV1I6PAAluCV68i-HB6WZdm6sv5crYyZNPGOn/s1600/IMG_3427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVAkrehQNmhKYJj5jXu6HOMS423JjYcrYiyL-ah6oFSMwZ5g1mPU-0jQwJG0PrLG6_qBzRsAemSZgSwiAWYEjiR1cdtZ8R7eWV1I6PAAluCV68i-HB6WZdm6sv5crYyZNPGOn/s320/IMG_3427.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYzQ34ktbD2WAozmtSKL0PPTtW6zp8emv-k2iGVzV3EX0M7HR1Zwz_Vvacj0-iaWiBQw2_QeyEmHN5aguLvPnxo0sD8FB6E62E6Q7ypAGH8o7qCEgaXmXZ5nib2x_2OPANoc8/s1600/IMG_3429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYzQ34ktbD2WAozmtSKL0PPTtW6zp8emv-k2iGVzV3EX0M7HR1Zwz_Vvacj0-iaWiBQw2_QeyEmHN5aguLvPnxo0sD8FB6E62E6Q7ypAGH8o7qCEgaXmXZ5nib2x_2OPANoc8/s320/IMG_3429.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnlDO1VnuLL7LBCFz3Fe9cKJsiOhmFxp4UHnEqMVItqAM7S4D4nCZydRWkJRmZxkBfUA3lC-NY7FnAVngRYCTe_ZAXlp0t8BnJrCdH-vdhyphenhyphenWcRGqIJKqkD40EquO21vDPjwyq/s1600/IMG_3468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnlDO1VnuLL7LBCFz3Fe9cKJsiOhmFxp4UHnEqMVItqAM7S4D4nCZydRWkJRmZxkBfUA3lC-NY7FnAVngRYCTe_ZAXlp0t8BnJrCdH-vdhyphenhyphenWcRGqIJKqkD40EquO21vDPjwyq/s320/IMG_3468.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We went very retro this weekend. Pittsburgh fans loved our Homestead Grays flannel jerseys worn on Saturday night. The number of people that stopped us to ask where we got them was quite remarkable. It was also surprising how many fans in Western Pennsylvania don't seem to realize the Negro League Heritage both Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania share as the home cities for The Homestead Grays. Some didn't understand what Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Cool Papa Bell, etc. meant to this Nation's Capital.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG3YEYVDbxZZsvW6_7jMleHXLv3KO9YDNt8Pd7coIY2TSbj8bGqbtvZB7Gd9e1iZiP99MkqA7G3jrdUgLYcn3ZCh_qFFauXq7DKgv1PY3CE-lAgEmCljuo4vuXgZLMQhK8Ja5/s1600/IMG_3705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpG3YEYVDbxZZsvW6_7jMleHXLv3KO9YDNt8Pd7coIY2TSbj8bGqbtvZB7Gd9e1iZiP99MkqA7G3jrdUgLYcn3ZCh_qFFauXq7DKgv1PY3CE-lAgEmCljuo4vuXgZLMQhK8Ja5/s320/IMG_3705.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFeaNuqnIUXd2xN1ZMbEDHijAqkU3zXkeh1TZfIwfqfC_A4SKXQFFZV38SbOFlpcJ3K0EGmdRzh8Dy-vXFofomkKtc9yDGvVBIRPvrxIVxivQ6A9zg5wOtnRegG96upyMh5Ra/s1600/IMG_3703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhFeaNuqnIUXd2xN1ZMbEDHijAqkU3zXkeh1TZfIwfqfC_A4SKXQFFZV38SbOFlpcJ3K0EGmdRzh8Dy-vXFofomkKtc9yDGvVBIRPvrxIVxivQ6A9zg5wOtnRegG96upyMh5Ra/s320/IMG_3703.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>On Sunday, The African Queen and I returned to PNC Park wearing our 1970's Washington Senators Jerseys. Worn by Our Washington Nationals in Baltimore in 2010, these gray away script "Senators" were a big hit in Pittsburgh for a second year in a row.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid64qCTzL20zyNRKM-wP0y0VTxfQikLulIunKN_WWMXDZrkg7h4VvPZzXOC1L-xzo9dkrj77owlfVBh-0qjJwSAP6ivVVboEhSwnIOzMOab4kxXHCPga3efmd2XrF6NeOmAId/s1600/IMG_3691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiid64qCTzL20zyNRKM-wP0y0VTxfQikLulIunKN_WWMXDZrkg7h4VvPZzXOC1L-xzo9dkrj77owlfVBh-0qjJwSAP6ivVVboEhSwnIOzMOab4kxXHCPga3efmd2XrF6NeOmAId/s320/IMG_3691.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When Washington wore their red alternate jerseys in an away game for the first time at Citi Field on April 8th and 9th, the team wore the home red Curly "W" cap. Thankfully, this weekend in Pittsburgh, they switched to the more appropriate two tone blue with red bill Curly "W" cap. It looks better with the gray pants and blue jackets.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Nhewp66d0v5qBeisaxX7LXFxCVcW8GTvlsgpShyphenhyphenkKc8cF9zTDsXht0VE78HgB2_bigiGAbpkI1VQfLh0YlB71M6KGgPgpZ2mP3BN6-l7c7LjSqlsJXulHAudbThBGXzt2IMV/s1600/IMG_3424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Nhewp66d0v5qBeisaxX7LXFxCVcW8GTvlsgpShyphenhyphenkKc8cF9zTDsXht0VE78HgB2_bigiGAbpkI1VQfLh0YlB71M6KGgPgpZ2mP3BN6-l7c7LjSqlsJXulHAudbThBGXzt2IMV/s320/IMG_3424.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiN7UFWEIlgsbCE5qHivXYE8dNHKw4LV2CIsqYLHoIl5wtIkxZd4cjzikA8c8XYN6Bb6w529Q8B75xWhb-osrpeqgdljNoPlFk7-BOTPVKYkg9M313lUnGXbfTfKq4nm2HdEfY/s1600/IMG_3425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiN7UFWEIlgsbCE5qHivXYE8dNHKw4LV2CIsqYLHoIl5wtIkxZd4cjzikA8c8XYN6Bb6w529Q8B75xWhb-osrpeqgdljNoPlFk7-BOTPVKYkg9M313lUnGXbfTfKq4nm2HdEfY/s320/IMG_3425.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuLJY8BLftkPUfWxZM895f1KdsncmQlsd916aRFA1dLAg4bRlB3CKJ05iQRmcSYkvsQQYYOtf8A6adem56rGaY2lhkCKmZPjhLaZFxiBLa-Z11Gfzs8ALC7ZzseZbHJ5nAJ6V/s1600/IMG_3426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuLJY8BLftkPUfWxZM895f1KdsncmQlsd916aRFA1dLAg4bRlB3CKJ05iQRmcSYkvsQQYYOtf8A6adem56rGaY2lhkCKmZPjhLaZFxiBLa-Z11Gfzs8ALC7ZzseZbHJ5nAJ6V/s320/IMG_3426.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We also got a kick out of seeing Joel Hanrahan's photo on a banner flying outside PNC Park. One of the nice subtle additions to Pittsburgh's ballpark are these photo banners.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgwAUxakFVvB6HhyOrznIcjO5kkM5MrxTJCuzpw_fjASRkKTjiI5OfZ8N35t73PfzZT3CxPgIpBkZX9AFDUyOZi9W0ac218JAUhlN3jCWpt9sduQ9heG0r9h3ppqtRpLxlDIB/s1600/IMG_3505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgwAUxakFVvB6HhyOrznIcjO5kkM5MrxTJCuzpw_fjASRkKTjiI5OfZ8N35t73PfzZT3CxPgIpBkZX9AFDUyOZi9W0ac218JAUhlN3jCWpt9sduQ9heG0r9h3ppqtRpLxlDIB/s320/IMG_3505.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXU24MxyCJW94IP2VUkUH63RU6a2LHbCOAj3_ZeNvRWsg8FpFNCCotMOLL7X4qZfX7ikeO1a7av_TqWRicEjGYkJ_JQe62t_MgdP11zRTTuGVAvBCUeUYls8k3efeVjXOAwQp/s1600/IMG_3614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXU24MxyCJW94IP2VUkUH63RU6a2LHbCOAj3_ZeNvRWsg8FpFNCCotMOLL7X4qZfX7ikeO1a7av_TqWRicEjGYkJ_JQe62t_MgdP11zRTTuGVAvBCUeUYls8k3efeVjXOAwQp/s320/IMG_3614.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And finally, PNC Park used the appropriate Washington team logos on their scoreboard this weekend. For the past few seasons during our visits, The Pirates have only used the original 2005 "DC" and Fuddrucker Style Washington Away logos. In 2011, it's all script "Washington" and Curly "W".<br />
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PS: By the way, what a mess getting home last night. I-70 east at Breezewood was virtually shutdown due to heavy traffic and a construction lane closure. We barely moved five miles in two hours. Then on I-270, south of Frederick at Urbana, a five car accident shut down the highway again. To add to this never ending road trip back to Alexandria, Virginia--lo and behold--we run into a Secret Service Motorcade coming around Democracy Blvd heading to the Capital Beltway. Total time from Pittsburgh to Alexandria, Virginia--7 Hours and 30 Minutes. Normal running time: 4 Hours.<br />
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All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</div>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-49489628459086279952011-04-17T23:59:00.034-04:002011-04-18T06:26:17.302-04:00Book'em Danno<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeg73dFOcpsVAwzKz3TOYJ36kkw_nyCveIloaNfbq0XLSqceBVCox83ibGQ0ktkQMtDPirog3dAzS-KtAcM8SDclwUaIO5c38PJ8HbcW5erFy2YD7iQbsJLjWY47pcfo2Xpsfu/s1600/i-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeg73dFOcpsVAwzKz3TOYJ36kkw_nyCveIloaNfbq0XLSqceBVCox83ibGQ0ktkQMtDPirog3dAzS-KtAcM8SDclwUaIO5c38PJ8HbcW5erFy2YD7iQbsJLjWY47pcfo2Xpsfu/s320/i-2.jpeg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex Brandon (AP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>On the original television series Hawaii Five-O, "Book'em Danno" was the famous phrase Steve McGarrett stated to his sidekick Danny Williams at the conclusion of many episodes. Today at Nationals Park "Book'em Danno" was the evidence Radio Broadcaster Charlie Slowes needed to twice bellow out "A Curly 'W' Is In The Books" for Our Washington Nationals because Danny Espinosa crushed the baseball at Nationals Park when his teammates needed it the most in the second true doubleheader ever played on South Capitol Street.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKRq79Ys1cfkI32g09DjriumGwT14xGVH8TZuPFCj8ntFzbKhIDTqyyYZ4ThN8Prx2_lViKYil3yHqzVuLnTEeFMpfrC8LA41Mll-9gN7gC614EZXdZ8IE8tRuonbnmJPYl_P/s1600/IMG_3332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKRq79Ys1cfkI32g09DjriumGwT14xGVH8TZuPFCj8ntFzbKhIDTqyyYZ4ThN8Prx2_lViKYil3yHqzVuLnTEeFMpfrC8LA41Mll-9gN7gC614EZXdZ8IE8tRuonbnmJPYl_P/s320/IMG_3332.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOJ4A5FJ11H9pHKXEHGh-AN7YHJgZke67yZ9Aep-_g3L8XjAwt8RxxzvhiVVoEpANrr9b9gGBRG4ndYJoDQRXRd5KdfTYlyNVEir7qPWpHdYqGzYXjQSAiYw8oWbN6X3ENmuz/s1600/IMG_3347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOJ4A5FJ11H9pHKXEHGh-AN7YHJgZke67yZ9Aep-_g3L8XjAwt8RxxzvhiVVoEpANrr9b9gGBRG4ndYJoDQRXRd5KdfTYlyNVEir7qPWpHdYqGzYXjQSAiYw8oWbN6X3ENmuz/s320/IMG_3347.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When Commander Steve McGarrett (Jim Riggleman) sent Danny Williams (Danny Espinosa), Chin Ho (Pudge Rodriguez), Duke (Jason Marquis), Kono (Ian Desmond) and Che Fong (Livan Hernandez) out onto the field of play early this afternoon, little did Manager Jim understand how today's mysteries would play out. But as dusk began to settle as the lights came on and "Let's Go Nats!!" was being heard throughout Nationals Park, one of the most satisfying days for Nats players and fans alike in the three-plus year history of the still young ballyard was about to conclude.<br />
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Working the caseload, the Five-O staff had figured out every puzzle piece The Brew Crew threw their way.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghJToq-qfTtK3FZiXgffVDgbjF_2I01Q_a0GiP8UpdtJLCHhoxCRaQQpcPuG-Y2S5FQ4DlX33WFKCiH3wqRNjgug182mynBGc0v7620duyatNXJgn4e3678FHfXxEvSQof28E/s1600/IMG_3219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghJToq-qfTtK3FZiXgffVDgbjF_2I01Q_a0GiP8UpdtJLCHhoxCRaQQpcPuG-Y2S5FQ4DlX33WFKCiH3wqRNjgug182mynBGc0v7620duyatNXJgn4e3678FHfXxEvSQof28E/s320/IMG_3219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwp7Xw6SCdMcUtjQ8F3wRUx6aq7tVDhbY_BkeDLhnS9scowHL2SGIB099xfAW6w9BmHk1gNWuCNHFltKSxHmk2JSWMga2yRqXUnsG-90-l-pykKyRGTNtWkWby5S1ZMd9JNW3/s1600/IMG_3330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwp7Xw6SCdMcUtjQ8F3wRUx6aq7tVDhbY_BkeDLhnS9scowHL2SGIB099xfAW6w9BmHk1gNWuCNHFltKSxHmk2JSWMga2yRqXUnsG-90-l-pykKyRGTNtWkWby5S1ZMd9JNW3/s320/IMG_3330.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In fact, "Danno" nearly had a career day. A three run homer to put Washington ahead for good in the afternoon's first game. Then a three run rbi triple in the nightcap which put D.C.'s team back on top. And, oh yeah--just to add to the pleasure--the Defensive Play Of This Day when Espinosa ran, jumped and lunged to his left to snare a sharply hit liner off the bat of The Brewers' Erick Almonte in the top of second inning of Game Two.<br />
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Like any good detective, Danny Espinosa used some brawn and then his brain--a deadly combination this day.<br />
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But Danno wasn't the only contributor, just the most outstanding.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy-_-ChMuh6wQxVQLZwkAND21dGNcx_aK21UU5nGSlLq19rkcdz3ZNOtt5yIJQSophMXQSXJBYSzrzlqvIrjHbHnnJNYyaFXTz6b6G5QSJ7ZEWjWrn7Z-VBGte7EmWux9p3Xp/s1600/IMG_3242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIy-_-ChMuh6wQxVQLZwkAND21dGNcx_aK21UU5nGSlLq19rkcdz3ZNOtt5yIJQSophMXQSXJBYSzrzlqvIrjHbHnnJNYyaFXTz6b6G5QSJ7ZEWjWrn7Z-VBGte7EmWux9p3Xp/s320/IMG_3242.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Detective Chin Ho's opposite field drive to right finished Milwaukee's Yovani Gallardo in the 6th of game one--another three run shot. A Pudge blast JUST over the right field wall----a smoking liner driven the opposite way. The wily veteran in Pudge didn't let the younger Gallardo overpower him. Instead, Rodriguez used his learned knowledge to outsmart The Milwaukee Starter for the game distancing score.<br />
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That was some good police work.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gDUYP6uPFKGXowwvcgLjpiI_qvTXxgwUDG2owCafdTQg4WYTCP6gZMsJ5NVhl70DmX59Xj56MkwgAS5OE3cNrqvyEAKG_3P7bTVS-ytVY2ygsqLfHav8WOX4tI2tFvH46h4r/s1600/IMG_3181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gDUYP6uPFKGXowwvcgLjpiI_qvTXxgwUDG2owCafdTQg4WYTCP6gZMsJ5NVhl70DmX59Xj56MkwgAS5OE3cNrqvyEAKG_3P7bTVS-ytVY2ygsqLfHav8WOX4tI2tFvH46h4r/s320/IMG_3181.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0qGRRNGK94uyH2sAXqGgIeBzLjZc8GncRz6URJLgE823-pgMXw6xZlS9-u7aSpsGiZcbYIci-ZsgaTnHcfhrZUmNGIIc8nUA5yyBmanpuxconaGR9RBSsQTx_QwDXxVqI82-/s1600/IMG_3215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0qGRRNGK94uyH2sAXqGgIeBzLjZc8GncRz6URJLgE823-pgMXw6xZlS9-u7aSpsGiZcbYIci-ZsgaTnHcfhrZUmNGIIc8nUA5yyBmanpuxconaGR9RBSsQTx_QwDXxVqI82-/s320/IMG_3215.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In fact, the same could be said for Jason Marquis' seven innings of two run ball thrown in Game One. "Duke" was riddled for nine hits. The Brewers' challenged him most every frame, but Marquis never wavered with the added caseload. Riding the wave of the Five-O defensive staff standing behind him this afternoon, Jason was well on his way to his first personal victory of 2011. And was insured of the win when "Kono" laced a liner to left in the bottom of the 8th. Ian Desmond breaking out of his hitting slump by smacking his second home run of the year.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GuliBLX5gWEaVojGAfr6-DjqYAmaNh3Js7wNql7Twb8sfDcnB_HpujwHS8Y5DliE3taV3O_Wi6iwBqDRr_GYs_GDlbU1Tu6pFo4oNE-U3AwuwERAjTuz7jJk8Qr_5o0_nMgk/s1600/IMG_3288.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GuliBLX5gWEaVojGAfr6-DjqYAmaNh3Js7wNql7Twb8sfDcnB_HpujwHS8Y5DliE3taV3O_Wi6iwBqDRr_GYs_GDlbU1Tu6pFo4oNE-U3AwuwERAjTuz7jJk8Qr_5o0_nMgk/s320/IMG_3288.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>But as the Five-O staff always realizes, no crime scene investigation is complete without the crime technician and that's were "Che Fong" comes in. Livan Hernandez worked all the clues in game two. Ole Number 61 examined every angle a baseball could be thrown. He kept The Brew Crew off balance and by the time Manager Jim handed the ball over to Drew Storen to complete the sweep, Livo and Our Washington Nationals had solved The Milwaukee Brewers for good.<br />
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Playing solid defense (not a single error today), getting quality pitching, and for the first time all season--clutch hits, D.C.'s team played their finest day of baseball, so far, of the 2011 season.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQ1W_EJUp5YdwE7ASz4IYdq-OC30uNDYInvQJEQN8_y0sc7trSUlY97R5E43ZR7i9qDQ3ygISZZYtb0Z20w0PDNrcc5qSEpx3gSX5bVcThfNhhlxRNmfjEtPBiw_FZSmK4ZYB/s1600/IMG_3282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQ1W_EJUp5YdwE7ASz4IYdq-OC30uNDYInvQJEQN8_y0sc7trSUlY97R5E43ZR7i9qDQ3ygISZZYtb0Z20w0PDNrcc5qSEpx3gSX5bVcThfNhhlxRNmfjEtPBiw_FZSmK4ZYB/s320/IMG_3282.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8BP0Sb7BtEi2mIMiirzeBxMZG0gZaY8KpLizzLTKLG4P24GmEOuf4SMvvrJ8416oQmCp083zAkd3vDf28mo4oLpzrMA9ClOpWhKr5dudHuLhaDmcXjdutC66fkZrXkrTRrBK/s1600/IMG_3351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8BP0Sb7BtEi2mIMiirzeBxMZG0gZaY8KpLizzLTKLG4P24GmEOuf4SMvvrJ8416oQmCp083zAkd3vDf28mo4oLpzrMA9ClOpWhKr5dudHuLhaDmcXjdutC66fkZrXkrTRrBK/s320/IMG_3351.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Final Scores from Nationals Park where Danny Espinosa pretty much did it all with some help from his friends: Our Washington Nationals 8 and The Milwaukee Brewers 4 in Game 1 and Our Washington Nationals 5 and The Milwaukee Brewers 1 in Game 2. Curly "W's" Numbers 7 & 8 put D.C.'s Team above .500 after 15 games. The exact record after the same amount of games in 2010. But today's doubleheader wins and series sweep of The Brew Crew would not have been possible without the effort of Washington's Number 18.<br />
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Commander McGarrett proudly stating at the end of each Curly "W" today: "Book'em Danno!"<br />
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<b>Game Notes & Highlights</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWXO0SWpr_9nsmIHqvFN1nnrf3Rhb98NWwtJQy_a8KjIRoz8ETT69hCmHeIoxdubrLhyphenhypheno4bkn3zaYRHiMPnivhDeKxhyzFiPcaDT68JlxByAG_IPRDbD4kL3qUgz7cH8_MW8X/s1600/IMG_3251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGWXO0SWpr_9nsmIHqvFN1nnrf3Rhb98NWwtJQy_a8KjIRoz8ETT69hCmHeIoxdubrLhyphenhypheno4bkn3zaYRHiMPnivhDeKxhyzFiPcaDT68JlxByAG_IPRDbD4kL3qUgz7cH8_MW8X/s320/IMG_3251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In Game One--Jason Marquis gave up a ton of hits, nine in seven innings plus one walk. But he only allowed two runs and was helped out by a beautifully turned double play on a ground ball hit by Carlos Gomez in the top of the sixth. Stroked to Alex Cora manning 3rd base, Cora quickly turned over the baseball to a rushing Espinosa at 2nd Base (to get Jonathan LuCroy) who pivoted and sidearm slung the baseball around the horn to Adam LaRoche at 1st Base to end the inning. A Twin Killing so well turned that Marquis pointed to each and every one of the trio involved in thanks as he walked off the field while fist pumping in joy.<br />
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Speaking of LaRoche, he made quite a few nice in the dirt pickups of baseballs thrown his way by Washington's Infield today. The quality of defense not seen consistently by a Washington 1st Baseman since Nick Johnson regularly manned the bag in the Nation's Capital.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayyzjz99Poiu9deGT_roWDbm18-bJLnCp7gNgx3704zhohpg9TF4ubfvDuHLQP4xlv00P_xmJCVUr5oP6928B4aEsnvLtbV-v-2gXahdf7bwHAVhChwpG0pYi_nBOOReDk8F7/s1600/IMG_3299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayyzjz99Poiu9deGT_roWDbm18-bJLnCp7gNgx3704zhohpg9TF4ubfvDuHLQP4xlv00P_xmJCVUr5oP6928B4aEsnvLtbV-v-2gXahdf7bwHAVhChwpG0pYi_nBOOReDk8F7/s320/IMG_3299.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In Game Two--Livan Hernandez was vintage Livo. Throwing that Woop-Di-Woop Stuff that's made him famous--barely reaching 60MPH on some pitches, Ole Number 61 was terrific this afternoon. Seven complete innings pitched, no walks, six hits allowed, just one run. The most relaxed person in the game picked up his second personal win in three decisions and lowered his ERA to 2.88.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AC-YuQ7g5cGHp7RTkZbDjmEJ93Wp-hLy5EtpTx2IbarsUzclWOzJKMZ70xJ3X1PW3Y9xiogWp0nVeHSwQ9BV4v0RDzzEGaoboSjPJA8zlVVuan0maCqp7murAoSUO9X_O3_k/s1600/IMG_3333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1AC-YuQ7g5cGHp7RTkZbDjmEJ93Wp-hLy5EtpTx2IbarsUzclWOzJKMZ70xJ3X1PW3Y9xiogWp0nVeHSwQ9BV4v0RDzzEGaoboSjPJA8zlVVuan0maCqp7murAoSUO9X_O3_k/s320/IMG_3333.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiU4B7HHL8vLkAZU_LS-98vOgIQIpNPNMzMRpxp8xNU4qpSdVsg7Do8NSmVqKtY3zurXJCDCMEvuE2tpG3tD9VJEA2wnvtzhpD1B30B3Dz16MBwN7prgPvO5eQYij8NSs3fbVO/s1600/IMG_3338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiU4B7HHL8vLkAZU_LS-98vOgIQIpNPNMzMRpxp8xNU4qpSdVsg7Do8NSmVqKtY3zurXJCDCMEvuE2tpG3tD9VJEA2wnvtzhpD1B30B3Dz16MBwN7prgPvO5eQYij8NSs3fbVO/s320/IMG_3338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Drew Storen was fabulous too in his two inning save recorded in relief of The Big Cuban. The Stanford Product continues to impress with a fastball in the mid to upper 90's--setting up his slider to get hitters out. Storen's first save of 2011 was a thing of beauty.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Rys32MsNNWVi2C2AEeo9hoFT4GsjFCFT_OUXO3t6fBCgEVfRUMc59uhAfjxeh0LWPuRzFnJXXyB4swsQ8yfIsMvkX4A8QhKh0t6fzrNMFsSXKGBiyW9Vl47lrNRORC-0-Q-D/s1600/IMG_3267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Rys32MsNNWVi2C2AEeo9hoFT4GsjFCFT_OUXO3t6fBCgEVfRUMc59uhAfjxeh0LWPuRzFnJXXyB4swsQ8yfIsMvkX4A8QhKh0t6fzrNMFsSXKGBiyW9Vl47lrNRORC-0-Q-D/s320/IMG_3267.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Words that can not be said about Washington's bullpen in Game One. If there was any discord from today's two games it came in the bullpen work over the final two innings of the opener. Doug Slaten, Chad Gaudin and Tyler Clippard pitched 2/3rd's of an inning apiece. None was overly exceptional. Gaudin allowed two runners to score. Milwaukee loaded up the bases in the 9th, putting the tying run in the on deck circle--before Clippard, thankfully, struck out Casey McGehee to finally end the game.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeP19lOJstoYRcrupP_3eGKgnZoiUPc2adD12K3xULwbMvFsfmFsPgtkiORHN4JOdTXzOYaxwUOU8FmwA10S1jnk52n55TjNFfAabOnxiEl6vChChlDCF5Khnjhl2NJic0fkf/s1600/IMG_3220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpeP19lOJstoYRcrupP_3eGKgnZoiUPc2adD12K3xULwbMvFsfmFsPgtkiORHN4JOdTXzOYaxwUOU8FmwA10S1jnk52n55TjNFfAabOnxiEl6vChChlDCF5Khnjhl2NJic0fkf/s320/IMG_3220.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TD9yOwpg_UzXHP1-qBqw9vt4sUbKFyA13UgNQ6uGk9SA6qFTF8KVd7NwKDrf7-Og6fJip7Xx3nLOeR1K7TSg9Lo7GKYH28dG-y1xVoioes4l9nLGcuc3X_kUm5sYpEvJ7mxo/s1600/IMG_3240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-TD9yOwpg_UzXHP1-qBqw9vt4sUbKFyA13UgNQ6uGk9SA6qFTF8KVd7NwKDrf7-Og6fJip7Xx3nLOeR1K7TSg9Lo7GKYH28dG-y1xVoioes4l9nLGcuc3X_kUm5sYpEvJ7mxo/s320/IMG_3240.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Espinosa's six RBI in two games leaves him second in the National League with 14 for the season. Pudge's 310th Career Home Run was his first since September 21st, 2010 against The Houston Astros at Nationals Park. He celebrated like a World Series Champion rounding 3rd Base. He was bouncing around the bases. We could see his wide smile easily from our seats in Section 218. Pudge was pumped.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwmjXjF0Y2shdmURStYp4hyphenhyphenLLFsH8aHy7KudfkiK9G60wgi_20hDVt-Baf5dM5wGXNNOXfQhRu2dHDaY5ZTrTwhiy8YHFN2xiglSw7rS7p3P-l_ZQxDMHIWVQJp-hr9DZEiyz/s1600/IMG_3302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwmjXjF0Y2shdmURStYp4hyphenhyphenLLFsH8aHy7KudfkiK9G60wgi_20hDVt-Baf5dM5wGXNNOXfQhRu2dHDaY5ZTrTwhiy8YHFN2xiglSw7rS7p3P-l_ZQxDMHIWVQJp-hr9DZEiyz/s320/IMG_3302.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Jerry Hairston, Jr. took former National Marco Estrada deep in Game Two, to be followed by Espinosa's opposite field triple stroked down the left field line scoring Desmond, Hairston and Matt Stairs, before Adam LaRoche capped off today's Washington scoring with a tremendous drive to right off Zack Braddock which cleared the Out Of Town Scoreboard in the bottom of the 8th.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpEN_jLuVKzszaHGCEdRxiZGqJatUBObyEa8of5DMMRQQiRS8bPZg2PSt2ZK83ht34gEbLH_vsjln6K7FLRWpSEzJr41aEfOpJNLahAjeDc_cNbs6C9a5kOFhyDStJqwCNjxi/s1600/IMG_3243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpEN_jLuVKzszaHGCEdRxiZGqJatUBObyEa8of5DMMRQQiRS8bPZg2PSt2ZK83ht34gEbLH_vsjln6K7FLRWpSEzJr41aEfOpJNLahAjeDc_cNbs6C9a5kOFhyDStJqwCNjxi/s320/IMG_3243.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>22 total hits today by Washington, 11 in each game. Five home runs, one each from Espinosa, Rodriguez, Ian Desmond, Jerry Hairston, Jr. and Adam LaRoche. For a team struggling all year long at the plate--Manager Jim's lineups busted out big time this afternoon, at just the right time in each game.</div><br />
Speaking of Espinosa's three run homer in the 1st Game, the sight of Milwaukee's Mark Kotsay running back toward Washington's Bullpen, with his glove hand high in the air, attempting to catch the drive was almost as good as the home run itself. From the crack of the bat, that ball was driven off Gallardo--a no doubter. Yet Kotsay believed he had the baseball in his sights and never gave up on it until he hit the fence. Credit for effort and thanks for making the game turning moment even more enjoyable.<br />
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By the way--just like The Brewers's Craig Counsell (playing for Arizona) stood at home plate on April 14, 2005 to take the first kick and pitch from Livan Hernandez at RFK Stadium--to be remembered forever--Kotsay was the centerfielder for Atlanta immortalized by Charlie Slowes on March 30th, 2008 when he attempted to track down Ryan Zimmerman's game winning home run in the bottom of the 9th on Opening Night at Nationals Park. One of the greatest home run calls in Nationals history.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvfJIvf0JyBBIPH6ZzH85G6FEf5pDKckqS5d7ppTF0qlm4sax15jwmgYguSe4wdDPvPteXgj5bOCEczypmzzZDlt5hNDGOvqwcE2-ZxzHxizvIXiyk8YcbsFMukmDmZ0UBfiT/s1600/IMG_3344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvfJIvf0JyBBIPH6ZzH85G6FEf5pDKckqS5d7ppTF0qlm4sax15jwmgYguSe4wdDPvPteXgj5bOCEczypmzzZDlt5hNDGOvqwcE2-ZxzHxizvIXiyk8YcbsFMukmDmZ0UBfiT/s320/IMG_3344.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv9sNLCICHJrLcvhysdAj5MvUUL0GDQ9QXv97yKAdk-cVGntA4u-2mdcGh0fRDOF0ZDcVcLMsEoGIpj2pngqZuJsFPOJ1b2VThEYDwvMjv15OQegbHUgK4SYLhAasYYpO01nC/s1600/IMG_3270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv9sNLCICHJrLcvhysdAj5MvUUL0GDQ9QXv97yKAdk-cVGntA4u-2mdcGh0fRDOF0ZDcVcLMsEoGIpj2pngqZuJsFPOJ1b2VThEYDwvMjv15OQegbHUgK4SYLhAasYYpO01nC/s320/IMG_3270.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jayson Werth sat out Game Two. Toward the end of Game One, Werth was seen trying to loosen up his achilles tendons and legs during pitching changes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfxaFHPbgX-66Ds3oVz_mIGjk9ucfrA7HVwTMWCJiy-tM1Bw6WE2ro-CS_0IbCL58RXrynBI1uFHFrB8WVMI2Av9N603w6OEi1hUGsHDaox8dJVnUkiT8VEyjErKQiH8gxodk/s1600/IMG_3244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfxaFHPbgX-66Ds3oVz_mIGjk9ucfrA7HVwTMWCJiy-tM1Bw6WE2ro-CS_0IbCL58RXrynBI1uFHFrB8WVMI2Av9N603w6OEi1hUGsHDaox8dJVnUkiT8VEyjErKQiH8gxodk/s320/IMG_3244.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Nyjer Morgan pinch hit today during Game One. He was booed lustily before grounding out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghasG8pUxjg_kxBXufxTfjIHjrO6wdM9sLJQKPvoHJyhdvgR0WqqmFNPuoY7Y2gMCQ4cy16CXJb8FazjYkQX42LNZkg2M0saSZCpvwLA4uPou3EtWAunkVdTEkL3dx1ILLkZuY/s1600/IMG_3173.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghasG8pUxjg_kxBXufxTfjIHjrO6wdM9sLJQKPvoHJyhdvgR0WqqmFNPuoY7Y2gMCQ4cy16CXJb8FazjYkQX42LNZkg2M0saSZCpvwLA4uPou3EtWAunkVdTEkL3dx1ILLkZuY/s320/IMG_3173.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sitmr1MFqItbbpiAyJ0EdQyIAkzewJDo2axiiV_vkAeic2Qahu99BQUdI-wdLMZXkBoE0Uit4wjNVVr-V9x_yYb0gwJBH8udLuQYd-ugyuF5wRQtJls2J56LdyEQBkvJdtsf/s1600/IMG_3364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4sitmr1MFqItbbpiAyJ0EdQyIAkzewJDo2axiiV_vkAeic2Qahu99BQUdI-wdLMZXkBoE0Uit4wjNVVr-V9x_yYb0gwJBH8udLuQYd-ugyuF5wRQtJls2J56LdyEQBkvJdtsf/s320/IMG_3364.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri7A4XLqaO4yuCTo4-soQJD7ZFXQDeBmcw9iGqr2Q9MZ7a2OcMrerqXxOqHCtMlIUJMLPf_BSkVU_Yyslxq46GHYSOPTW-H3PRMeoRfmoGmBMTHJtIse3FijJIZnOrSAlkFyi/s1600/IMG_3366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjri7A4XLqaO4yuCTo4-soQJD7ZFXQDeBmcw9iGqr2Q9MZ7a2OcMrerqXxOqHCtMlIUJMLPf_BSkVU_Yyslxq46GHYSOPTW-H3PRMeoRfmoGmBMTHJtIse3FijJIZnOrSAlkFyi/s320/IMG_3366.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The Cherry Blossom Trees looked great today. They were in full bloom and appeared at their best since Nationals Park opened in 2008.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmz2EHxIVQp1VAx2TFVJ5OqOklSFYUW1SqEUqvT8tduPNo-QTh_Q3X9hNT6SQ9gb0L1r84Z0i7RsiTRo8tiBEEUh8Qa88KNVjnFZsT_DGDagNs58GZumPxd9vSMVtewD2guNH/s1600/IMG_3287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmz2EHxIVQp1VAx2TFVJ5OqOklSFYUW1SqEUqvT8tduPNo-QTh_Q3X9hNT6SQ9gb0L1r84Z0i7RsiTRo8tiBEEUh8Qa88KNVjnFZsT_DGDagNs58GZumPxd9vSMVtewD2guNH/s320/IMG_3287.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sohna counted eight different baseballs fouled off into Section 218 during the two games today. Moments before Jayson Werth singled and eventually scored in the bottom of the 4th inning of Game One, Werth fouled a pitch from Yovandi Gallardo that came directly to me that was caught on the fly. Our first baseball of the 2011 season.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnefT_w9rdAzcUaojYC0Qc8pfA7BomgdSRZlqJKTq255JlkSiF6DKrIeZjO7cdLzQWR3Fot8sKQvs6jADNmsFoT-93sG6EaPPCDzj2NmOOglGIaggJ7c6YxbSUwvjDieFXlnOS/s1600/IMG_3204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnefT_w9rdAzcUaojYC0Qc8pfA7BomgdSRZlqJKTq255JlkSiF6DKrIeZjO7cdLzQWR3Fot8sKQvs6jADNmsFoT-93sG6EaPPCDzj2NmOOglGIaggJ7c6YxbSUwvjDieFXlnOS/s320/IMG_3204.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2-fbWTSLsX1xPJbYph4fPTBkYnXG6s5i9wk47xaXegs1pOog85uI82CBgfXizNKT00WB0Bx7hlSAiJruPtUiwENSaT-5-BH0Gr3JyWT2gFu-rzUf1dVB7-9Ds7-O5nm6nO8Q/s1600/IMG_3205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2-fbWTSLsX1xPJbYph4fPTBkYnXG6s5i9wk47xaXegs1pOog85uI82CBgfXizNKT00WB0Bx7hlSAiJruPtUiwENSaT-5-BH0Gr3JyWT2gFu-rzUf1dVB7-9Ds7-O5nm6nO8Q/s320/IMG_3205.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My Best Friend!! Screech!! celebrated his 6th birthday today and was joined by his Mom and a series of area mascots. The George Mason Patriot, Maryland Terrapin, GW Colonial. DC United's Talon, University of Delaware Blue Hen, Georgetown Hoya, American University Eagle, Uncle Slam (Potomac Nationals) and the Maryland BlueCrab (Waldorf's Atlantic League Independent Baseball Team) all appeared on the home dugout as Screech's Mom presented his birthday cake.<br />
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Later the mascots took out the Unracing Sausages which featured one of the greatest body slams in Presidents Race History when Teddy flat out NAILED one of the sausages with an aerial worthy of the WWE.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpJTnHN9VZT51FVSG1zL-SZLwipMgrF47-kxlzu1HvLjnYaypH3ua9_-1DGIROldeULGjX0brfUx7InVrlaERCvMuQfC11V7Ya3oIkIiLlKr-maEOQLZhfRbOKzv_KM6H0T0Z/s1600/IMG_3228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGpJTnHN9VZT51FVSG1zL-SZLwipMgrF47-kxlzu1HvLjnYaypH3ua9_-1DGIROldeULGjX0brfUx7InVrlaERCvMuQfC11V7Ya3oIkIiLlKr-maEOQLZhfRbOKzv_KM6H0T0Z/s320/IMG_3228.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdVzVGAhDR6Y4PjOHlyLQ6Gc4kk0mVm1PkatHHf5GiYOt6wNo5cMs8b9mTznwaWLPPXbtaxEPFZbxIZfsAosW_-8-H9YqoAHEVWy8_zmLx98h-mMTyPvo89ipJhQtAEX9fNVI/s1600/IMG_3229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdVzVGAhDR6Y4PjOHlyLQ6Gc4kk0mVm1PkatHHf5GiYOt6wNo5cMs8b9mTznwaWLPPXbtaxEPFZbxIZfsAosW_-8-H9YqoAHEVWy8_zmLx98h-mMTyPvo89ipJhQtAEX9fNVI/s320/IMG_3229.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>During the same game, Screech and the NatPack would defeat all the local mascots in a tug-of-war.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnPJ6vMaWxAUBAXm0ycvBnh7Fn7rL_VJ4hW1JEaKQrzy4aWMkU3NUlYAfuoay-Vs3bZw7X_fivfRH7Kt7P9DYe1ftF59IukJ7xE9cir-odhzj1rNLKv9sNJhsVPwMm1xWybj5/s1600/IMG_3311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsnPJ6vMaWxAUBAXm0ycvBnh7Fn7rL_VJ4hW1JEaKQrzy4aWMkU3NUlYAfuoay-Vs3bZw7X_fivfRH7Kt7P9DYe1ftF59IukJ7xE9cir-odhzj1rNLKv9sNJhsVPwMm1xWybj5/s320/IMG_3311.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0GGabn1vAUsggIFCTlXlfwzsFOP7QxMU-XauAd1B5zPhb2kMjRk_erYFFRrjp-Htlc-kls_qTk7vx5yKN-h5oMMIUyi7l-arC1hLja_xVeNDV7bFH-R_KhQ_isxXYa1EVTJR/s1600/IMG_3312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0GGabn1vAUsggIFCTlXlfwzsFOP7QxMU-XauAd1B5zPhb2kMjRk_erYFFRrjp-Htlc-kls_qTk7vx5yKN-h5oMMIUyi7l-arC1hLja_xVeNDV7bFH-R_KhQ_isxXYa1EVTJR/s320/IMG_3312.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKIg2jHnuLgL1dejexSW5xU-I7IZwAYMkYLOK9MW7ImL0AK_EPJ7OnJJGdx4ymNaQzJwP4yoSiggaCSN-PsaHc4aCKU0pSSaETFczw52uW_xLoy60JdtfErTY1_UWLHdhdxnH/s1600/IMG_3313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKIg2jHnuLgL1dejexSW5xU-I7IZwAYMkYLOK9MW7ImL0AK_EPJ7OnJJGdx4ymNaQzJwP4yoSiggaCSN-PsaHc4aCKU0pSSaETFczw52uW_xLoy60JdtfErTY1_UWLHdhdxnH/s320/IMG_3313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In game two--Teddy would clothesline one of the Unracing Sausages allowing Abe to take the checkered flag.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXr8N_HdXmYhQ8Rdh1HHW8SwTtfK92sSCD4BvVwqmFyPnAaeV2ENp1a-hnaaF29NX6tPKgCcC2IWcf69FrFitMwuo1vORfJco4EVB1ycutkLV8SORgKTMU7ev0spUPpVAG5j8h/s1600/IMG_3234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXr8N_HdXmYhQ8Rdh1HHW8SwTtfK92sSCD4BvVwqmFyPnAaeV2ENp1a-hnaaF29NX6tPKgCcC2IWcf69FrFitMwuo1vORfJco4EVB1ycutkLV8SORgKTMU7ev0spUPpVAG5j8h/s320/IMG_3234.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAisVoCnEOnRuxaJIxewwCZa3cv0jrzKyJYhaVIEYSf03jocxCLUP-KIVDj5aUWhx43mXMjjRN0qnabnoSfV7JhVD-ZMrdbY60CXQEZBLuvZ6vKXyWjss05RpoRjpWQT36r-p/s1600/IMG_3235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAisVoCnEOnRuxaJIxewwCZa3cv0jrzKyJYhaVIEYSf03jocxCLUP-KIVDj5aUWhx43mXMjjRN0qnabnoSfV7JhVD-ZMrdbY60CXQEZBLuvZ6vKXyWjss05RpoRjpWQT36r-p/s320/IMG_3235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1mp16VoQxDmbawIpgkZY_6IZ7xyQaU1Tp-n41S1WQ62BGXDCjhAD3637lf2bq_ffLiQuCe7k-JZS5Uj36ABcl20ycI3PK7KEFpDy2PubWmeiaKQ6yiFpLYsx1dpQaP9iQfx8/s1600/IMG_3236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1mp16VoQxDmbawIpgkZY_6IZ7xyQaU1Tp-n41S1WQ62BGXDCjhAD3637lf2bq_ffLiQuCe7k-JZS5Uj36ABcl20ycI3PK7KEFpDy2PubWmeiaKQ6yiFpLYsx1dpQaP9iQfx8/s320/IMG_3236.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Good crowd for Game One: Officially announced at 23,047.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzRUJgXS0UgE29Eu98iaw02b5FSiTvCiMHJSjOp6ec2t7MAo46bDGOcjSbSP29Lmyt9-OoGRwRVWc8E99sSVKWVQz2EfHqmRf2NBYJM1JhJd7_1XvmHKOQup_yCVMd0MNv1OG/s1600/IMG_3289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEzRUJgXS0UgE29Eu98iaw02b5FSiTvCiMHJSjOp6ec2t7MAo46bDGOcjSbSP29Lmyt9-OoGRwRVWc8E99sSVKWVQz2EfHqmRf2NBYJM1JhJd7_1XvmHKOQup_yCVMd0MNv1OG/s320/IMG_3289.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfymfwUIW_Yeflup5lhK1SwClsMKPq82h9SsVyF2QB9OXQIQU95voOwJ1uOUFxm6PnWuNTWqTZMPHs5i3rM2csjBCs_teHQ82ZeVGyqkrHMZYqt3Pe8tvkmtNZFXj6ydL4p7I/s1600/IMG_3290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfymfwUIW_Yeflup5lhK1SwClsMKPq82h9SsVyF2QB9OXQIQU95voOwJ1uOUFxm6PnWuNTWqTZMPHs5i3rM2csjBCs_teHQ82ZeVGyqkrHMZYqt3Pe8tvkmtNZFXj6ydL4p7I/s320/IMG_3290.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Not as many stayed for Game Two though.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SY1VK5dOyHcIXGBy6Mh9Ny2wP4Do5DJ8Lxcz_0CR_euvMUVIE9SHDUVxhf6MimmoeoBDQCUZ4ikDWEunn1un9KcjxjiHUC8R8cvzKLk64mIceS1DZRwMP4i_Az2UlvhueuZQ/s1600/IMG_3319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SY1VK5dOyHcIXGBy6Mh9Ny2wP4Do5DJ8Lxcz_0CR_euvMUVIE9SHDUVxhf6MimmoeoBDQCUZ4ikDWEunn1un9KcjxjiHUC8R8cvzKLk64mIceS1DZRwMP4i_Az2UlvhueuZQ/s320/IMG_3319.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We got a total kick out of the electronic billboard that sits above Washington's Bullpen when newly called up Collin Balester got up to throw in the 7th inning, it read: "Number 99--Stammen" Well, Craig is still in Rochester at AAA Ball and Balester switched his uniform Number from 99 to 23 for 2011.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XJKm-upN-4ssZCXBax9Edlq7QuKx8aTNmvoGM7aWRwEDs5sbR_aCuVt9MOjZChtVBJerl6ekhy0yeMdKhyphenhyphenKyXl7mzis4BXYN9HtLYrTA7D1hWOeMdiumjCBqMONFtRgzKuJg/s1600/IMG_3284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XJKm-upN-4ssZCXBax9Edlq7QuKx8aTNmvoGM7aWRwEDs5sbR_aCuVt9MOjZChtVBJerl6ekhy0yeMdKhyphenhyphenKyXl7mzis4BXYN9HtLYrTA7D1hWOeMdiumjCBqMONFtRgzKuJg/s320/IMG_3284.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KtfeDpX0RBhzu_q34xzvl027dz3Xl_uRdAIKHO2TBlwWQiahMmZ6Ksxp2YSSSwTFBMbM-DBCFbuU5bR_Da2SLJDrgjLNaUS0fdDvXQvrupm20Xk_P5ChYvkIFct37Pgf_B0I/s1600/IMG_3285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KtfeDpX0RBhzu_q34xzvl027dz3Xl_uRdAIKHO2TBlwWQiahMmZ6Ksxp2YSSSwTFBMbM-DBCFbuU5bR_Da2SLJDrgjLNaUS0fdDvXQvrupm20Xk_P5ChYvkIFct37Pgf_B0I/s320/IMG_3285.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And finally. OK, due a rainout and the fact that Our Washington Nationals and The Milwaukee Brewers play each other in D.C. only one time in 2011--a true doubleheader was played today at Nationals Park. Great!! Two games for the price of one. So why would every concession stand in The Stars & Stripes Club shutdown between games? Would that not be one of your better times to sell food and drink?<br />
<br />
Both the Homestead Grays Bar and the Nats Bar remained open--nothing else did. Thankfully, the Flippin Pizza folks realized fans staying for Game Two wanted food, and reopened almost immediately when people started lining up. As for the Anacosta Station, the Nacho Stand and The Carving Station on the 1st base side--not until just a few minutes before the start of game two.<br />
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<i>All Other Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-78506174069256491372011-04-16T12:30:00.023-04:002011-04-16T12:47:39.836-04:00Questions Then Answers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4xuda0S83xJU3r5xyNvBSONNnL07I9vvSJRhiWufhxqPMR_emfiRr3MuMKJ9kDV2fGI4TGx0UIhwJQrZPiaIiJ1mCp61padcsIdN6Vis9d3hZuTSCv4zfZK7zr6M5DUPr5xQ/s1600/i.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4xuda0S83xJU3r5xyNvBSONNnL07I9vvSJRhiWufhxqPMR_emfiRr3MuMKJ9kDV2fGI4TGx0UIhwJQrZPiaIiJ1mCp61padcsIdN6Vis9d3hZuTSCv4zfZK7zr6M5DUPr5xQ/s320/i.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex Brandon (AP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNYglEBbBnA-1SlNsTqhD3WBKYvvZZDwkv4ANop4lDvgQ7PtbImnY7s_EffQs8F0eAQFmGYMABxfptlAfqgf-R709oWFSntgQKj_44mWexuCVrtqp6myO-D1IFNjvQndXDsrL/s1600/IMG_3167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlNYglEBbBnA-1SlNsTqhD3WBKYvvZZDwkv4ANop4lDvgQ7PtbImnY7s_EffQs8F0eAQFmGYMABxfptlAfqgf-R709oWFSntgQKj_44mWexuCVrtqp6myO-D1IFNjvQndXDsrL/s320/IMG_3167.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhUHMdDjcF8AW676fpSOxyQqgpE_xmx1u211i9ic8CRYibvRi4bbjhFjUFJ_6VVkZ2_FzM4lr0Qty9Y3ADSXueBmhTdM0hGkriF1rE3t1ClNifeVIC768kumaQTqOkE8-EKFP/s1600/IMG_3168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhUHMdDjcF8AW676fpSOxyQqgpE_xmx1u211i9ic8CRYibvRi4bbjhFjUFJ_6VVkZ2_FzM4lr0Qty9Y3ADSXueBmhTdM0hGkriF1rE3t1ClNifeVIC768kumaQTqOkE8-EKFP/s320/IMG_3168.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Question:</b> Raise your hand if you thought Our Washington Nationals could score four runs without getting a hit last evening?<br />
<br />
<b>Answer:</b> Yes, they did--on two bases loaded walks, one sacrifice fly and a fielder's choice.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggErDhjSK452hUhgm7TvayVqCqv2b0Rj38rdKutBgBcFX6DknYofhfyKbgVMU18cJF7LwXxA0dTO5VuYiqy4MQz2WTXJWk8RWMQ_ZrxOeqK9IqztjS9RCk7WO4SP69d_L3_crZ/s1600/IMG_3088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggErDhjSK452hUhgm7TvayVqCqv2b0Rj38rdKutBgBcFX6DknYofhfyKbgVMU18cJF7LwXxA0dTO5VuYiqy4MQz2WTXJWk8RWMQ_ZrxOeqK9IqztjS9RCk7WO4SP69d_L3_crZ/s320/IMG_3088.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh64fZnBEAKmRsJnxXkzLKyIhV-_K7KAPNDc58xi3A0DbCNGBzc9NiSVnDYg0kAaQsbahkhtZhIjAC-DI9wQbKmnd3sE3iWJHyDWS0PtRKKkzCdpbi6M-k7DiEG1N83hVDxJP/s1600/IMG_3090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsh64fZnBEAKmRsJnxXkzLKyIhV-_K7KAPNDc58xi3A0DbCNGBzc9NiSVnDYg0kAaQsbahkhtZhIjAC-DI9wQbKmnd3sE3iWJHyDWS0PtRKKkzCdpbi6M-k7DiEG1N83hVDxJP/s320/IMG_3090.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Question:</b> Did you hope Tony Vega and his Band were heard over the P.A.--just for old time sakes--during Wil Nieves very first at-bat for the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. The man that never stops smiling returned to Nationals Park in a visiting uniform for the first time and received a very nice ovation from those in attendance. <br />
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<b>Answer:</b> Just out of appreciation for the fun many had dancing to his batting music and his friendliness toward every Nationals Fan--hearing that latino tune one last time would have been classy and stylish.<br />
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<b>Question</b>: How hard was it to watch Sean Burnett, down to his last out twice, and final strike to Carlos Gomez in the top of the 9th--Save Number 4 of 2011 surely in the books--only to see Gomez drill a single to left center scoring Rickie Weeks with the game tying score and sitting some already FREEZING fans back down in their seats for extras innings on this cold night?<br />
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<b>Answer:</b> Washington starter Tom Gorzelanny deserved the victory but was denied when Burnett couldn't get that final out before the tying run scored. And did Nationals Park ever empty out after The Brewers tied the game in the top of the 9th. The temperature had dipped so low--it was quite funny to see many in the announced crowd of 17,217 actually wearing shorts and flip flops--unprepared for the far from balmy weather.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5QgeSQjqzWZvzpNSacc8JpB7h4SUhmkjC6sjbSMcRWEtqyu5Mbw4HwidZFi2Pg5EH3f6ESHLSVY4G9KWQsXEESodMqn0V2f_FD6e39PObQOrLD7UFTUJoInNuj7rEVkCeerP/s1600/IMG_3164.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5QgeSQjqzWZvzpNSacc8JpB7h4SUhmkjC6sjbSMcRWEtqyu5Mbw4HwidZFi2Pg5EH3f6ESHLSVY4G9KWQsXEESodMqn0V2f_FD6e39PObQOrLD7UFTUJoInNuj7rEVkCeerP/s320/IMG_3164.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Question:</b> What was Brew Crew Manager Ron Roenicke thinking in the bottom of the 10th when--after Jayson Werth reached on a throwing error by Milwaukee shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt and advanced to second before stealing third moments later with one out?<br />
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<b>Answer:</b> What good does it do to bring that extra outfielder to shore up the Brewer infield--if you are going to let Werth run 30 feet or so down the line toward home plate? Unless the next batter strikes out, lines out or hits one right back to the box--there is no way Jayson is not going to score on just about anything hit on the ground.<br />
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And of course, the percentages and all that stat stuff didn't matter when Adam LaRoche hit a routine ground ball to Milwaukee's 1st Baseman Prince Fielder who, despite a double clutch throw home, had ZERO CHANCE to nail a speedy and smart running Werth at the plate for the game winning run. Werth had the advantage and with it so did Our Washington Nationals. <br />
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Yes, knowledge wins over the Computer. It's also called common sense.<br />
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<b>And final question:</b> If you lasted through bitter dropping temperatures, whipping wind and just downright uncomfortable weather last evening on South Capitol Street--don't you think you deserve something on the line of the old <a href="http://www.croixdestick.com/?page_id=10">"Croix De Candlestick"</a>--given away for San Francisco Giants games at old Candlestick Park for fans braving the always unpredictable chilly winds by the bay?<br />
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<b>Answer:</b> After a near 70 degree day in the Nation's Capital--could it have been more uncomfortable at the ballpark last night? If you lasted through this one for the entire 3 hours and 15 minutes and didn't hide in one of the clubs--more than thumbs up are deserved for you. At least some of the grounds crew guys got to run out on the field between innings to stay warm by picking up flying hot dog wrappers. Unfortunately, those staying warm this evening were in the minority.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMdySU2x06TYSLDVzoZ6whlySCR35zHAMFXM9fSWAA8y93-pl9VkKLVsLE3Wax1HdVDa0a1OIGN0coFhryU8wO7yEdcrrupA3Z1505H3oY1MasO3PjxguGG84y8Hg03dOoqzQ/s1600/IMG_3169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMdySU2x06TYSLDVzoZ6whlySCR35zHAMFXM9fSWAA8y93-pl9VkKLVsLE3Wax1HdVDa0a1OIGN0coFhryU8wO7yEdcrrupA3Z1505H3oY1MasO3PjxguGG84y8Hg03dOoqzQ/s320/IMG_3169.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Final Score from Nationals Park where on Jackie Robinson Day D.C.'s Team made, like Baseball's Pioneering Hall Of Famer, the best of every difficult situation: Our Washington Nationals 4 and The Milwaukee Brewers 3 in 10 innings. Curly "W" Number 6 of 2011 needed to be questioned at every turn because none of the final answers were as clear cut for this unusual game.<br />
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Not hitting much offensively early this spring, Our Washington Nationals manufactured runs, escaped a bullpen hiccup and won thanks to a little bit of overmanaging on the Brew Crew's part and a heads up dash for home on the part of Jayson Werth. You can never quite predict the weather, but last night's outcome on South Capitol Street left more questions than answers.<br />
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Strange Game.<br />
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<b>Game Notes & Highlights</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLRhSbmxgDe4iblFptGFNWMTm2HcY5Y_8BRPXge_uh0XEgjW2ybNxXa65XkHoLFMY0WhX5wLgrbqFNsEhJ7PEmM2NtoECwI1mlg8tnJrtHo6YvOR28usRQWbem0De0BHv2W3K/s1600/i-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLRhSbmxgDe4iblFptGFNWMTm2HcY5Y_8BRPXge_uh0XEgjW2ybNxXa65XkHoLFMY0WhX5wLgrbqFNsEhJ7PEmM2NtoECwI1mlg8tnJrtHo6YvOR28usRQWbem0De0BHv2W3K/s320/i-1.jpeg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex Brandon (AP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tom Gorzelanny threw one bad pitch, a fastball jacked over the left center field wall by Rickie Weeks for a two-run homer in the top of the 5th. Other than that, Gorzelanny threw some pretty good baseball. Six complete, five hits and two walks allowed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_Fn0JvkND9787N9ZcJkcVW5A04AaJKgCSAnwzfLhpxfJp2MmGufq50TRN9KgMyGxAoNW695wVUQDEgucE-tcM2W-oZBYrPWxGiW3szWUs4RhQi4orZ_j6ViOdcXZUFAD1KII/s1600/IMG_3154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_Fn0JvkND9787N9ZcJkcVW5A04AaJKgCSAnwzfLhpxfJp2MmGufq50TRN9KgMyGxAoNW695wVUQDEgucE-tcM2W-oZBYrPWxGiW3szWUs4RhQi4orZ_j6ViOdcXZUFAD1KII/s320/IMG_3154.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>With two out and nobody on base for The Brewers in the top of the 9th, it's safe to say just about everyone watching was stunned to see Sean Burnett give up a double to Weeks and a single to Gomez to tie the score at three. People were already heading home and the disappointment over seeing The Brewers eventually send this game into extra innings was stunning.<br />
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Chad Gaudin picked up his first win in a Nationals jersey by being the pitcher of record in the top of the 10th inning.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufk-UhYn0zld7Rm-1fgkeC9dTAXUGpDuQbyae2mTDHUCRfyPFMG1NybQzgrridK-DfZ5RqHMRl6fPyWRZ9ccpsXay5QTOOvzk9PtuX9NCxlNNPIRAmevEidJNhlQYm3MrjmQy/s1600/IMG_3133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufk-UhYn0zld7Rm-1fgkeC9dTAXUGpDuQbyae2mTDHUCRfyPFMG1NybQzgrridK-DfZ5RqHMRl6fPyWRZ9ccpsXay5QTOOvzk9PtuX9NCxlNNPIRAmevEidJNhlQYm3MrjmQy/s320/IMG_3133.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Milwaukee starter Chris Narveson got himself in big trouble in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Washington loaded up the bases against him before Narveson completely lost control. A walk to Jerry Hairston, Jr, walk to Tom Gorzelanny and a sacrifice fly by Danny Espinosa put Washington up early 3-0. How can any pitcher walk the opposing pitcher on four straight pitches? That's a cardinal sin.<br />
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Jayson Werth's game winning play. With one out in the bottom of the 10th, Werth hit a routine ground ball to Betancourt playing shortstop for Milwaukee. Yuniesky rushed his throw noticing Jayson hustling hard down the first base line. The ball arrived, just up line toward home plate, at the same time as Werth. Brew Crew 1st Baseman Prince Fielder couldn't handle the throw as his glove glanced off Jayson's shoulder. With the baseball scooting down the right field line, Werth didn't stop running and landed on 2nd base before stealing third.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikczZh1HME7Tp0XjYa841k-OaydSeAxRYcOP8OSwOaCQ9DKouMY3bVYsxLr7rkNEnbPoHeQRoeHd1g-HP7zu9aUTgKh5ro1efcea6CAm1BjALH8G9Lnl4uNryAVZoG_J411klE/s1600/IMG_3162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikczZh1HME7Tp0XjYa841k-OaydSeAxRYcOP8OSwOaCQ9DKouMY3bVYsxLr7rkNEnbPoHeQRoeHd1g-HP7zu9aUTgKh5ro1efcea6CAm1BjALH8G9Lnl4uNryAVZoG_J411klE/s320/IMG_3162.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4UpcU6kbtrnOwjq3A13KFPrfj0kP9XEYxTHdYbrcw62wqTlQKjV1duDkQa9WYJQHlDnBUlLYgdjta6NRCqPktRtW4ImksO9K3vdPSqhqpIOMzfMkxGFz7Go4oKt-Q1Iffe-X/s1600/IMG_3165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4UpcU6kbtrnOwjq3A13KFPrfj0kP9XEYxTHdYbrcw62wqTlQKjV1duDkQa9WYJQHlDnBUlLYgdjta6NRCqPktRtW4ImksO9K3vdPSqhqpIOMzfMkxGFz7Go4oKt-Q1Iffe-X/s320/IMG_3165.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>At this point, Ron Roenicke called in his centerfielder, Gomez, to play right up the middle as a 5th infielder. But Milwaukee 3rd Baseman Casey McGehee set himself more toward shortstop as the Brewers still shifted over for Adam LaRoche stepping to the plate. Playing the stats over common sense, Werth took advantage of the Brewers' flawed logic and rushed for home on contact when LaRoche hit a routine ground ball to Fielder at 1st base. Already 30 feet down the line on the pitch by Zack Braddock, Prince had ZERO CHANCE to throw Werth out at the plate as he scored the game winning run.<br />
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That was a bad baseball decision by The Milwaukee Brewers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4FNFABsN4DHqAnG384XBQHPIz4BJX9ADlNnzPRj_cqAHhkDeA_FnCMQ2DbvFrFp62ZWYQZYHwYaBMaSNojMwe7wCMFaxJBsprJ6bcPWpOQk-HRemM03ad8gqu6DZWZ6nMuiF/s1600/IMG_3150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4FNFABsN4DHqAnG384XBQHPIz4BJX9ADlNnzPRj_cqAHhkDeA_FnCMQ2DbvFrFp62ZWYQZYHwYaBMaSNojMwe7wCMFaxJBsprJ6bcPWpOQk-HRemM03ad8gqu6DZWZ6nMuiF/s320/IMG_3150.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZkkrs2YhiaVm3tl3aRNBGEU4lDt1b5Ffi3mOme8dYLlT5ES-hmvpP0_LfCyQrTQNueyyk1O2jOas7ldclgGbjLYyEI4a4Qivrdm-OFFSQqt_70MZU3QSMyOF-6QzZvrJQLAD/s1600/IMG_3151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsZkkrs2YhiaVm3tl3aRNBGEU4lDt1b5Ffi3mOme8dYLlT5ES-hmvpP0_LfCyQrTQNueyyk1O2jOas7ldclgGbjLYyEI4a4Qivrdm-OFFSQqt_70MZU3QSMyOF-6QzZvrJQLAD/s320/IMG_3151.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Too bad this game didn't take place the night before for historical reasons. Craig Counsell plays for The Brewers today. Six years ago on April 14th, 2005, Counsell stepped to the plate at RFK Stadium for The Arizona Diamondbacks to face Livan Hernandez for the first kick and pitch when baseball returned to the Nation's Capital. That would have been a nice touch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKhLlPNR3S137nu0JkBl5mPqjxPujU_9Ze3zBWwN_YRvXtZousmnKG6BvvIztkLhHMXhQdxZzBo-ioVmrwdcJZEdKlsTH-FU9wpWrfiTyKsr24JfJ3PHCGUvpg0zNcR15Ugjr/s1600/IMG_3127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnKhLlPNR3S137nu0JkBl5mPqjxPujU_9Ze3zBWwN_YRvXtZousmnKG6BvvIztkLhHMXhQdxZzBo-ioVmrwdcJZEdKlsTH-FU9wpWrfiTyKsr24JfJ3PHCGUvpg0zNcR15Ugjr/s320/IMG_3127.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7UdF4KzmQ1lvwcJew9K4A1jpoX0CnJYCjuwRW9ENWaTLvSh2TW9GyE6Zj283XuJ76G5WTwS2dAWqI4JF7_vYtxKYDvPnyh6i_2Fr80A1O63PLhrYQYNXY-Lx9kDaDB9QsSnU/s1600/IMG_3132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7UdF4KzmQ1lvwcJew9K4A1jpoX0CnJYCjuwRW9ENWaTLvSh2TW9GyE6Zj283XuJ76G5WTwS2dAWqI4JF7_vYtxKYDvPnyh6i_2Fr80A1O63PLhrYQYNXY-Lx9kDaDB9QsSnU/s320/IMG_3132.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Being Jackie Robinson Day at Nationals Park, The African Queen and I wore our "Robinson 42" Buttons. Throughout the game well known Washingtonians were featured on the HDTV Scoreboard remembering this baseball great. Jackie's historical significance retold for fans and players alike. Every player and coach wore Jackie's Number 42.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPB8I5m0zyhPnL-kf-bgFXiTHaFwGhwdFawASm0pIdZR1qae3bvdYakz1XO-arTsHKOo9oAZzAphRMgnSTPr30gt8YXXOWuUmN33aglEHEhgfjmQqgRxS4Vy6m9HHX5IV-XCK/s1600/IMG_1487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPB8I5m0zyhPnL-kf-bgFXiTHaFwGhwdFawASm0pIdZR1qae3bvdYakz1XO-arTsHKOo9oAZzAphRMgnSTPr30gt8YXXOWuUmN33aglEHEhgfjmQqgRxS4Vy6m9HHX5IV-XCK/s320/IMG_1487.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Jackie Robinson HOF Plaque In Cooperstown</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Side note:</b> The Jackie Robinson Hall Of Fame Plaque shown on the screen throughout the evening was the old version. A few years ago, the family of Jackie Robinson asked the Hall Of Fame to change the writing on Jackie's plaque to better represent what this legend meant to the game. Robinson's original plaque, incredibly, never mentioned he was the first African-American to integrate the Major Leagues. The new plaque does. That plaque is shown above.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpFplutHgfO1mRjSy7nRuTLa2Lb1tgS18H95b0-d_3WX9_-tO4qmIP02TuW6zJHq97BQ4_FNhKE3LjMK83tpBU12Mk-Kq7x2DaTiB0mkC7RYlWbStvRd6LAXF1k5NH7b-EYIO/s1600/IMG_3119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpFplutHgfO1mRjSy7nRuTLa2Lb1tgS18H95b0-d_3WX9_-tO4qmIP02TuW6zJHq97BQ4_FNhKE3LjMK83tpBU12Mk-Kq7x2DaTiB0mkC7RYlWbStvRd6LAXF1k5NH7b-EYIO/s320/IMG_3119.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iR5DWPpEogrjfqOisBu1lI7Oi3xmUSjTCIURwzdK74u_zM-dh_5BEmxbtcLcmrq_WO-NxpQVwMPEYQPC-39q49Cx4m9tSricfHDRDTR74YzEg24kILA2j2lRHZjTc7KuwoAd/s1600/IMG_3120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iR5DWPpEogrjfqOisBu1lI7Oi3xmUSjTCIURwzdK74u_zM-dh_5BEmxbtcLcmrq_WO-NxpQVwMPEYQPC-39q49Cx4m9tSricfHDRDTR74YzEg24kILA2j2lRHZjTc7KuwoAd/s320/IMG_3120.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Unracing Sausages were back at Nationals Park. Since the Milwaukee Brewers Racing Sausages still refuse to take on Washington's Presidents, the fake versions returned to be run over by Abe, Tom, George and Teddy. Tom winning over Abe at the tape.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9CQKI3GGr5yd2MxrFngGLbhL_K_4-WGlauyNvW1S85CCqYFw1JG1-kuBsar6m4p4KPfJhJHpTB1pUNTxxJJSIBfUSlPi6vRtzlKCjKG_I0goQK_u2zR83qN7LrCHPCJ8J46O/s1600/IMG_3121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9CQKI3GGr5yd2MxrFngGLbhL_K_4-WGlauyNvW1S85CCqYFw1JG1-kuBsar6m4p4KPfJhJHpTB1pUNTxxJJSIBfUSlPi6vRtzlKCjKG_I0goQK_u2zR83qN7LrCHPCJ8J46O/s320/IMG_3121.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7cF0hANasm4Hpwqb0D-KoXAsRWTYw9-oxu6-lKXCqvHzT76wb2CYuk_NUuVhCMO7wwkU_pvRZsQVldy4HrsQrB-MmT4oa8Dr-d1ERzhsZK3ENHCBJBi0RIU6Y33qKfav807N/s1600/IMG_3122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7cF0hANasm4Hpwqb0D-KoXAsRWTYw9-oxu6-lKXCqvHzT76wb2CYuk_NUuVhCMO7wwkU_pvRZsQVldy4HrsQrB-MmT4oa8Dr-d1ERzhsZK3ENHCBJBi0RIU6Y33qKfav807N/s320/IMG_3122.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmdYdblR1jwK92os4qSDm3K70pPEPbxw8gWLznORUJj1Gh9G-zpI4dWLp8yHY6DGzflwWPowYI7IOBVKweauZg8ewxQIpEk-f7RmNRgmsxvsWjAEekFPvVvUjFuMUsnCDmJAU/s1600/IMG_3123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmdYdblR1jwK92os4qSDm3K70pPEPbxw8gWLznORUJj1Gh9G-zpI4dWLp8yHY6DGzflwWPowYI7IOBVKweauZg8ewxQIpEk-f7RmNRgmsxvsWjAEekFPvVvUjFuMUsnCDmJAU/s320/IMG_3123.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And finally, last night was Jordan Zimmermann's Grandparents 50th Anniversary. Delores and Mike Zimmermann were honored during the game with a nice mention on the HDTV Scoreboard.<br />
<br />
<i>All Other Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-8644868679944936642011-04-15T11:30:00.020-04:002011-04-15T15:13:14.810-04:002011 Greater Washington Board Of Trade Welcome Back Team Luncheon<b>UPDATE: Audio File Link from the Q & A below now working.</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjExfl2Lw2WO1d-JdC4YG7caXV3fI4cWlS5jwyFqz_fKHkafOaxl6du8QrgGj79NWhEvDsabEnbfSD6iaQETMHoibTiB3e6QKre9mzlQaOdOfR8NV7Cpuk65ezjQm2G6Ila7Aa/s1600/L1032982+e2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjExfl2Lw2WO1d-JdC4YG7caXV3fI4cWlS5jwyFqz_fKHkafOaxl6du8QrgGj79NWhEvDsabEnbfSD6iaQETMHoibTiB3e6QKre9mzlQaOdOfR8NV7Cpuk65ezjQm2G6Ila7Aa/s320/L1032982+e2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jim Riggleman, Mark Lerner, Mike Rizzo, Jim Dinegar<br />
Photo Courtesy Of The Greater Washington Board Of Trade<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: 13px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">"Putting my reporter’s cap on for a moment," stated Jim Dinegar, President & CEO of <a href="http://www.bot.org/" target="_blank">The Greater Washington Board Of Trade</a>. "A reporter asked Jayson Werth about winning two games in a row. ‘It’s quite a streak.” And Jayson said: ‘What streak?’ And the reporter said: ‘Well, two in a row for The Nationals, that’s quite a streak.’ And Jayson apparently glared at him."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">From the audience Jayson Werth is heard commenting: “BRRRR!!” (laughter)</span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"And Jayson said (to the reporter)," continued Dinegar. "'There’s no streak. There is no settling for mediocrity.' That</span> comment about what Jayson Werth said to the reporter was really indicative, and you know, how they (The Nationals) are not settling for mediocrity. They are policing each other. They are pushing each other and not settling for anything less than high expectations. God, that’s the business world, frankly, But it’s also what you do expect from a competitive team.”</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_AuJNykLukirCocS-mvUsv0gJKXPA0pt5ycQIDuTS-RFAtD09S3RO9F1Stwg_QiSqEMFrU9PKYtntU3WIiuJiwfR4ez8RT7hWvcuGgHCU0nO4bokwPSnFYU4nQKIv3dDL3QN/s1600/IMG_2944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_AuJNykLukirCocS-mvUsv0gJKXPA0pt5ycQIDuTS-RFAtD09S3RO9F1Stwg_QiSqEMFrU9PKYtntU3WIiuJiwfR4ez8RT7hWvcuGgHCU0nO4bokwPSnFYU4nQKIv3dDL3QN/s320/IMG_2944.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0t6RLqMM-PrQFY5edx-6YrRn2B-97B2HkjAooICIeI7CZAR8uZr1A_Jc7ya-ObqAHDLPwQos1urXDvrWGk4Gb75tBAZFHm9LaIgB_6QOfhm_Qt_4sEwFeWxa29Y-WDBSUvtj/s1600/IMG_2945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe0t6RLqMM-PrQFY5edx-6YrRn2B-97B2HkjAooICIeI7CZAR8uZr1A_Jc7ya-ObqAHDLPwQos1urXDvrWGk4Gb75tBAZFHm9LaIgB_6QOfhm_Qt_4sEwFeWxa29Y-WDBSUvtj/s320/IMG_2945.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0-neLCJPGbmz8Il8V532LgNTfNhH8J_dcOBqpPSk1PAK1RIU9ABkOFRHpR2JzhapzFjKCMJh8hgoPhWoNVQnjI3SqhOr7Gw9Xg7HIuYt0eosQ1HT5kimAngDOaVCZJn1G6-b/s1600/IMG_2927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0-neLCJPGbmz8Il8V532LgNTfNhH8J_dcOBqpPSk1PAK1RIU9ABkOFRHpR2JzhapzFjKCMJh8hgoPhWoNVQnjI3SqhOr7Gw9Xg7HIuYt0eosQ1HT5kimAngDOaVCZJn1G6-b/s320/IMG_2927.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">For the <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2010/04/greater-washington-board-of-trade.html" target="_blank">second April in the row</a>, The Greater Washington Board Of Trade held a Welcome Back Washington Nationals Team Luncheon in downtown, Washington, D.C. Held to benefit The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, yesterday's event at The Capital Hilton found the majority of the front office, management and players from Our Washington Nationals in attendance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFEHAN79DspCw1DcsO8t4g_NZO18NbIoHXy4D9hFTor8YPtYq5vSTGPXyrtp6q4rpYCsuO-LfA_4N49msFG-vxT0otn8vye_lLx8UwN0JY7dCO0y-kyqo7AjkGKJsQAgrGptY/s1600/2011+GWBOT+Luncheon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFEHAN79DspCw1DcsO8t4g_NZO18NbIoHXy4D9hFTor8YPtYq5vSTGPXyrtp6q4rpYCsuO-LfA_4N49msFG-vxT0otn8vye_lLx8UwN0JY7dCO0y-kyqo7AjkGKJsQAgrGptY/s320/2011+GWBOT+Luncheon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary Tabach (Chair GWBOT), Jim Riggleman, Mark Lerner, Mike Rizzo, Jim Dinegar<br />
Courtesy Of The Greater Washington Board Of Trade</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrIVsyMON2IV7UbY1_6PK3hzXPaq_62P8IBloqm_RGVFfPKfK-WlMOljsatmZGPQ_RmNlWyrCJnzKiQILNCfzJePOKtMECl4H72g7B0gBSWvf5RiBZ2R9ioedSWzUG4JBSBH_/s1600/IMG_2954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrIVsyMON2IV7UbY1_6PK3hzXPaq_62P8IBloqm_RGVFfPKfK-WlMOljsatmZGPQ_RmNlWyrCJnzKiQILNCfzJePOKtMECl4H72g7B0gBSWvf5RiBZ2R9ioedSWzUG4JBSBH_/s320/IMG_2954.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">"The big part for this lunch, now the second year in a row, is that we help make connections to the people of the team so that Mark Lerner is not some faceless guy," stated Mr. Dinegar. "That Mike Rizzo is not some unapproachable person and that you can have lunch with Jayson Werth or sit with Ian Desmond or Michael Morse and hear what they have to say. And it’s fun and then, as businessmen and women, get to go out there and cheer for them.”</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Since Major League Baseball's return to the Nation's Capital, The Greater Washington Board Of Trade has played a key role in recognizing that any investment in baseball would be an investment in jobs and neighborhood revitalization. The Board Of Trade was involved in securing the development of Nationals Park and hosts the Welcome Back Luncheon to wish the team success in their new season. After a brief reception, patrons are invited into the ballroom for a sit down lunch. The entire 25-man roster, coaches and managers are introduced individually. Every table of eight guests gets one player or coach to share time with for discussion.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ld0PCM0BnvhqlLZSZcasBEtYeBRZ2lQKIedPY-YGmr4xc-f4OetHB5v6jE3HaskXjyMuJEXg1zXIHhiqcACnxnDdIIG0OiHkL2yhskbYAVPQO1vTp0PK0EOl1AM4OCjruJzt/s1600/IMG_2935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ld0PCM0BnvhqlLZSZcasBEtYeBRZ2lQKIedPY-YGmr4xc-f4OetHB5v6jE3HaskXjyMuJEXg1zXIHhiqcACnxnDdIIG0OiHkL2yhskbYAVPQO1vTp0PK0EOl1AM4OCjruJzt/s320/IMG_2935.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">"I had a table full of people that were talking to Michael Morse about his approach in going after Cliff Lee of The Phillies tonight. Well that's not just insider stuff, it's fun. But it makes this a personal connection. So now, I will have eight other people sitting at my table cheering for Michael Morse tonight and throughout the season. And table by table, those are the types of connections this type of event creates." </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyke5Y1QkTDvdsWb8Y82A5S2l8fYFlHyM96sn0664a4DmQea1HBpLf_BM9z8Oqr6IimsRdLLRKxXsi9a6tmLCCbZxoo5O5V91I9JcgP9Ez6d1aLIfoc2Im5J_ba7-bz2sZpAX/s1600/IMG_2928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyke5Y1QkTDvdsWb8Y82A5S2l8fYFlHyM96sn0664a4DmQea1HBpLf_BM9z8Oqr6IimsRdLLRKxXsi9a6tmLCCbZxoo5O5V91I9JcgP9Ez6d1aLIfoc2Im5J_ba7-bz2sZpAX/s320/IMG_2928.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMwEqomiwoMe3tb-3IFgwdWd3BvdVI8s08AH2vGd18iQdGMECdxRLsdnwrjRZNpcmzVtA5A8wtP_e4AO2pEAvEQqDdVW78ryvFiN6JXG2atgVfrHx_w4XDq2ruL1BVp3Hnvin/s1600/IMG_2931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMwEqomiwoMe3tb-3IFgwdWd3BvdVI8s08AH2vGd18iQdGMECdxRLsdnwrjRZNpcmzVtA5A8wtP_e4AO2pEAvEQqDdVW78ryvFiN6JXG2atgVfrHx_w4XDq2ruL1BVp3Hnvin/s320/IMG_2931.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMjLna4Ca9396zIPs6dlQR4E_WIYo9-DF2GJZ_MAvUB9ekFYzj9dN_4eKaWoW7oJCVbfc_JALMMrUtOMyylEqd-A3ZbUIvXMpQVnFNV0lE153cif4xUSNd95w2OslO3iAi5hJ/s1600/IMG_2959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMjLna4Ca9396zIPs6dlQR4E_WIYo9-DF2GJZ_MAvUB9ekFYzj9dN_4eKaWoW7oJCVbfc_JALMMrUtOMyylEqd-A3ZbUIvXMpQVnFNV0lE153cif4xUSNd95w2OslO3iAi5hJ/s320/IMG_2959.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">"And there are very limited, maybe no opportunities, to have that connection unless you run into Drew Storen in the supermarket. Well, that's not the same. You've both been to the Dream Foundation Gala--it's a world class event. They do a great job, but you are not sitting with six or seven of your peers--or maybe some that are not all that familiar with baseball. But this is our team and we want our business partners to understand and embrace that. And I would also have to say that putting a good product on the field means all the business in the world. You don't want to go out and root for a team that is losing. But they are rooting for a team that beat Philadelphia the other night, took them to the bottom of the 9th yesterday (Wednesday) and, probably, will do quite well tonight--that's a competitive team."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBqpWbiTQ9IUIbf79ZJajU5kLOELuGoqP8R5Mmx2GOOZ8RoRGhbCVDRgS-Sw_BwG6kOW9dsAYXfgJTdnRYH_A7h-_c7_XtdEPclH9N24sunNQXhyeZIZwcQ_eos9vvnfh-IdH/s1600/IMG_2910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBqpWbiTQ9IUIbf79ZJajU5kLOELuGoqP8R5Mmx2GOOZ8RoRGhbCVDRgS-Sw_BwG6kOW9dsAYXfgJTdnRYH_A7h-_c7_XtdEPclH9N24sunNQXhyeZIZwcQ_eos9vvnfh-IdH/s320/IMG_2910.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeYljCGeBXmks4-Ep0hkPJz3eOMh_grd8ldL4ieijzOuCBxNzQyBnBE3MsNt4TaokeIPMnaYhTACI6joxqs4OroZpjFs6sM4XrsDfOEHe7DoOSmn4WxHqhiD0TsvaMh1mYGNT/s1600/IMG_2911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeYljCGeBXmks4-Ep0hkPJz3eOMh_grd8ldL4ieijzOuCBxNzQyBnBE3MsNt4TaokeIPMnaYhTACI6joxqs4OroZpjFs6sM4XrsDfOEHe7DoOSmn4WxHqhiD0TsvaMh1mYGNT/s320/IMG_2911.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMGwmKi1gMOJa5gN-9_TmaKk7f52PS0-YGwIAXxGGPfVVql26ZSoI0cc3HlZofYP6JTi9g339Onzwr8SJ9XXmZqJo9lqRnOiv9MsnWAfabZjsNISP0hQx6mHvHsWtNQvOeFco/s1600/IMG_2908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMGwmKi1gMOJa5gN-9_TmaKk7f52PS0-YGwIAXxGGPfVVql26ZSoI0cc3HlZofYP6JTi9g339Onzwr8SJ9XXmZqJo9lqRnOiv9MsnWAfabZjsNISP0hQx6mHvHsWtNQvOeFco/s320/IMG_2908.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dream Foundation Silent Auction</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIKp1erl75A1RAVqnIRD6CzfXw2Aqiw7Gixs_CRsNLojhiT5qc_MHuomRBBW1JSCM_T5UdwRnk0qOTqrzAJNYHXXfd_fEAfn3MlQQKo8i2b1A8PHGrVTAkZ-1qeZNKO0djl3H/s1600/IMG_2907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIKp1erl75A1RAVqnIRD6CzfXw2Aqiw7Gixs_CRsNLojhiT5qc_MHuomRBBW1JSCM_T5UdwRnk0qOTqrzAJNYHXXfd_fEAfn3MlQQKo8i2b1A8PHGrVTAkZ-1qeZNKO0djl3H/s320/IMG_2907.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWO1Z020RjfwRdQLEHzQ8xthy9hvZR15mrgZTU2juMI3ay2aNLwImGRAHHZPQ_LfbAW9beIgcYyua2E2O9llQ-t0g0EshyphenhyphenmKT1vP2a0Tbl5y0NHcDQnb62SP-6daSCsCpxO_d/s1600/IMG_2933_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWO1Z020RjfwRdQLEHzQ8xthy9hvZR15mrgZTU2juMI3ay2aNLwImGRAHHZPQ_LfbAW9beIgcYyua2E2O9llQ-t0g0EshyphenhyphenmKT1vP2a0Tbl5y0NHcDQnb62SP-6daSCsCpxO_d/s320/IMG_2933_2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Judy Lerner, Sohna & Jason Marquis (Marquis Our Table Host)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">The Greater Washington Board Of Trade's Welcome Back Washington Nationals Team Luncheon is set up exclusively for the business community. Including team and front office personnel, approximately 350 people attended yesterday's two hour event. <a href="https://www.pnc.com/webapp/unsec/Homepage.do?siteArea=/pnccorp/PNC/Home/Personal" target="_blank">PNC Bank</a> returned as a sponsor for the second year in a row. For 2011, they were joined by <a href="http://www.nemacolin.com/" target="_blank">Nemacolin</a> Woodlands Resorts, Comcast <a href="http://www.comcastspotlight.com/" target="_blank">Spotlight</a>, Comcast <a href="http://business.comcast.com/" target="_blank">Business Class</a> and <a href="https://subscription.washpost.com/subscriberservices/subscriber.portal?state=capbiznewsub">Capital Business</a>. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrobjmeQMiOUEcdivhAA2fe9PCYv-j7iVDRnmWf4jurvAPD3ty41mj2pwCT72whNwSOx-0pXvpd1w9o0CILjLBaxZDCBCzEHKU5NZFIG6QzmqTT5BEiNlpv1na43HfPo5N-aHz/s1600/IMG_2973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrobjmeQMiOUEcdivhAA2fe9PCYv-j7iVDRnmWf4jurvAPD3ty41mj2pwCT72whNwSOx-0pXvpd1w9o0CILjLBaxZDCBCzEHKU5NZFIG6QzmqTT5BEiNlpv1na43HfPo5N-aHz/s320/IMG_2973.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luncheon Schedule, Nemacolin Sponsored Black Bat</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ykSE2pPg7dVhdUShZlOd-twxakDKdFkdFfni17tnME7zB3bpJBlClzhBkomWDFt0ls657doGMprSZQCkFVKTQxb6mGQTCOh3zTWdnPz4A6WcwaF3bKQxDjdsmAz0aEcbyTXp/s1600/IMG_2965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ykSE2pPg7dVhdUShZlOd-twxakDKdFkdFfni17tnME7zB3bpJBlClzhBkomWDFt0ls657doGMprSZQCkFVKTQxb6mGQTCOh3zTWdnPz4A6WcwaF3bKQxDjdsmAz0aEcbyTXp/s320/IMG_2965.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE92ZlBKhO2Xl3Xy4T3KA1BLfY5DFv9yvVFQ60O8xy8-R5twVZtQo-pLYY03ZFkTl7qpQNwt2eyzcNWoaaZVjPJDeQQvRJCOIp9LLuqnT_7K6eJD4_G5BbtGpgoWgll9zAY8a/s1600/IMG_2969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE92ZlBKhO2Xl3Xy4T3KA1BLfY5DFv9yvVFQ60O8xy8-R5twVZtQo-pLYY03ZFkTl7qpQNwt2eyzcNWoaaZVjPJDeQQvRJCOIp9LLuqnT_7K6eJD4_G5BbtGpgoWgll9zAY8a/s320/IMG_2969.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnet Schedule, Comcast Notebook, Luncheon Schedule, Nats Program From Goodie Bag</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">Nemacolin providing the gift of the day, a black baseball bat emblazoned with "Greater Washington Board Of Trade's Welcome Back Team Luncheon" and the logos for the five key business sponsors. "</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">We may well have run out of good ideas on surprises." chuckled Mr. Dinegar. "Last year we had the ball, this year the bat with the silver marker. You know everyone will have that on display in their office or at home and, I’m no fool and I know our sponsors--it will be clear where you got it. That’s always nice. Branding is a big deal.”</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUShNLsywBge89UvxHWZyI3VCJ_Ibbfe-9ndfWy61Vj-49X2TXg-tc1Ik3346M9R4-UG0Sqmc457k9aNwKuhjGT4DjSmhQWeXgcZ3oC-DTcjAzyvVYla6iZpBO_Fduund0psIv/s1600/IMG_2953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUShNLsywBge89UvxHWZyI3VCJ_Ibbfe-9ndfWy61Vj-49X2TXg-tc1Ik3346M9R4-UG0Sqmc457k9aNwKuhjGT4DjSmhQWeXgcZ3oC-DTcjAzyvVYla6iZpBO_Fduund0psIv/s320/IMG_2953.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyHRjPL6r3ZqQnQ6bVlFgW-Sq-kbkn1-vFIMsiQEwgd6R_SgpAPWHxaM3T_jtAHKAM9zHyUh4Ao96BpP-zs5G7Fx0EourljbVRAmQXQvL89hDXJ3RtRxQey4ZMIfXVAW7V646/s1600/IMG_2941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRyHRjPL6r3ZqQnQ6bVlFgW-Sq-kbkn1-vFIMsiQEwgd6R_SgpAPWHxaM3T_jtAHKAM9zHyUh4Ao96BpP-zs5G7Fx0EourljbVRAmQXQvL89hDXJ3RtRxQey4ZMIfXVAW7V646/s320/IMG_2941.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">After lunch was served, Mr. Dinegar introduced Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, Chair of The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation who spoke on the Foundation's core initiatives, invited those in attendance to attend the upcoming <a href="http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/was/community/foundation/index.jsp?mc=photos&event=gala2011" target="_blank">Dream Foundation Gala set for June 18th</a> at the Gaylord National Resort. And noted that sometime over the next two months, The Dream Foundation is hoping to break ground on the long awaited D.C. Youth Baseball Academy in Fort Dupont Park in N.E. Washington. Then, Mr. Dinegar was joined on stage by Principal Owner Mark Lerner, Our General Manager Mike Rizzo and Manager Jim Riggleman for nearly 30 minutes to discuss the team's effort both on and off the field of play.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><b>Here is the </b><b><a href="http://www.bot.org/portals/0/audio/nats_luncheon_041411.mp3">audio link to that very enjoyable Q & A.</a> </b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfJWMrdcmyUc4ezmfJ3vNu7WOfVfzZflASOjNUXLezzm8NxPOn1rwePf53VzkMJY5-6LjMbGeIdhaU_vqux2AhFmyhBaGIlAPQ5tKhSrXhqcbcntgqVvvI1Pr_npHOrFqQltm/s1600/IMG_2947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfJWMrdcmyUc4ezmfJ3vNu7WOfVfzZflASOjNUXLezzm8NxPOn1rwePf53VzkMJY5-6LjMbGeIdhaU_vqux2AhFmyhBaGIlAPQ5tKhSrXhqcbcntgqVvvI1Pr_npHOrFqQltm/s320/IMG_2947.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;">The early success of the Welcome Back Luncheon has also brought concerns from the Greater Washington Board Of Trade as to where to take this now popular yearly event in the future. The question: Make it bigger? Or keep it small and more intimate?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><b>Jim Dinegar</b>: "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Strategically, we are in discussions with The Nationals. There are discussions now about whether we want this to be for 500 or 600 people. What happens then is that not everyone gets a player at their table. Not everyone gets a radio or TV personality or a coach or the manager. And that would possibly change the feel of the event. On the other hand, if there is more we can do to support the Dream Foundation, it’s not going to be the raising of ticket prices. (The Board of Trade currently underwrites the luncheon)."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">"I think we will go after more sponsorship dollars from the sponsors we already have. They love this--PNC Bank and Nemacolin and the rest. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Then the ticket prices can be provided to the Foundation (as donation checks) because we have at that point, hopefully, the event itself covered--350 people, including the team. You are either in or you are out. And I think that is a much more prudent way to do it without having the equivalent of Fanfest over lunch because that’s a completely different dynamic and not what our event is all about."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><b>P.S.</b> Another funny moment in the Q & A approximately eight minutes into the discussion. Mike Rizzo is talking about paying significant dollars to land Jayson Werth as a free agent, signing Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper, as well as, putting up cash to sign other top talent in Washington's ever changing farm system when Mr. Dinegar comments:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><b>Dinegar:</b> "I will quickly interject. The median household incomes within the United States, three of those counties are within the Washington area. Because of your signings, five of the top counties in the area are from Washington. (Rizzo busts out laughing)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><b>Rizzo:</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"> “Exactly. But that’s not the first time I’ve heard that joke. So thank you.”</span></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><b>Dinegar</b>: “You are welcome.” (more laughter)</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><b>Rizzo (rather poignantly</b>): "Moral victories no longer excite us in the clubhouse. To play a good game and come up short by one run against Roy Halladay no longer excites us. Those are things I could not have said in the past.”</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><i>Unless Marked--All Other Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i></div>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-6285633474402842132011-04-08T18:00:00.029-04:002011-04-08T18:33:20.327-04:00The Impressive Henry Aaron Exhibit In Cooperstown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Eki2vxc_kaMJL5BBVdxYP0CYFlfhDswVPYPWxoiMUHfd2ViP_-AJPjOE1cY_X6MD4SalisvCFxXSKlFmBXU6RLautH4TESdCl84jPsAkQsb-DsC5Age_q7Xl5cfgWndYzq8I/s1600/IMG_1514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Eki2vxc_kaMJL5BBVdxYP0CYFlfhDswVPYPWxoiMUHfd2ViP_-AJPjOE1cY_X6MD4SalisvCFxXSKlFmBXU6RLautH4TESdCl84jPsAkQsb-DsC5Age_q7Xl5cfgWndYzq8I/s320/IMG_1514.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Over the past few years, The National Baseball Hall Of Fame has been working to change their Records Room on the 3rd Floor of the museum. The goal to better chronicle the game of baseball by adding artifacts to baseball's always important statistics. One of the best early examples of this effort is the Hank Aaron Exhibit which is downright fascinating to browse and enjoy. Sohna was so captivated she stopped to read every caption under every case and pressed the button on every single interactive display.<br />
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</tbody></table>Henry Aaron has been very generous to The Hall Of Fame & Museum donating countless personal items so his story can be fully told in Cooperstown. Please enjoy, the pictures speak for themselves. But you gotta love Hank's Home Run #715 complete Atlanta Braves uniform which Aaron wore on that historic night: April 8th, 1974--37 years ago tonight. One of the most classic uniforms worn by any team during the colorful 1970's.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">715 Home Run Uniform</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Pro Contract--Paid $200 Per Month</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13vO3X2uD3Ic_SoMEWC5B2gmEw9CFUXtVeZYQ7jKdDVSE2ykpmzxIsbw9fSHD4DAnOs6WD03tz7emA6ghggLC6DEIQtgSCSZfZty5Cu7eg3F1UdVW9nPCdtKb8SeU70-mYdot/s1600/IMG_1798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13vO3X2uD3Ic_SoMEWC5B2gmEw9CFUXtVeZYQ7jKdDVSE2ykpmzxIsbw9fSHD4DAnOs6WD03tz7emA6ghggLC6DEIQtgSCSZfZty5Cu7eg3F1UdVW9nPCdtKb8SeU70-mYdot/s320/IMG_1798.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Presidential Citizens Medal Given Aaron By President Bill Clinton and Presidential Medal Of Freedom given Aaron by President George W. Bush<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0laYNbi2VGJ978Pan_za-KvoU-aFdY7KOAEdjS0sHc9e7SyTW_gX0ii6d99qaMzzGVe4QiFGE8NZSa6ALuXe-YBMGJyDGCDG2aErJv0n5WIPs7jHr7g76g0EEif3K9z4-Z-Nk/s1600/IMG_1799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0laYNbi2VGJ978Pan_za-KvoU-aFdY7KOAEdjS0sHc9e7SyTW_gX0ii6d99qaMzzGVe4QiFGE8NZSa6ALuXe-YBMGJyDGCDG2aErJv0n5WIPs7jHr7g76g0EEif3K9z4-Z-Nk/s320/IMG_1799.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQpFyvpt2rQ8_U7BVxiWJ5TewP6PP-vwqI_CfzVRBGeTgZVLQJCEnThviAFyY31EgkdaD8g-twRywIQScj-OSA-5K1GN5fTKQJVyhZP7Wk3WLFCIE_OXomLddTcMVorwo51AE/s1600/IMG_1800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQpFyvpt2rQ8_U7BVxiWJ5TewP6PP-vwqI_CfzVRBGeTgZVLQJCEnThviAFyY31EgkdaD8g-twRywIQScj-OSA-5K1GN5fTKQJVyhZP7Wk3WLFCIE_OXomLddTcMVorwo51AE/s320/IMG_1800.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXflpx3E4P1g02KLjW0eCtrmdOrjkeD-43AWtHfqNEnOk8Qd_dvp9URHnKdzAt1bbUgC-KtAMd14XNPHwhwFXQc4dRpLmOmJ9JSqzZQnTP54IyBdYCowTyzk1BOuTxDoNBnDNB/s1600/IMG_1801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXflpx3E4P1g02KLjW0eCtrmdOrjkeD-43AWtHfqNEnOk8Qd_dvp9URHnKdzAt1bbUgC-KtAMd14XNPHwhwFXQc4dRpLmOmJ9JSqzZQnTP54IyBdYCowTyzk1BOuTxDoNBnDNB/s320/IMG_1801.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Throughout the time Sohna and I were viewing the Henry Aaron displays a video plays for about 10 minutes and then repeats. Every time Henry Aaron's 715th Home Run was played we stopped to watch--not only to see the historic home run again but also to hear Broadcaster Milo Hamilton's famous call of the moment:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b>"Henry Aaron, in the second inning walked and scored... He's sittin' on 714... Here's the pitch by </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Downing_(baseball)" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Al Downing (baseball)"><b>Downing</b></a><b>... swinging... there's a drive into left-center field... that ball is gonna beeee... OUTTA HERE! IT'S GONE! IT'S 715! There's a new home run champion of all time... and it's HENRY AARON!"</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xG3Idkg3_GU" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe></b></span><br />
P.S. Notice once Henry Aaron crosses home plate running into the picture with a audio recorder in his hands is a very young Craig Sager who now works for Turner Sports. Sager's wearing a long tan trenchcoat--not one of his well known color sport coats of today.<br />
<br />
Also famous from this eventful night was Dodger Broadcaster Vin Scully's poignant remarks after Henry Aaron hit Number 715:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b>"What a marvelous moment for baseball; what a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the state of Georgia; what a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking a record of an all-time baseball idol. And it is a great moment for all of us, and particularly for Henry Aaron. … And for the first time in a long time, that poker face in Aaron shows the tremendous strain and relief of what it must have been like to live with for the past several months."</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i></span></b></span>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-73301120686950314682011-04-07T23:45:00.010-04:002011-04-07T23:50:09.709-04:00Ending With A Blast<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3q-rlYw5TqVlKmmZvhk38kzgrpMhL0k_fDD_1U7ByVma5pqe7Yugzwzy18y5pdWKns9JBokRJD5L2hwiNtVQRAfIsPTi1r796Bh20s59ERPnXzGlgQzBRXUNJzrsF0vTMfIZ/s1600/i.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs3q-rlYw5TqVlKmmZvhk38kzgrpMhL0k_fDD_1U7ByVma5pqe7Yugzwzy18y5pdWKns9JBokRJD5L2hwiNtVQRAfIsPTi1r796Bh20s59ERPnXzGlgQzBRXUNJzrsF0vTMfIZ/s320/i.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit--Pat Carter (AP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>That was one beautiful swing by Adam LaRoche in the top of the 11th inning tonight at "Whatever The Lastest Name Is" Stadium in South Florida. Our Washington Nationals new 1st Baseman absolutely crushed a pitch thrown by The Florida Marlins' Edward Mujica that easily cleared the right field wall. A two run shot that was the difference in this ballgame, despite the fact that The Fish's Chris Coghlan made--without a doubt--one of finest face plants and resultant miraculous catches against an outfield wall you might see all this season--when he robbed Wilson Ramos of sure extra bases just one pitch after LaRoche went deep.<br />
<br />
Coghlan running fast and hard to a corner point of the deep centerfield fences at Sun Life Stadium before flat out out crushing himself against the barrier while still holding on to the baseball. The Defensive Play Of This Game that came seconds after The Offensive Play Of This Game which made the first three plus hours of this affair look pedestrian in nature. That was a GREAT CATCH!!<br />
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And a clutch home run. As beautiful as Adam LaRoche's swat was of Mujica's fastball moments earlier.<br />
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Baseball never ceases to amaze. This was a rather ordinary game through the first 10 innings. Washington did have some great relief pitching. Six innings in fact of two hit, no run ball (although Tyler Clippard allowed an inherited runner to score). The Marlins' fireballing righthander Josh Johnson wasn't bad himself for six complete. Only Jayson Werth's first home run as a National touched Florida's 2010 All-Star. A night which found Josh also striking out six.<br />
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Yeah, there were some strange errors and a few even more bizarre Official Scorer rulings, but what anyone watching will ever remember is Adam LaRoche's two run blast and Chris Coghlan blasting himself into the center field wall to make a fabulous over the shoulder catch. That's why every game really matters because you never quite know what any game will bring.<br />
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Final Score from "Whatever The Latest Name Is" Stadium, Our Washington Nationals 5 and The Florida Marlins 3. Curly "W" Number two of 2011 had all the fireworks late. Ending in a blast, one swing of the bat and one defensive gem made this game memorable while stopping Washington's three game losing streak since last Sunday.<br />
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No doubt about it. No matter who you were rooting for you had to love that 11th inning tonight in South Florida. That was some good baseball.<br />
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<b>Game Notes & Highlights</b><br />
Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen, Todd Coffey and Sean Burnett saved John Lannan tonight. Lannan made some good pitches when he needed them most tonight and that kept him from a potential loss. But it was his bullpen mates that saved the day. Drew Storen has never thrown so hard in his life and now uses that high fastball for his strikeout pitch as effectively as ever in the Big Leagues. He's growing up folks.<br />
<br />
Much like Sean Burnett's attitude on the mound. Washington's lefty is a completely different pitcher than he was two years ago when Our GM Mike Rizzo picked him up in the Nyjer Morgan/Joel Hanrahan/Lastings Milledge Deal. The Former Number 1 Pick for The Pittsburgh Pirates overcame serious arm injuries, went from a starter to a reliever. From situational lefty to set up man. Now, Sean Burnett is Washington's Closer and he's pitching with a confidence not seen before in his entire Major League career either. Big, big difference for D.C.'s Team. Hard to believe that Sean may be the most valuable player from Rizzo's four player trade with The Buccos in 2009.<br />
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Quietly, Ryan Zimmerman is having a fine start to his 2011 season. He's scoring runs (5), knocking in runs (4), getting on base (.500 obp) and just being a leader out there on the field. At 26 years of age, how far can this still young man go? He's still improving and getting better and better.<br />
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It's funny how baseball can be sometimes. If Washington had lost this game, the entire focus of any defeat this evening would have been on Danny Espinosa getting thrown out at third base attempting to steal the bag with one out in the top of the 10th--with the hot hitting Ian Desmond at the plate and Jayson Werth on-deck. Not sure who made the decision on that steal--but it was wrong. Espinosa has the speed to easily score from 2nd base. Next time, please take two shots at getting him home guys with two of Washington's better hitters coming to the plate.<br />
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Here's hoping that when The Florida Marlins move to Little Havana next year into their new stadium at the former Orange Bowl sight, South Florida better supports their team. It's embarrassing to watch any Fish game at Sun Life Stadium near Ft. Lauderdale with an announced crowd of 10.696 when you know full well maybe three to five thousand less are actually in the stands watching. The Marlins deserve better. For quite a few years now Florida's Front Office has put a competitive product on the field with limited finances. It's really hard to believe at times they've even survived this long.<br />
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Finally, we found out this evening that WHFS, 1580AM, which broadcasts certain radio games of Our Washington Nationals also is simulcast on 95.5 FM HD3. That's a big difference for us when 106.7 FM is not airing Charlie Slowes' and Dave Jageler's play-by-play due to other contractual commitments. Especially after we learned this week that WHFS AM lowers their signal strength at sunset making listening to the game on regular radio in Alexandria, Virginia virtually impossible.Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-91825286950604117032011-04-07T20:30:00.001-04:002011-04-07T20:33:03.829-04:00Looking Ahead While Protecting The Past At The Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsHLR5vZ8MUx_eFAtcbRRgeA_NwjQDb4_-jqH49Y4kO0OjcgdvOLGjSz_7SS5gFKZM0ZB7efJQZXUoZLROiuA6dj3FDGErSf56oxyO1cOxI2cMMmb9Dq6ej9KN_-uU7yJ1mQi/s1600/IMG_1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHsHLR5vZ8MUx_eFAtcbRRgeA_NwjQDb4_-jqH49Y4kO0OjcgdvOLGjSz_7SS5gFKZM0ZB7efJQZXUoZLROiuA6dj3FDGErSf56oxyO1cOxI2cMMmb9Dq6ej9KN_-uU7yJ1mQi/s320/IMG_1990.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As Nats320 concludes our conversation <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/04/viva-baseball-latino-contributions-to.html" target="_blank">with John Odell</a>, Curator at The <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/04/keeping-hall-of-fame-museum-updated.html" target="_blank">National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum</a> in Cooperstown, New York, Mr. Odell touches on what's in the works for new exhibits in the near future. And also discusses the difficult process of protecting artifacts from deterioration.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "One of my next exhibits is going to be about scouting in a couple of years. I am doing the preparation for it right now. Talking to scouts, they will tell you that they have seen players with more talent who don’t make it to the majors than do. And many other players with less talent--and Pete Rose is probably the best example out there--who do make it to the majors and do well. It’s because of work ethic. It’s because of understanding the game, being willing to apply your talent to the game. There are a lot of guys where everything was so easy for them for so long--that when it suddenly became hard--they felt like they didn’t have it." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"For those guys for whom it was never easy, they knew they had already outworked guys in Single A to get to Double A, and guys in Double A to get to Triple A. Now it’s just a matter of outworking these older Major Leaguers or Rookie Major Leaguers in order to get their spot on the team and then to keep it. The scouts always talk about how it’s talent plus. And it’s that plus that is the intangible for these guys. That’s one of the things I am looking forward to when we get this new exhibit up and running. How tough it is to make it in the Majors and to stay in the Majors." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> "Nationals GM Mike Rizzo talks mental makeup all the time. Elijah Dukes has to be the perfect example. Great talent, but he couldn’t put it all together on the field."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "Elijah Dukes is the perfect example of what can go wrong. He had everything but that intangible--makeup--very important in this game. And clearly working on last chances. They gave him a chance, but it didn’t work out."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Nats320: "</b>Then how do you put together a Scouting Exhibit? What artifacts have you already collected and what more do you need?"</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "We are open for other artifacts but over the years we’ve received radar guns donated to us by scouts and stopwatches. One of the things we are really looking forward to is an interactive, computer based, scouting data base. You will be able to look up your favorite players and see what the scouts thought of them early in their development--in high school and college or later when they became free agents. </span>Once they reach the minor league systems, we are less concerned with that part of their development. We are more interested in finding out how the players move from little league to Babe Ruth ball, to American Legion and eventually to the minors. That’s where the scouts operate. That bridge that gets the players from the amateur game to signing their first professional contract and it’s really neat to see."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FhsTyqz6RTPxLZS1Y8A2OTQaa9SeUFoPfyKtoBSYxNgZeYROU-TAFMz7U_js6kFkOsJd7zOvIeDYryokK4ZAmjomOZWUUcRCixdB2ZipmB8VWtMp6cevhvnw25b4iG5eV3u3/s1600/IMG_0877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FhsTyqz6RTPxLZS1Y8A2OTQaa9SeUFoPfyKtoBSYxNgZeYROU-TAFMz7U_js6kFkOsJd7zOvIeDYryokK4ZAmjomOZWUUcRCixdB2ZipmB8VWtMp6cevhvnw25b4iG5eV3u3/s320/IMG_0877.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senators Owner Clark Griffith Memorabilia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1924-25 Washington Senators/Nationals Artifacts</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Nats320:</b> "How far back are you going in history?"<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "We are going all the way back to the 19th century at least in telling the story. The story goes back that far. Back in that time it was simply guys sending letters to The Philadelphia A’s asking Connie Mack to look at this guy, or come see my son (chuckling). Ty Cobb wrote letters to The Tigers saying you should look at this fellow Cobb. He’s doing a really good job. Signed: A Fan. (Everyone laughing--but it’s true)"</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Then we have guys like Paul Kritchell who found Lou Gehrig playing on a sandlot at Columbia University just killing the baseball. Smacking it all over the place so much The Yankees wanted him right away. Of course back in those days, the scouts were going all over. If I (as a scout) liked how you looked and we came up with an agreement, we’d sign on the dotted line. I would give you some money and you were my property. I would send you to the minors. That’s the way it still is in the Dominican Republic and in Venezuela, but that’s not the way it is in the United States. Now, it’s the draft. Now, I have to take your name and your information back to the front office and I’ve got to wrestle with five other scouts to figure out whose best prospect is the Number 1 prospect. And whose prospect has to go to Number 2. And then the draft begins and you don’t get any of them because those ahead of you end up drafting them."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Anybody can look at Ken Griffey, Jr.--for example--and tell that this guy is making it. Yet it is amazing to find out that Mike Piazza got drafted at the end of the draft as a favor to his family by Tommy Lasorda. A guy who is going to receive serious Hall Of Fame consideration when he becomes eligible for election and is probably going to get in as one of the greatest offensive catchers of all-time. The scouts job is to truly find those diamonds in the rough."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Look back at all the players that got picked in the draft before Derek Jeter? The Baltimore Orioles decided they already had someone to play shortstop. They didn’t think they needed another shortstop. This was the time when Cal Ripken, Jr. was moving toward the second part of his career. By the time The Orioles could have drafted Derek Jeter and brought him up to the Big Leagues, Cal would have moved to third base and Jeter could have moved easily into short. Holy Cow, wouldn’t that have been something!!? </span>But that’s what you can’t tell and that’s why we feel it’s important to tell these stories about scouting. Then you can call up your favorite ballplayer on the interactive display and see the actual scouting reports. Sometimes those scouting reports are great about a player. And some are not so much--depending if you caught the guy on a good day or not."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> "The other aspect of the game that comes into play after they are drafted is the business part that changes just about everything."<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "Yes, that’s where you find out a player might not be brought up until the second half of a season in order to hold onto him for one additional year before arbitration or free agency begins. That’s the type of thing in this game that is weird. It’s a business and you have to be mindful of that. I remember reading about a ballplayer who re-upped in 2004--his contract year with The Boston Red Sox. They won the World Series. He thought that was great and he re-signed with The Boston Red Sox for 2005 at a lower price because he wanted to keep the team together. He thought this was a great team that should stay together and they might be able to win again."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"He was right, but because he had a low salary, the Red Sox were able to trade him and his salary to another team because he was better than his salary cost. It made baseball sense for Boston. That’s the flip side to the coin of a ballplayer saying he wants to be paid what I am worth. And the team saying no--you can’t stay here. It’s all about maximizing wins at the cost of doing business and that’s a tough thing to do. </span>I am sure you’ve read stories about Bryce Harper. When do you bring him up? The day he’s called up is the day he’s a Major Leaguer. It doesn’t matter what happens after that--certain clocks start ticking and teams have to be mindful of how much control they have on every player. Teams really own players and that’s odd when you really think about it. We look at it in the abstract, but in reality it’s not too attractive.'</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fVyjk8LrYY4lO_gk-Dr_-O6OJVTNk1z3PkFwN-gmtk1vaVMYJLrheH9FmK5Xb1EUGHaOwZWZrEknzMlE55WLb5LFFTXaXJEbGzJbxXuLe4Sba-l6hrE9uE4XBIY_ru_qV2Z1/s1600/IMG_0819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_fVyjk8LrYY4lO_gk-Dr_-O6OJVTNk1z3PkFwN-gmtk1vaVMYJLrheH9FmK5Xb1EUGHaOwZWZrEknzMlE55WLb5LFFTXaXJEbGzJbxXuLe4Sba-l6hrE9uE4XBIY_ru_qV2Z1/s320/IMG_0819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trophies In Storage</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCt256LbMkLU-3_OtYg6hPwoNzVZyj96HbCwV00IPR9rWjIT24zgMuYJD6hPtRhuq3zLcQw4M79_GsN4GlvqPxlcDCOjV_NxcjQaxcWpQKDSU-wtyIE18HyrA8S-Ax1V5o6f8/s1600/IMG_0733.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCt256LbMkLU-3_OtYg6hPwoNzVZyj96HbCwV00IPR9rWjIT24zgMuYJD6hPtRhuq3zLcQw4M79_GsN4GlvqPxlcDCOjV_NxcjQaxcWpQKDSU-wtyIE18HyrA8S-Ax1V5o6f8/s320/IMG_0733.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b>Nats320</b>: You mentioned previously how there are many artifacts that were acquired well before you and other curators arrived here at The Hall Of Fame. For that reason, are you constantly down in the archives figuring out exactly what you have in storage? And do you use those opportunities to give you a better idea what of you can do when it comes to building new exhibits?"<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "The answer is yes. You are always looking for things that say: ‘This would be great!’ Usually, it is not an artifact itself that leads you to an exhibit. It’s more that by knowing the artifacts that you have, and being familiar with them and spending time downstairs with them--the time comes where you want to put your exhibit together and you start going: ‘Oh yeah, a few years ago I remember seeing this or that, something. Or how about that thing? I believe we have a ball related to this topic. Or a glove that was related to that.’ And that’s the kind of ways these artifacts come back in and get put on display."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnN-GcIT3dAsHOX13T8j6dbd5CcNtjPkwW71WisBk8ERBLBH7vExwLFHjB7K63V-lB3Ers0LfuqCIDFFTJrZZRmAIWsR2G45B3KZACLXKKUDmwpeAV1YvEyOhc3dOJHJwBHw6/s1600/IMG_1233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnN-GcIT3dAsHOX13T8j6dbd5CcNtjPkwW71WisBk8ERBLBH7vExwLFHjB7K63V-lB3Ers0LfuqCIDFFTJrZZRmAIWsR2G45B3KZACLXKKUDmwpeAV1YvEyOhc3dOJHJwBHw6/s320/IMG_1233.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxBsfeRP0v9Xb3Leoul8GWg6iENN0SIK7E1SwkeZJFEiqprss7Q7oM6nZ5TT5W9gx_k3c8l-CzsVkh1cYXpMtTmcuR4Yb-J518Pj_2sffSyit-5Or4hH8abY3i8nGCEA2xGXv/s1600/IMG_1713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxBsfeRP0v9Xb3Leoul8GWg6iENN0SIK7E1SwkeZJFEiqprss7Q7oM6nZ5TT5W9gx_k3c8l-CzsVkh1cYXpMtTmcuR4Yb-J518Pj_2sffSyit-5Or4hH8abY3i8nGCEA2xGXv/s320/IMG_1713.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Usually, it is the larger picture that we come up with as an institution--working with our front office--working with all the other curators. ‘Ok, where are our weaknesses? What are the stories that are going on in baseball right now that we are not telling?’ The Latin story was one we were not telling. When we had a renovation back in 2003 or 2004, we had to take down our minor league exhibit. So we have no minor league exhibit right now and that’s a weakness. We should tell the story of the minor leagues. And we are aware of that. We are keeping our eye out on that kind of thing--mulling that over. </span>So if you are working with that on the backburner, then when it is time to bring it forward, you’ve got a wider range of items that you can bring together. When we look at an older exhibit and determine we need to update that exhibit--to make it more relevant or tell a new story as a part of it--then that’s when we would remember those things we’ve come across in the archives of the museum."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> "Having talked about the Viva Baseball exhibit and the upcoming Scouting Exhibit, have you thought about a Baseball In The Orient Exhibit?"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "Definitely, and also how the game is becoming more global. How the international play is rising. Until Ichiro, people really discounted Japan. People used to say: ‘I know Sadaharu Oh hit a lot of home runs, but they were cheap home runs off of bad pitchers.’ It was the same tone that white owners used against black ball players. This ball player might be pretty good, but the players he is playing against are so poor that he’s not really good. They are just making him look good. So Sadaharu Oh is really not that good, all of those other players just make him look good. But after Ichiro came over to America after having torn up the Japanese League--he now has 10 consecutive 200 hit seasons. It’s clear he was the real deal there. And what he did over there, he’s continued to do here. And he’s not beating up on chump pitchers in the Major Leagues. </span>But if you are going to talk about how bad the pitching is in the United States, then you can’t continue to run down Japanese pitching because Ichiro beat up on both Japanese and American pitching."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW3vUIUCT-67Mjwv1FV8D5YRaDDRPkDxONdHHSmyQ02psfp49jm9fESqNyWO39iPieUd5NV84Kxmq8hlKFNRut6kXTCqtd7LEpxk8-e1vD2YpjTfOKX5bvPDceFKkH7k9Csyv/s1600/IMG_0860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuW3vUIUCT-67Mjwv1FV8D5YRaDDRPkDxONdHHSmyQ02psfp49jm9fESqNyWO39iPieUd5NV84Kxmq8hlKFNRut6kXTCqtd7LEpxk8-e1vD2YpjTfOKX5bvPDceFKkH7k9Csyv/s320/IMG_0860.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVncmO2Wj4YUBYivCHBMPMX7_5_cliNzND3v0kbD3PXcnIkRPI8YqxMfaw4lb6jAQlDbcpCAHfiKUNN5jpBI1QFWnmg7pWwNjh2oEfhr34pVd6rvKA7kPamP3yWarKnslQEJ6/s1600/IMG_0861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIVncmO2Wj4YUBYivCHBMPMX7_5_cliNzND3v0kbD3PXcnIkRPI8YqxMfaw4lb6jAQlDbcpCAHfiKUNN5jpBI1QFWnmg7pWwNjh2oEfhr34pVd6rvKA7kPamP3yWarKnslQEJ6/s320/IMG_0861.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>"The other exhibit we are working on is Baseball & Medicine. Part of that is the steroids issue, but steroids didn’t come out of a vacuum. It’s not the first time medicine has been used and misused in baseball. So in order to put it in some type of context, we want to be able to show what made ballplayers think medicines would be good for anything? We will talk about both the good things that have allowed players to play longer--like Tommy John Surgery (ligament replacement)--which is a great example. Before Tommy John Surgery, there were hundreds of ball players that suffered the same injury back in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s who never came back. But they can now because we know how to do this. So there is a good side of medicine."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">"And then there is the dark side with the steroids. Then there is the side that you don’t know quite what to do with when you find out guys have had lasik surgery who didn’t have bad eyesight, but now they have better eyesight. They have better eyesight than you and I. Ted Williams famously had 20/15 vision. Now, a player can go in and get 20/15 eyesight just like Ted Williams. I still have to be able to hit a baseball, but if you can hit a ball and you can now see the ball better, then you can hit the ball even better."<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiq5Vnlvnt5V4oKZLM0owd0DLmuI6ApQLZ4S2BN-Hrth9OSAQeeyVkDk4tiPywrLXoMWjD3kvgg9mm8ZSy47IPJV9qigvJ717PjQ4TWMV6XunXT6FHUYtnQj2BgChSf7QORA-/s1600/IMG_1716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFiq5Vnlvnt5V4oKZLM0owd0DLmuI6ApQLZ4S2BN-Hrth9OSAQeeyVkDk4tiPywrLXoMWjD3kvgg9mm8ZSy47IPJV9qigvJ717PjQ4TWMV6XunXT6FHUYtnQj2BgChSf7QORA-/s320/IMG_1716.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uqVZJcQ28Sx_4Avff2ZWeJouM491WrPx0JLKClHwhdSytxbPDnS_3dwn2ZFLaMlUoZYjyf1ECJU4XXMMnoloiymlh0VFBl4pvW15W_TVG_KvK3THb5TLj6lwwYiLGu4KXNsc/s1600/IMG_0780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uqVZJcQ28Sx_4Avff2ZWeJouM491WrPx0JLKClHwhdSytxbPDnS_3dwn2ZFLaMlUoZYjyf1ECJU4XXMMnoloiymlh0VFBl4pvW15W_TVG_KvK3THb5TLj6lwwYiLGu4KXNsc/s320/IMG_0780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6eTDeddjuIcDVSz25Tx9fTs43ROFMmso4hAvB45StV15tPnm3choWBKLbRR_gRnR8dhhyphenhyphencVtGu36-zGNzWsU3Suw6xoK9qEVMNgczyuvxBABXb95VagapoJH5jOHj0oAu9MU/s1600/IMG_0778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic6eTDeddjuIcDVSz25Tx9fTs43ROFMmso4hAvB45StV15tPnm3choWBKLbRR_gRnR8dhhyphenhyphencVtGu36-zGNzWsU3Suw6xoK9qEVMNgczyuvxBABXb95VagapoJH5jOHj0oAu9MU/s320/IMG_0778.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <b>Nats320:</b> "Are there artifacts here that are too priceless or too fragile to show to the public in an exhibit?"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "To the fragile part of the question, yes. There is nothing that is too priceless to show. We will just increase security to the point that we feel comfortable. We definitely don’t talk about financial value here because we don’t go out onto the market place trying to buy and sell stuff. We’ve got baseball memorabilia that Babe Ruth used in his career and donated to the Hall Of Fame--which if it went out on the marketplace would sell for who knows how much, but a lot of money. </span>We do have insurance, obviously. But that’s kind of a false thing because if something is gone, it’s gone!! It’s irreplaceable. It is in fact the only bat Babe Ruth used to hit three home runs in a game. If something happens to that then $100,000 or $1 million dollars doesn’t bring it back. We do have things we know are very valuable, but we just have to make sure that nothing happens to it. This is a hard world. We have to be aware of that as grownups. We are playing the big boys game." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCiVADyFhikS9Py5l6LjUjOd4ZQYIRZbZ52viq8Rz8R6hDp59JcMfKjn0S69bXHMEtI6MLcXEJaMAD2zAHgVj9XftyHY222BN4vBN79qZtU42JhcJv7MNPabjzlJdJeyrYcIQ/s1600/IMG_1737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCiVADyFhikS9Py5l6LjUjOd4ZQYIRZbZ52viq8Rz8R6hDp59JcMfKjn0S69bXHMEtI6MLcXEJaMAD2zAHgVj9XftyHY222BN4vBN79qZtU42JhcJv7MNPabjzlJdJeyrYcIQ/s320/IMG_1737.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roberto Clemente Santurce Contract</td></tr>
</tbody></table>"In terms of fragile, one item in the Viva Baseball exhibit right now we are going to rotate out. In the case you will see the Roberto Clemente contract that he signed with the Santurce club. That was donated to the Hall Of Fame. We’ve made a scan of it and we are going to put the reproduction of it out on display because paper is fragile. And Ink fades in too much light. But for a period of time we wanted to have the original document out. Silks are fragile because they are light sensitive. We will put it out for a while and then will rotate that back out with another and eventually have a photographic representation out on display. We can accomodate very fragile things, just like a fine art museum might bring out water colors periodically. Or, for further protection, you have to touch the button so the light will come on in the display case."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUhOUDgaHBgVb6LTBIj8AitHFdGao0IHl1FzfPo5RKMI9WhNIs7cn6sTLXGrwNlihlYrDWj60sDP1_v2e0gMuAdzNDHDH8JpNMrihhctjSFA3RimfMnixKABDr4pY1rOTtXI4/s1600/IMG_1705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUhOUDgaHBgVb6LTBIj8AitHFdGao0IHl1FzfPo5RKMI9WhNIs7cn6sTLXGrwNlihlYrDWj60sDP1_v2e0gMuAdzNDHDH8JpNMrihhctjSFA3RimfMnixKABDr4pY1rOTtXI4/s320/IMG_1705.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsd3WhIy6oOGlHnC-ayA2ObUHyRzL4w1FpquApAuKNuog1nO5yYudfZw07IYuvjtVUyC8rtEFQopInxr12D2XwfWjlizQUuhgs6QtzBVMdhX61rEcAf99p6OGUljQtZwMilpZ/s1600/IMG_0718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSsd3WhIy6oOGlHnC-ayA2ObUHyRzL4w1FpquApAuKNuog1nO5yYudfZw07IYuvjtVUyC8rtEFQopInxr12D2XwfWjlizQUuhgs6QtzBVMdhX61rEcAf99p6OGUljQtZwMilpZ/s320/IMG_0718.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnB4zJC7pNp7_lxhDbyrSG79FMx_dznfabl8w1_16wvl_v_PXk_B90fOMvhx5azqh2ZVAnZcM8Sgx5xYCf0ttl3EqJEPSR1t2J0Xqt4moo6O0iVtyfwe6Rfo8R4gCTrCq0Lkq/s1600/IMG_0724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnB4zJC7pNp7_lxhDbyrSG79FMx_dznfabl8w1_16wvl_v_PXk_B90fOMvhx5azqh2ZVAnZcM8Sgx5xYCf0ttl3EqJEPSR1t2J0Xqt4moo6O0iVtyfwe6Rfo8R4gCTrCq0Lkq/s320/IMG_0724.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg6fUdUDTTwEGPjJX3GDjgCEtNqGAh1a8vYqAR8spmxivCs4KVq0dSB0z7GwTQcVJpmGe4uuFHI97IpBpqNisnlEk6fjRzxQd1i8JXGiTcltBX9IRD-tiCYdSl1N32kdgOdfW/s1600/IMG_0760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg6fUdUDTTwEGPjJX3GDjgCEtNqGAh1a8vYqAR8spmxivCs4KVq0dSB0z7GwTQcVJpmGe4uuFHI97IpBpqNisnlEk6fjRzxQd1i8JXGiTcltBX9IRD-tiCYdSl1N32kdgOdfW/s320/IMG_0760.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Nats320:</b> "How about early 1900 wool sweaters. There are some on display here. When they are in the cases are they really protected?"<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "We do climate control throughout the entire museum. The display cases don’t have special climate control, but we keep the lights low. It’s kind of tough to see unfortunately up there because we are preserving these for the long term. Humidity and temperature changes especially are bad. High humidity is bad. High temperature is bad. Those are the types of things that add to the decomposition of things. Too much light excellerates the decomposition. Handling excellerates the decomposition. </span>In a sense, you can minimize handling. That’s why down in collections you saw how we used white gloves. Everything is in boxes. It’s dark and we can move things around without having to handle them. There is acid free paper in the boxes as well. The temperature and humidity stays constant. 70 degrees, plus or minus a few degrees and 50% humidity--which are good stable things so artifacts don’t deteriorate and fall a part--which is the end result of anything. Things constantly want to degrade, but we can retard that and slow that down by careful handling." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6yTd0Hov8b5JHhaia0y27vTxXbDZBo6UygL2-Wl0wLHgwKdseWfKf7E0gmRHGtrmnj5yfreZuiKPcCGsoBWrUk8c88414xAXC6-jqHNSw-nwjKh4sMvAog2Axf5kukht9e2J/s1600/IMG_0694.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW6yTd0Hov8b5JHhaia0y27vTxXbDZBo6UygL2-Wl0wLHgwKdseWfKf7E0gmRHGtrmnj5yfreZuiKPcCGsoBWrUk8c88414xAXC6-jqHNSw-nwjKh4sMvAog2Axf5kukht9e2J/s320/IMG_0694.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vHEEw5WLmmysS56lohbzOJtUoC5v3kOmGpibRn8nm-Iw7NtN0NwjniR7wJm-wvUplf2-oO1xA-rkFBA1sXVJ5JaVLR-Oq3RswEt4RW4p7oKo5pwTmOehlO7uSKHdBucsKI6a/s1600/IMG_0698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vHEEw5WLmmysS56lohbzOJtUoC5v3kOmGpibRn8nm-Iw7NtN0NwjniR7wJm-wvUplf2-oO1xA-rkFBA1sXVJ5JaVLR-Oq3RswEt4RW4p7oKo5pwTmOehlO7uSKHdBucsKI6a/s320/IMG_0698.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYKPfbM9Ifmlzm5DU8AAuQm3c_6D0l0cSMiCBQjxR2kx4tRNhVokLCKRNQd5GNh9aI-jU59_72BBhlFOsKl8ZLE-CojaVaYpa5Wj6YFaMxZKRfSGHZvukDn7Q47Ns13cnhWbR/s1600/IMG_0871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYKPfbM9Ifmlzm5DU8AAuQm3c_6D0l0cSMiCBQjxR2kx4tRNhVokLCKRNQd5GNh9aI-jU59_72BBhlFOsKl8ZLE-CojaVaYpa5Wj6YFaMxZKRfSGHZvukDn7Q47Ns13cnhWbR/s320/IMG_0871.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walter Johnson Jersey & Signed Baseball</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA276bJ_b6rulSeTnAPke_h5_oHYhhYxfW2fejK_lWNnrH9fbfT97k7Cveu5fyOLWiKHRyhKU6ahs7jLSWZPYfSF_kQxIx6C58uh6chx1anTNfMqOfap0-bKDgf2uJuTazQiS/s1600/IMG_0876.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA276bJ_b6rulSeTnAPke_h5_oHYhhYxfW2fejK_lWNnrH9fbfT97k7Cveu5fyOLWiKHRyhKU6ahs7jLSWZPYfSF_kQxIx6C58uh6chx1anTNfMqOfap0-bKDgf2uJuTazQiS/s320/IMG_0876.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b>Nats320:</b> "Will you then rotate out things in the permanent collection in order to keep them from further deterioration?"<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "One of the great things about baseball is that many artifacts are durable overall. The things in baseball that are not durable are the colors of uniforms. And there is a fine line that curators and conservators are always fighting in every museum and that is showing the actual artifact or putting it away and showing some sort of reproduction. Inherently, anything that’s out is degrading. So there comes a time where we have to put things away."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Bhq2zYLeJVL-wBt-LhmEmQvp4wauNwVm_o1r0gjuka8WBq7Bo3D2pYzN6U2V2YPdeMFpjuys-n4EMPSPHjPqAZAIxZnu1hMxoS3PEKfZOxowyHpZJpS0n_3r0KF6oaODcSqE/s1600/IMG_0840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Bhq2zYLeJVL-wBt-LhmEmQvp4wauNwVm_o1r0gjuka8WBq7Bo3D2pYzN6U2V2YPdeMFpjuys-n4EMPSPHjPqAZAIxZnu1hMxoS3PEKfZOxowyHpZJpS0n_3r0KF6oaODcSqE/s320/IMG_0840.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"We have two Babe Ruth Jerseys. So we will put one away and rotate in the other. But the sad thing is that these artifacts don’t recover. They are not alive. They can’t recover from damage. It’s just that you can prolong the times when people can see them by treating them well. There is a common misconception and it happens a lot in the museum industry that you can rest the artifact--put it away for a while. Well, you are implying that it recovers in some way and it doesn’t. </span>If you want to do a graph of deterioration you can plateau that. But every time it goes out, the item degrades a little bit farther. It doesn’t climb back up to a better condition."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxLu2i3vKK39Y75XT-nom8pU6For7bAiIoVfm1MfNHDyyUO5SiJS_AGWQnTw23tjDuVRIlgRAkM2RmJaKX8XSzRm_sSSVgxSDh3fljhrbg1rC0cxNiFJlIoMR6kCJFduj423d/s1600/IMG_0653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxLu2i3vKK39Y75XT-nom8pU6For7bAiIoVfm1MfNHDyyUO5SiJS_AGWQnTw23tjDuVRIlgRAkM2RmJaKX8XSzRm_sSSVgxSDh3fljhrbg1rC0cxNiFJlIoMR6kCJFduj423d/s320/IMG_0653.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTiG74SlhCXt8AQtqaDIHpdKCUGli0CRWHKOI0lRloo5agUFhLdIDO6AdVgFfvsVbX9riPetQE4GSlQGcPced0DAP3kWk6_8AgxrRYnrtKckY0ywCw0AaAoFMw-n8BkL7rDZF/s1600/IMG_0654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTiG74SlhCXt8AQtqaDIHpdKCUGli0CRWHKOI0lRloo5agUFhLdIDO6AdVgFfvsVbX9riPetQE4GSlQGcPced0DAP3kWk6_8AgxrRYnrtKckY0ywCw0AaAoFMw-n8BkL7rDZF/s320/IMG_0654.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hall Of Fame Climate Controlled Photo Library</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIt6tawL2ib7s2-eGzBFQ9DK8HYbeKXGmBwhaGHH0Jd1Vz3SvcCfPFH6ZdLle5phX26fmclfMGHXnGmKM-EbbES8bN7iR13RUV5xiikXgqmLJ2JdJ_znhit04LVMEKlJvUe5Z/s1600/IMG_0637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIt6tawL2ib7s2-eGzBFQ9DK8HYbeKXGmBwhaGHH0Jd1Vz3SvcCfPFH6ZdLle5phX26fmclfMGHXnGmKM-EbbES8bN7iR13RUV5xiikXgqmLJ2JdJ_znhit04LVMEKlJvUe5Z/s320/IMG_0637.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqWV0dydLvUHd5UAmiU2lTH6RpDxI4mAjlGhbbO4dbcaf4sNqb2pf2ELHgvvmBSnv4g7XzisKVRLs_nFfc7hjG7BBHc2K7f6JAcfH3vPKvY3xrxRhzvrohpdSUq8PBHrmHm_w/s1600/IMG_0629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqWV0dydLvUHd5UAmiU2lTH6RpDxI4mAjlGhbbO4dbcaf4sNqb2pf2ELHgvvmBSnv4g7XzisKVRLs_nFfc7hjG7BBHc2K7f6JAcfH3vPKvY3xrxRhzvrohpdSUq8PBHrmHm_w/s320/IMG_0629.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>Nats320:</b> "With digital technology advances, does that mean you can perfectly copy a photo and never have to put out the original?"<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "That’s exactly what they are doing downstairs in the Photo Library. More and more digitizing of these photos so you don’t have to handle them. You can scan them once. If you scan them well and we have a criteria we use for our scanning--that takes care of 99% of the need for handling it. Sometimes they are scanning whole files and sometimes it's just a photo out of that file."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> "And sometimes they come out better than the original."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">John Odell: Yes, we can. Downstairs we can improve the contrast. When Ansel Adams was doing his work--a good photographer can work with the brightness and contrast and get something better. I won’t say we are as good as Ansel Adams, but we can do something similar on the computer now with Photoshop. We can take old color photographs where the only thing left is pinks or reds or cyans. We can re-introduce color back into it and it comes back through the process. We can actually make those pictures better."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> "Final question. You seem to have matched your love of baseball with museum artifacts and history. Your passion, where do you get it?"</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7TVrl2QYMv9-r7ZDFpTbNTcpxMwGsPaTmniobOkMG7JI-ldxfNPLg2p2uHGzIFqW0SlOpHZ_Mtl-URYJOX-0ZiYAZhLNPx7lQ69kp8N6HLgcpMZDEhyphenhyphengaKsYWtyx0EH4hNss/s1600/IMG_0926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7TVrl2QYMv9-r7ZDFpTbNTcpxMwGsPaTmniobOkMG7JI-ldxfNPLg2p2uHGzIFqW0SlOpHZ_Mtl-URYJOX-0ZiYAZhLNPx7lQ69kp8N6HLgcpMZDEhyphenhyphengaKsYWtyx0EH4hNss/s320/IMG_0926.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell: "</b>I always loved history and I am truly lucky. I do have the best job in the world. There is no doubt about it. I’ve always loved baseball. I only loved it as a fan before I started working here. I didn’t know much about it from the historical perspective. So the 12 years I have been here so far have really deepened my appreciation and understanding of baseball as a mirror of, and a microcosim of, American culture. And who we are and how we act. And it’s been amazing to me as someone who loves American history how: ‘Oh, all the topics we talk about in American history--race, language, labor management relationships, urban versus rural, transportation, technology--all of these stories have long been found in baseball. And are still found in baseball. If you see how baseball often deals with all of those issues, you see how we handle or don’t handle other things in the United States. It goes hand in hand."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"So, I am in debt to this great game for showing me what a great game it is far beyond going to a Class A minor league games with my grandad because grandma wanted me out of the house (chuckling). And then enjoying it as a young adult in Philadelphia, jumping on the subway and for the price of a beer today, getting into the game and enjoying the game on a different level. To then coming here and understanding there is so much more." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"The thing that is most amazing is the more you learn about baseball from an academic standpoint, the more you learn there is some much more to learn. I have a better appreciation for how much I don’t know now then I did 12 years ago when I first came here. That’s a little bit daunting, but it keeps it fresh. And I love talking about it and I love talking with people who share that same passion like you two."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1xIMMlzpZ-C8WMZd4_Fwmr7PY-LodSiTOxwoB8OhSktKUwKii7LV4IwOQHf0KNVqI5Pfgvfbe0de9penNwQ-a7wbBpNPfa5apDGudt_wdcSuzvQK_2AcTRtvbWwDgoRvnDX_/s1600/IMG_1651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1xIMMlzpZ-C8WMZd4_Fwmr7PY-LodSiTOxwoB8OhSktKUwKii7LV4IwOQHf0KNVqI5Pfgvfbe0de9penNwQ-a7wbBpNPfa5apDGudt_wdcSuzvQK_2AcTRtvbWwDgoRvnDX_/s320/IMG_1651.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Andre Dawson Inductee Display</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJ0bjVhFLvwcqo_PyJskbRyRp9kkbf5nX7mFoYzM-Dav9-0BLzt8e_LNGzvti60Hq7Q3FCXNXpbHMsP4lrkIArfIoOgyAXFizi07kwbupbklsveQ54y8avVwDrrpUJ8DhEsmS/s1600/IMG_1649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJ0bjVhFLvwcqo_PyJskbRyRp9kkbf5nX7mFoYzM-Dav9-0BLzt8e_LNGzvti60Hq7Q3FCXNXpbHMsP4lrkIArfIoOgyAXFizi07kwbupbklsveQ54y8avVwDrrpUJ8DhEsmS/s320/IMG_1649.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtyard Entrance To Hall Of Fame</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">With that final answer, Our Conversation With John Odell at The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum concluded. But we are not done yet though. Much more coming up later from Cooperstown on Nats320.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-9940103666824958142011-04-07T16:15:00.001-04:002011-04-07T16:18:39.784-04:00Keeping The Hall Of Fame & Museum Updated & Fresh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioloeb1lhdCN6NbewjMOoLXxXkiX1wqHUbCcogwXBiIrsZ3paq51HPn0-v-8Bwm2HcA8QGnYgVKuEyiWRwx1Gpzjt_z7Vvsny0pFRDCHNfZxCJ6e_wZLskH4myjWEBcuJHITCg/s1600/IMG_1821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioloeb1lhdCN6NbewjMOoLXxXkiX1wqHUbCcogwXBiIrsZ3paq51HPn0-v-8Bwm2HcA8QGnYgVKuEyiWRwx1Gpzjt_z7Vvsny0pFRDCHNfZxCJ6e_wZLskH4myjWEBcuJHITCg/s320/IMG_1821.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQZ3USRWSJqxGi4sZ8hY_svlaCS7blq9axuD9Tq_US82WsK8AY2Bgs-bHlyDCPaMy_F0C-QOfHX4E4DAbODBB1eVBbJ_57gI923_Ro2E1Y4lesbYCocbArQwhekhXrY5j2iML/s1600/IMG_0930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQZ3USRWSJqxGi4sZ8hY_svlaCS7blq9axuD9Tq_US82WsK8AY2Bgs-bHlyDCPaMy_F0C-QOfHX4E4DAbODBB1eVBbJ_57gI923_Ro2E1Y4lesbYCocbArQwhekhXrY5j2iML/s320/IMG_0930.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">Keeping any museum updated is a challenge the curators and staff at The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum constantly face. As Nats320's interview with Hall Of Fame Curator John Odell continues, we look into how the museum attempts to reel in guests for that 2nd, 3rd or 4th visit to Cooperstown--while always thinking ahead to the daily challenges of picking up fresh artifacts and memorabilia for a sport with an ever changing storyline.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehwShVg4btRSqBHlouIDr3g0G5TVf26DBChlCeb7qzzpOea3E_BPSBLVbN9XfmeDmPexCTXv1dUyDhXCx67oTaZzXXhjxcW_2xZZphn8kY1F7ErhyphenhyphenePivIpt9iApvva0IYw9i/s1600/IMG_1666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehwShVg4btRSqBHlouIDr3g0G5TVf26DBChlCeb7qzzpOea3E_BPSBLVbN9XfmeDmPexCTXv1dUyDhXCx67oTaZzXXhjxcW_2xZZphn8kY1F7ErhyphenhyphenePivIpt9iApvva0IYw9i/s320/IMG_1666.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4nAVNoaqyZvZEI7R4LyFfveii8bbp1njFe4zbfCD0n_wwxL7RCipighuEuHLrP3LwZEyam8DWIJf7lAvJ463LAv69oj4-gSwONrwCNpxr8tHxx5nEvkE2kmsfwtUcd6BVqYm/s1600/IMG_2026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4nAVNoaqyZvZEI7R4LyFfveii8bbp1njFe4zbfCD0n_wwxL7RCipighuEuHLrP3LwZEyam8DWIJf7lAvJ463LAv69oj4-gSwONrwCNpxr8tHxx5nEvkE2kmsfwtUcd6BVqYm/s320/IMG_2026.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXdwlITCrI9MKo1poUKOAWc8BDs5ByzVQhxg7i_S0a5nvmV20-lGPVrDNGWEtM6bRY-M5kI-QXMC1SYzeTrE_HEclnyJI6T9T9HrgpaS5IHePCsIpDSuov9HJXeN0b-Gvmb5D/s1600/IMG_2024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXdwlITCrI9MKo1poUKOAWc8BDs5ByzVQhxg7i_S0a5nvmV20-lGPVrDNGWEtM6bRY-M5kI-QXMC1SYzeTrE_HEclnyJI6T9T9HrgpaS5IHePCsIpDSuov9HJXeN0b-Gvmb5D/s320/IMG_2024.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> "</span>Switching gears a little bit. Obviously, you have to keep on display some permanent items that are drawing cards for the museum such as the Babe Ruth display. How then do you go about keeping things fresh to draw in fans for more?"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "We do that in three different ways. One of them is to have a few temporary exhibits that are new each year. Most museums will do a couple of temporary exhibits per year. We do one temporary exhibit per year because most of our people come during a swath of a three to four month period of time (late spring/summer). And if we do two other exhibits we are spending a lot of capital--losing time, money and resources--for the handful of people who see it in February. That’s not a good expenditure of resources. So that one temporary exhibit is located outside of the Today’s Game Locker Room area. Right now we have our Baseball Cards exhibit up there." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_RfvcsY5VIkTttdzny_wu-tUOQ1lP4pjMkUKx_t59ktmfP1S8r34PTkoLNgUSgZiR1Gf8-3J5AfWJBkNK7eO19mfYDfwkh6DRTGVCbma5ol0frajQ2OvFcFX4Ezo0B5ETg7J/s1600/IMG_1292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_RfvcsY5VIkTttdzny_wu-tUOQ1lP4pjMkUKx_t59ktmfP1S8r34PTkoLNgUSgZiR1Gf8-3J5AfWJBkNK7eO19mfYDfwkh6DRTGVCbma5ol0frajQ2OvFcFX4Ezo0B5ETg7J/s320/IMG_1292.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJn347TkoiEEQht5cOMivPaVrQBXE53Ys_5t31xkdoZEA3WqK80nUZt5S6FyU7RN-AKRoFN4w69jVB3XmKPBVhnji27PplvIn6RDdZXsI7P2hCM4Df1nUXOnti59fiB7eyNVv/s1600/IMG_1287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJn347TkoiEEQht5cOMivPaVrQBXE53Ys_5t31xkdoZEA3WqK80nUZt5S6FyU7RN-AKRoFN4w69jVB3XmKPBVhnji27PplvIn6RDdZXsI7P2hCM4Df1nUXOnti59fiB7eyNVv/s320/IMG_1287.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"We also have a photo exhibit of The New York Yankees that comes from a series of Associated Press photos which led to a book and we worked with them to put some of those photos up on the wall. Each year we have a new World Series exhibit. Each year we update our Today’s Game Locker Room for the various teams and for what happened during the past calendar year." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxXuXtsFeTGD_oZQ5qKXYU9s7Hmf-qFpkm8EM-N6A-932JoPnjItTz_A3bjyWG40HEJQJoJCF99moXAfEQrSIRrCjCoF4S23_6e2wDCikJ4RZfshCHia2lLFoQbLT2iXuiLfM/s1600/IMG_1159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxXuXtsFeTGD_oZQ5qKXYU9s7Hmf-qFpkm8EM-N6A-932JoPnjItTz_A3bjyWG40HEJQJoJCF99moXAfEQrSIRrCjCoF4S23_6e2wDCikJ4RZfshCHia2lLFoQbLT2iXuiLfM/s320/IMG_1159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGACSpPf8sgwwYf56yI0tZzXMoLBlEMK136t367ZlPwFGtXoOBzY87z-U0lPlizg3nqzNCX9NuqjVkOnWiw9cGjOHgdcvNFHV42Xzm35tQzRx3UsQ_v8iAxLl6tPOgeNjEKkp/s1600/IMG_1175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGACSpPf8sgwwYf56yI0tZzXMoLBlEMK136t367ZlPwFGtXoOBzY87z-U0lPlizg3nqzNCX9NuqjVkOnWiw9cGjOHgdcvNFHV42Xzm35tQzRx3UsQ_v8iAxLl6tPOgeNjEKkp/s320/IMG_1175.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTk0HvDBqCQeWYiDeZREQ6KQspzGAXU-Iq79YSGvEW96Jfpa4GbMoyxl1p7icLCIL0-_L5EbflxS25N5JV2CYVbrl3XfIksDWOoknidFm4ZZuh4U9OZT1PqZvQ2n8fX0LZyyQl/s1600/IMG_1189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTk0HvDBqCQeWYiDeZREQ6KQspzGAXU-Iq79YSGvEW96Jfpa4GbMoyxl1p7icLCIL0-_L5EbflxS25N5JV2CYVbrl3XfIksDWOoknidFm4ZZuh4U9OZT1PqZvQ2n8fX0LZyyQl/s320/IMG_1189.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Then in the timeline section and other areas, we are constantly moving items in and out all the time. Sometimes they come down because we want to do research on them. Something else will replace it. Other times we have new permanent exhibits--such as the Hank Aaron display. That leads to holes in other displays. All these items are gathered from collections and they go into the new exhibit. And we then go back to our holes to back fill."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaOPf5TC8QbT1RRsu5jZZ8ca5HYjvhvfDuJnvnIo6pNZdzNZAcDQpZpuJ1n_McLE6V62t-4-Moy5P81QiRlFGYpMGtGfVYXFWevm2kWOcqj4aoWveaYo6gynFff1CC39tcpBH/s1600/IMG_1225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaOPf5TC8QbT1RRsu5jZZ8ca5HYjvhvfDuJnvnIo6pNZdzNZAcDQpZpuJ1n_McLE6V62t-4-Moy5P81QiRlFGYpMGtGfVYXFWevm2kWOcqj4aoWveaYo6gynFff1CC39tcpBH/s320/IMG_1225.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuoKKCP7zJe5ytvKdocXiTroMuIk4Q7GZc5O8X9GfGhyBVZ7Racz7sRNIgXbMzg4SegSpoHSN8nn6eei85EBGkD1Sei6Oyv9H0ekOywsBS06XC3WFY-US9yQuCZKhAr96QtfS/s1600/IMG_1253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuoKKCP7zJe5ytvKdocXiTroMuIk4Q7GZc5O8X9GfGhyBVZ7Racz7sRNIgXbMzg4SegSpoHSN8nn6eei85EBGkD1Sei6Oyv9H0ekOywsBS06XC3WFY-US9yQuCZKhAr96QtfS/s320/IMG_1253.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmERVXRfZmnAhRdxMhMO3rgq6OogN4Lj7NhQ9nsjwCBSokaOP9ZK-FtwQgI0IUP2sZ4PFcpyZ8fcremh-7UYqsrEqSlbZln98IImB7G5Hpz2xokViS5NzfdkB8akLShR3_F-DJ/s1600/IMG_1158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmERVXRfZmnAhRdxMhMO3rgq6OogN4Lj7NhQ9nsjwCBSokaOP9ZK-FtwQgI0IUP2sZ4PFcpyZ8fcremh-7UYqsrEqSlbZln98IImB7G5Hpz2xokViS5NzfdkB8akLShR3_F-DJ/s320/IMG_1158.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Empty Walter Johnson Locker From Griffith Stadium</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"This is exactly what I am doing right now with a Records Exhibit that is coming up. Here’s a spot where we have pulled Walter Johnson’s Jersey. We needed to put something else in this spot. We have a physical space and we want to make sure that we tell the same story. Unfortunately for us, we don’t have an artifact for every Hall Of Famer. For Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Honus Wagner, for Rickey Henderson--we have a few items we can pick and choose from. And if we happen to be using one of those items for a particular purpose, there is often a different one that we can bring in to replace." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFhQymsztkzlHqSr3dDkVoSlKDSs9w9UaAh_muHTHIcQqCMdfqwYYkCXJ3MP5_PudO-Ebo06APHrHaaIKN4YX2IcZdkyBx4BG43km2dBjvq-iCqjkCa0QbnEh1ra59ok2T93d/s1600/IMG_0828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFhQymsztkzlHqSr3dDkVoSlKDSs9w9UaAh_muHTHIcQqCMdfqwYYkCXJ3MP5_PudO-Ebo06APHrHaaIKN4YX2IcZdkyBx4BG43km2dBjvq-iCqjkCa0QbnEh1ra59ok2T93d/s320/IMG_0828.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62yJI0LYXz2lpTgopoxkIVq-fKdIqetFBs86yLQ_u5f3SVDtMKbixpsbaa26QN4NRxVTTEzjxyjaiRRMmybTB0lHfHX3_V6Tvu0S4scZIpQE1zaTetSLnI_KKqPWqIxHzWSqi/s1600/IMG_0831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj62yJI0LYXz2lpTgopoxkIVq-fKdIqetFBs86yLQ_u5f3SVDtMKbixpsbaa26QN4NRxVTTEzjxyjaiRRMmybTB0lHfHX3_V6Tvu0S4scZIpQE1zaTetSLnI_KKqPWqIxHzWSqi/s320/IMG_0831.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"As we move things up, we move other things back down into storage. There is only a finite amount of space upstairs so anything that moves up, something has got to come down. And anything that comes down allows us to bring things up. It’s this large zero sum game--kind of like the number puzzle you sit around trying to make work. That’s how we do that. It’s a combination of temporary exhibits, constantly refreshing our permanent exhibits and creating new permanent exhibits like Viva Baseball, like the upcoming Records Room. A good example of a temporary exhibit will be the Cricket & Baseball show beginning on April 9th, 2011 in the Education Gallery."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKOi22dm_jE7LBg7zDBlBORE8aGWugr2dAAJmlwOAlOc8TD4XOk7MjgccpBk6U_iIMqKMD-lV4Wg7qiGgfO7QUM2nuTBlV_FUUOnZUL8x1Tv7KuuxlYlP_Go0ugZVw1IBHi9U/s1600/IMG_2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKOi22dm_jE7LBg7zDBlBORE8aGWugr2dAAJmlwOAlOc8TD4XOk7MjgccpBk6U_iIMqKMD-lV4Wg7qiGgfO7QUM2nuTBlV_FUUOnZUL8x1Tv7KuuxlYlP_Go0ugZVw1IBHi9U/s320/IMG_2003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Cricket & Baseball is going to open up then. That will be a great opportunity for members to come back again. One of the things we have learned is that our temporary exhibits don’t drive new visitation very much. Permanent exhibits don’t really either, but what they can do is give people a good reason to come back and to keep people from not coming back. If you really know that it’s exactly the way it was three years ago, then there is no reason to come back. But if you’ve heard the museum has done some changes, you might want to come back and see what they are. </span>Or, ‘if you wouldn’t mind going, I would like to go as well.’"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxCHWLPryo_oSdOjDuTpzqUDOXfqgPcaXdyMjDqq0-brHfuKJjBGFe-23bUkX6YTwpg1g30rodGKGDpwRK4mj4v6Rhh9dEEhcVwpJq1faOq2x-HL93v6p3jYVNxoUmJ2rbWB9/s1600/IMG_1745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxCHWLPryo_oSdOjDuTpzqUDOXfqgPcaXdyMjDqq0-brHfuKJjBGFe-23bUkX6YTwpg1g30rodGKGDpwRK4mj4v6Rhh9dEEhcVwpJq1faOq2x-HL93v6p3jYVNxoUmJ2rbWB9/s320/IMG_1745.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxnjGDFiqlIMTBq-S4Svcc8iwBqljLCOF_nm5rG1bX1FfCMOV0TQTXuf5_jKSOxK9OpLvsRA28w1p3-ai5SfLVH1hmhATQCq-ChoF2YmA4eqXArTtXhbAvN9kOvWzqc98ozlG/s1600/IMG_2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxnjGDFiqlIMTBq-S4Svcc8iwBqljLCOF_nm5rG1bX1FfCMOV0TQTXuf5_jKSOxK9OpLvsRA28w1p3-ai5SfLVH1hmhATQCq-ChoF2YmA4eqXArTtXhbAvN9kOvWzqc98ozlG/s320/IMG_2007.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHroRvR35Ve0QjkxF3pFA0houzmQGZifkJo7AGFgYk-cNiYex8LY1wB2GvhJD_an0wbVBi4xCNtECAxiUcdoG43bkF-9hDpWAZ70zwGY2MK6XnftmABQrRrNqeR9kVcpuV0OC/s1600/IMG_2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHroRvR35Ve0QjkxF3pFA0houzmQGZifkJo7AGFgYk-cNiYex8LY1wB2GvhJD_an0wbVBi4xCNtECAxiUcdoG43bkF-9hDpWAZ70zwGY2MK6XnftmABQrRrNqeR9kVcpuV0OC/s320/IMG_2010.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip14OgL-7kmY8UGbsJjfn0cPNicYR4rlzma37UN_Dn95lyvON4sFhLnOlch0_rMKzk05MLikx9J4-8eDIkBkDpH-nfpNxtlzkkxptDmR4As5UzRLe8roEITWQfJTV-C4uJaqm9/s1600/IMG_0835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip14OgL-7kmY8UGbsJjfn0cPNicYR4rlzma37UN_Dn95lyvON4sFhLnOlch0_rMKzk05MLikx9J4-8eDIkBkDpH-nfpNxtlzkkxptDmR4As5UzRLe8roEITWQfJTV-C4uJaqm9/s320/IMG_0835.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRqdm6fkb_lNkZ3MjP30xQfPNCkqKV6-IYkQcp1tKRraMtFlsVVJyTsztaBbcbonfWw28cCySVK8fREzO-X8CUvziGFP0D1h4aCHmqkSf71luaAtHdGlt46R0Li2Itv7HNNhO/s1600/IMG_0853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRqdm6fkb_lNkZ3MjP30xQfPNCkqKV6-IYkQcp1tKRraMtFlsVVJyTsztaBbcbonfWw28cCySVK8fREzO-X8CUvziGFP0D1h4aCHmqkSf71luaAtHdGlt46R0Li2Itv7HNNhO/s320/IMG_0853.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>"Viva Baseball, like we do with the Women in Baseball, like with The Negro Leagues exhibit, as we obtain new artifacts--we will rotate some things in and out. The story is complete as told but it can always be brought up to date. And that’s what we will continue to do."<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlz6Ha2AyHU1Qqrcv2DKZ14vK9UxACghmNoA6BHrq4agqsOk784_ubAWj2SC3FtI_wJD15GW1kUBf09ujOvPnoDza2n1KV1HmRMj8Tg_PftANgh3Ol18Gl5TRTuT4WMHG8YwQ/s1600/IMG_1727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlz6Ha2AyHU1Qqrcv2DKZ14vK9UxACghmNoA6BHrq4agqsOk784_ubAWj2SC3FtI_wJD15GW1kUBf09ujOvPnoDza2n1KV1HmRMj8Tg_PftANgh3Ol18Gl5TRTuT4WMHG8YwQ/s320/IMG_1727.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOm67MeFqlt6O8-0DopduzPrHpNBxw2daTKj3_vo6mtdQ0d6G39qBVOmnPXUpdlNAWW0RgddA-hGYR5cI2cxM945IH_87wX_dbndEe3ptjS86NyFl4TnOC1H2D3PKya74pVix/s1600/IMG_0993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaOm67MeFqlt6O8-0DopduzPrHpNBxw2daTKj3_vo6mtdQ0d6G39qBVOmnPXUpdlNAWW0RgddA-hGYR5cI2cxM945IH_87wX_dbndEe3ptjS86NyFl4TnOC1H2D3PKya74pVix/s320/IMG_0993.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-6_zD1ijdwNNKjRibHLmLlQzYgP0rOy3AVLRL2QgSmRjPEz8OWZ6nK_w1jK6GFIZxHpBXxZ7U0xv5tYzP_-4FV5YCF-dXxNDh0NaZpjMkM-97xwV3pGnT8mwVsqTLPfmL-3O/s1600/IMG_1708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-6_zD1ijdwNNKjRibHLmLlQzYgP0rOy3AVLRL2QgSmRjPEz8OWZ6nK_w1jK6GFIZxHpBXxZ7U0xv5tYzP_-4FV5YCF-dXxNDh0NaZpjMkM-97xwV3pGnT8mwVsqTLPfmL-3O/s320/IMG_1708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> "We’ve talked about how there are so many things not on display in the collection. Does that mean there are more reference materials for researchers than artifacts for fans of baseball to see?"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2EPYfcvQFJH5g6ZH9vvCcMfdHo6DsIkn2qwf26LI28KmEm_JL3E_3DHPOBODB6s2PET2NWd6VrIafrRaRbSa_kOI0nCfG86YVThIIActDrYc4gznglFgpr1ImN3y9dVVdOMU/s1600/IMG_2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2EPYfcvQFJH5g6ZH9vvCcMfdHo6DsIkn2qwf26LI28KmEm_JL3E_3DHPOBODB6s2PET2NWd6VrIafrRaRbSa_kOI0nCfG86YVThIIActDrYc4gznglFgpr1ImN3y9dVVdOMU/s320/IMG_2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "10 to 15% of the artifacts are on display at any one time. Yeah, the other artifacts are available for us to do research, for outside scholars to come in and do research. But really, and we learned this with Viva Baseball, very often we will have acquired artifacts that have been here through a generation of curators they’ve just been waiting for us to come along with this new exhibit to put it in. One of the artifacts I really enjoyed finding down in collections and on exhibit in Viva Baseball is a ball from the very first Caribbean Series from back in the 1940’s, right after World War II." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"This was a ball from that series and somebody thought: ‘Oh, let’s send it to the Hall Of Fame.’ We got that and as far as I know it’s never been on exhibit until Viva Baseball. Once we started doing this, we knew this was the perfect ball to show that not only did every single country have it’s own baseball history, but then for the Caribbean Series--baseball was also a very unifying theme that brought all of these countries together to play baseball and compete against one another in the same way these great teams competed against each other within their respective countries. It starts off with everybody trying to beat Cuba because Cuba had the greatest team. Then after Fidel Castro, things changed a little bit and it became Puerto Rico and then the Dominican Republic--in more recent times."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFhnAanwG8C6lMMkuvFQd3AwenztGZFH76HF6jLL10OojXvoMUb2vNis8UAbZY4vT8hEnaBVQuSSj4VkeQwwnX3RxqhIoA8e-5-bU7-Mgyptebtzl8ydpupQR0752FaFIXmzb/s1600/IMG_0979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFhnAanwG8C6lMMkuvFQd3AwenztGZFH76HF6jLL10OojXvoMUb2vNis8UAbZY4vT8hEnaBVQuSSj4VkeQwwnX3RxqhIoA8e-5-bU7-Mgyptebtzl8ydpupQR0752FaFIXmzb/s320/IMG_0979.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Venezuela loves it when they knock off the Domicans. And Puerto Rico is thrilled when they are up there as well. Mexico can barely believe they won the Caribbean Series this past year because they are more of a soccer playing country. All along their west coast and close to the United States, is where baseball is really played in Mexico. One of the cases in Latin America where there are places were baseball is the king instead of soccer."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> And this Viva Baseball display once the word gets around, you hope that will help attract more latino visitors to the Hall Of Fame? </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Odell:</b> "We really hope so. To the extent that works out, that’s fantastic. A couple of things we thought about when we started to put together Viva Baseball. One was that regardless of how many people it brought here or not, it was a story that needed to be told because it’s an important baseball story. When we opened up Pride & Passion, we wondered whether we would get a larger number of African-Americans coming to see this. The answer ended up being no, not really. But it still needed to be told. And just because it didn’t affect our visitation demographic, that’s ok because this was an important story for all of America and for all of baseball. We are thrilled to be able to tell that story."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2vdB_Exz31NCV-7uMrW907UZInwbzBxoA6Q4jbY6CfHvjKhEdQrnv21EwXekk01y50KRKw1RaciInCiQczk7jDVoBcBOdJ5hCDmQN7z7BUJSpSHUE2NnFPCDq0yHDDeXdjH3/s1600/IMG_0947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2vdB_Exz31NCV-7uMrW907UZInwbzBxoA6Q4jbY6CfHvjKhEdQrnv21EwXekk01y50KRKw1RaciInCiQczk7jDVoBcBOdJ5hCDmQN7z7BUJSpSHUE2NnFPCDq0yHDDeXdjH3/s320/IMG_0947.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabX2JZJpO7xxtkdtiMMfRQtZfS4lDej_8ieQn6K0lTHj45AVfYHuRckxrhnblbbfdnkQzFYMK30cOcsI5sZNBLCED_dCMGwpZTfSAzqufA_qd6YnMmUR-rj9ohjZCieIALHfV/s1600/IMG_0953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabX2JZJpO7xxtkdtiMMfRQtZfS4lDej_8ieQn6K0lTHj45AVfYHuRckxrhnblbbfdnkQzFYMK30cOcsI5sZNBLCED_dCMGwpZTfSAzqufA_qd6YnMmUR-rj9ohjZCieIALHfV/s320/IMG_0953.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"The same thing is true for latin baseball. But one of the things that’s great is to walk through the floors as it starts to get a little more crowded and you will hear people walking and talking to one another and there is a whole lot of great interaction. And all of a sudden you go into Viva Baseball and everybody is talking spanish. We had no idea this was going to happen. We didn’t put out a questionaire asking what language would you prefer to speak? When we do demographic stuff we ask where you are coming from? What is your Zip Code? How did you hear about the Hall Of Fame? What are you financial demographics? But you don’t ask what language do you prefer to speak?"</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"But when people get up to Viva Baseball, then dad starts talking to the kids telling them about this exhibit in spanish. Let me tell you, that is really neat to hear inside this museum. You hear english, english, english on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors. But in that area, all of a sudden you hear spanish, spanish, spanish, spanish!! And that’s really, really cool. That was totally unexpected. We didn’t think that was going to happen." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"To the extent we knew how many spanish speaking folks might be coming, we knew it from our spanish translations of our walkthrough maps (of the museum). We weren’t giving out too many of those. But we had a bigger spanish population than we knew. And they appreciate that story in ways they can’t tell us. </span>Several latin reporters helped spread it around through the spanish speaking press down in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela and the spanish speaking blogesphere as well."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo-yhfjMYVPr20mGL6qfjwYzyvyPndaj8sDKfIYun2rVawb75Ml-EsyBa9ooYmAHLRYcEegKCwVjAMi64EfvaiuvnEAi_VaGp4elWr2JgyKIdE0WH29tF4VyTo0igBnzuUxc3/s1600/IMG_1756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpo-yhfjMYVPr20mGL6qfjwYzyvyPndaj8sDKfIYun2rVawb75Ml-EsyBa9ooYmAHLRYcEegKCwVjAMi64EfvaiuvnEAi_VaGp4elWr2JgyKIdE0WH29tF4VyTo0igBnzuUxc3/s320/IMG_1756.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEBWTIdobTXLNnezGSTxbzg3aVISLf5aoh1NjvTg5jQUg8SZPKB2-1hyphenhyphengYUkfybjeFVjntvUTynPlKJ6zzI8SUT3oTarWY96mktThdCEsqzFwbhI1SDbA73741VXRxqgNFfvr/s1600/IMG_1790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGEBWTIdobTXLNnezGSTxbzg3aVISLf5aoh1NjvTg5jQUg8SZPKB2-1hyphenhyphengYUkfybjeFVjntvUTynPlKJ6zzI8SUT3oTarWY96mktThdCEsqzFwbhI1SDbA73741VXRxqgNFfvr/s320/IMG_1790.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> "Can you talk a little more about obtaining artifacts and putting together the videos for displays?"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"The clubs are always very open and very happy to send up artifacts--which is great. The difficulty we've had is doing interviews with players when we wanted to. Mostly because a ballplayer's schedule is pretty rigid from the time they come into a city, to the time they are there, to the time they are leaving. And they want to keep it that way. When you start throwing curveballs in and start interviewing guys and it’s not the regular interviewer and they are not interested in talking about something off the field--that’s when they get uncomfortable."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"So it took us a while to get through and explain here’s what we would like to do. Using Viva Baseball as the example, we sent them the questions in English and Spanish. What turned out and it worked out well for us was being able to conduct the interview in English or Spanish or both--depending upon the ballplayer. For some of the ballplayers, like Rod Carew, we were able to answer in both English and Spanish. Sometimes with Juan Marichal you will see him speaking in English with Spanish subtitles. But also English subtitles for ADA. But sometimes he’s speaking Spanish with English translation and Spanish subtitles for ADA. So you never quite know what you are going to get."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"It was really neat how you ask a question in English and you get this length of a answer <i>(widening his hands a little bit apart).</i> And you ask them to tell the same story in Spanish and it’s twice as long. He’s now talking with his heart language. And you can see the wonder and greater detail in his eyes." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"I got a chance to interview Rod Carew. He was amazing in talking about his story. How he came up to America from Panama to New York and he was just a little bit younger than a lot of the players that came up professionally with him. He came to America with his family, his mom, when he was still a teenager. A young teen who had to go to school and before he could go to school, before he could go out and play, he had to practice his English at home. And because of those lessons, he has no accent today." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Yet ballplayers that came as professional ballplayers at the age of 17 or 18--say three years older than Rod Carew--didn’t have somebody that said you have to stay at home and practice your English before you can go out and play baseball. They came here to play baseball. So that’s a part of the rich story of how these latino players came into American culture and how comfortable they are with the language. Or, not comfortable with the language." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6ElVA1GzToOgVZEATxj1Cs9e7pYM-kADGHAY5NXFwRLMClg_8Oox2IDdWFCryxepbKvNepn_YeLwHn4hVfxW-VNBkuA0EdVnJaxNgvI4lJv0vopV68hCWh9oCBx73q_jQJIy/s1600/IMG_0719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6ElVA1GzToOgVZEATxj1Cs9e7pYM-kADGHAY5NXFwRLMClg_8Oox2IDdWFCryxepbKvNepn_YeLwHn4hVfxW-VNBkuA0EdVnJaxNgvI4lJv0vopV68hCWh9oCBx73q_jQJIy/s320/IMG_0719.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> "We wanted to follow up on the Stephen Strasburg Cap from his debut game we saw earlier in relation to why it’s important to the Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum?"</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "Nobody knew that game was going to be as big as it was. However, Strasburg did have an unprecedented amount of publicity and pre-Major League coverage. It was clear that this was a phenomenon of some sort and our job is to tell baseball history as it is taking place. You don’t have time to look back and go: ‘Oh, you know 10 years ago we should have picked up that.’ We are constantly in a situation where we are always projecting where we would like to be. Always looking back 10 years saying to ourselves what would we want from this game or that moment? That’s how we came up with Strasburg. We got the cap because we wanted something that was not too big, something that was indicitive of the year. Ball caps change all the time. In a couple of years, The Nationals are going to come out with a blue bill on their cap. Or they are going to change something."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"And that’s the great thing about caps. They really set a time frame in the game. So this Strasburg Cap will set a time. ‘Oh yeah, we remember the classic red cap back in the old days!’ The ideal is that Strasburg has this incredible 20 year career, strikes out a bizzion guys, has 300 wins, and then six years later comes into the Hall Of Fame--and we got something from his debut. That would be ideal."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"But what also could happen is Strasburg doesn’t successfully complete his rehab from surgery and never plays again. Those are two situations where either one of those scenarios could take place. Yet the story of Strasburg coming into the majors is one that will never change because he really did have a remarkable debut. We were trying to think of this kind of a build up, the hype coming into the Major Leagues and we didn’t find anybody. So as it’s own phenomenon, what’s appropriate? We start with the ball cap. If everything goes great then this will be the first thing we acquire. If it doesn’t, some other phenom is going to come along and we know we have the Strasburg Cap. Then the story becomes here’s what happened to Strasburg--not much. Or he continued and became like Sandy Koufax as one of the great immortals in the sport." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvcztZ67h3bs4-8ElykfEvteyLFYnxOR73UWH8pPV9hPaIUEX_LzJrDXc04mR8dmWDKDQvLhFFqbk0OpN_fENv5RwVXrtkZRkkvHojz7q3fZFCowTUz9UX8kIHaGpWQ8R6fxa/s1600/IMG_1246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvcztZ67h3bs4-8ElykfEvteyLFYnxOR73UWH8pPV9hPaIUEX_LzJrDXc04mR8dmWDKDQvLhFFqbk0OpN_fENv5RwVXrtkZRkkvHojz7q3fZFCowTUz9UX8kIHaGpWQ8R6fxa/s320/IMG_1246.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMbTmhng7bfN4TKMJ68101lrWslYpF2RFkdKpNq3B5o3muydolWLjTZPsCM88B-gqcR9yF_RVlV3SSRcYtdNz65VbHN28pG4ai6AXJFj9XvBqzVYY-Vw2h5fKzMEFMgUsYGQl/s1600/IMG_1244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMbTmhng7bfN4TKMJ68101lrWslYpF2RFkdKpNq3B5o3muydolWLjTZPsCM88B-gqcR9yF_RVlV3SSRcYtdNz65VbHN28pG4ai6AXJFj9XvBqzVYY-Vw2h5fKzMEFMgUsYGQl/s320/IMG_1244.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZQeMXr2VdoWNurQj4obZ1J063p_j4M-q5hb2ReO4dpPE8SdNm0utYjMB9xFkdaZBR5jm43XdFLa1DoOoVbO84lUzT_Qb5peNBI3OwC5srIbxNyLV6Vk4-PMBu_82bsqfeiWB/s1600/IMG_1248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZQeMXr2VdoWNurQj4obZ1J063p_j4M-q5hb2ReO4dpPE8SdNm0utYjMB9xFkdaZBR5jm43XdFLa1DoOoVbO84lUzT_Qb5peNBI3OwC5srIbxNyLV6Vk4-PMBu_82bsqfeiWB/s320/IMG_1248.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBT80d_zWG5u3ZXrDP-sN8i3QYsUzGwCUZeodbZ4pZhaskPZthyphenhyphenCISmnEuXkKJWOK8tvNxn-BC-9Ihk7ObVbwsIHcncm7MkvTRhKrQ5aLB857fCnnNMK80PSQZlX0xBguBLyI/s1600/IMG_1251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBT80d_zWG5u3ZXrDP-sN8i3QYsUzGwCUZeodbZ4pZhaskPZthyphenhyphenCISmnEuXkKJWOK8tvNxn-BC-9Ihk7ObVbwsIHcncm7MkvTRhKrQ5aLB857fCnnNMK80PSQZlX0xBguBLyI/s320/IMG_1251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"That’s one of the crazy things about this game. You never know but you are always, every year and every day, thinking what history is taking place today in baseball and do we want to collect an item from it? We do have some routines down. Somebody throws a no-hitter, we contact them about getting a cap, maybe some spikes, and a baseball from the game. It doesn’t have to be the last out, but a baseball that he threw in the game. If somebody hits four home runs in a game in one day, we try to get the bat from him. When Shawn Green accomplished the feat, he said: ‘No, I got more hits left in it.’ He hit three more home runs with it then broke the bat. And then he gave it to us. Perfect!! That’s great. He said his bat died a hero. That adds more to the story."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtQwwB2NpF0lcFY1N3QxM-hOAbTGDgSKQvch_tEeop6HhZ5DS-L6pYfC_s7d4OqJ8NKaVCseV6YnX330ty4kgmshTs3hCa6w8i2DlaVj6spzQIq0aJYdoitUhV3DYNKLwELEr/s1600/IMG_1050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtQwwB2NpF0lcFY1N3QxM-hOAbTGDgSKQvch_tEeop6HhZ5DS-L6pYfC_s7d4OqJ8NKaVCseV6YnX330ty4kgmshTs3hCa6w8i2DlaVj6spzQIq0aJYdoitUhV3DYNKLwELEr/s320/IMG_1050.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZy5iNLpXZ-1y97B4t7sd9f6mR7LHv7kZl59hSS1D75Zrlc-0UtMUZpMUTvFeSHRjilbGaNsrDdO10qGVZ7DbPcwU4-ONyhKJ-lXuMJ779sdZir5tdwuSGmMOsWOwoM3NgffD2/s1600/IMG_1041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZy5iNLpXZ-1y97B4t7sd9f6mR7LHv7kZl59hSS1D75Zrlc-0UtMUZpMUTvFeSHRjilbGaNsrDdO10qGVZ7DbPcwU4-ONyhKJ-lXuMJ779sdZir5tdwuSGmMOsWOwoM3NgffD2/s320/IMG_1041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLypMY5NMA_ZmAo4OxFIqL9u7siwm-ManLnBHdlbQtDyQ-4p9s5KXH2-8OO1-9fxbLDLPGImHokzgEYih6tkFj4Ei0hHsA2qxgS5i0FWYgxIIHNquI12rz0BBa9Anb4Kfrnvk/s1600/IMG_1044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLypMY5NMA_ZmAo4OxFIqL9u7siwm-ManLnBHdlbQtDyQ-4p9s5KXH2-8OO1-9fxbLDLPGImHokzgEYih6tkFj4Ei0hHsA2qxgS5i0FWYgxIIHNquI12rz0BBa9Anb4Kfrnvk/s320/IMG_1044.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"For milestones and things that are unique--we have to sit back and think. The best way to do it is to think back to if the feat happened 10 to 15 years ago. What would we have wanted from the game then? Or project us into the year 2030--what would we want from that? It’s not easy, but we have to think ahead.'</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"In Strasburg’s case, we asked for the cap. We contacted The Nationals and said this is what we would like. We got his debut cap and a baseball from that game. The answer is that we always contact the ballclubs and say this is what we would like. They then go to the ballplayer and say: ‘The Hall Of Fame would like this?’ Usually, the ballplayer is fine with it, but it depends on what it is. If you ask for a ballplayer's glove, you ain’t going to get it. It’s very seldom. Sometimes we’ve had luck with getting triple play gloves. The ballplayer will give up a glove they used during a triple play." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5G1oZTOdaXlmdgp86s8D-pwCs3cdP9h4pqKgm78t1-BIBpMgaFztVXSGc4B4owTX_RdmCrLys4KvO-2_LBKL2W-O2FWVWrxEyAxcqpnip86fR-mfhaS966vxm5ZndCvM16z5/s1600/IMG_1236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5G1oZTOdaXlmdgp86s8D-pwCs3cdP9h4pqKgm78t1-BIBpMgaFztVXSGc4B4owTX_RdmCrLys4KvO-2_LBKL2W-O2FWVWrxEyAxcqpnip86fR-mfhaS966vxm5ZndCvM16z5/s320/IMG_1236.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17tmqvEckP_HqR_7M-uK60VchZa9cFefUyln1HmLpL7XlFOXlL6Pjva8sByTwNqw5nPTpmeOpfHg4o1mp5AOoeRtuzt4abuFb1b6bN94D4CVbCdSyTyegFIvIfDy-zAYGvW3i/s1600/IMG_1276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17tmqvEckP_HqR_7M-uK60VchZa9cFefUyln1HmLpL7XlFOXlL6Pjva8sByTwNqw5nPTpmeOpfHg4o1mp5AOoeRtuzt4abuFb1b6bN94D4CVbCdSyTyegFIvIfDy-zAYGvW3i/s320/IMG_1276.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Troy Tulowitzki (Colorado) had his unassisted triple play and we asked if The Hall Of Fame could have that glove? We have Randy Velarde’s unassisted triple play glove from a dozen years ago. Troy responded: ‘I am a rookie. This is what is keeping me in the Major Leagues. I will give you my cap and my jersey. I will give you my pants and I will give you my spikes, but I can’t give you my glove. It's got too much good mojo.’"</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"We understand that. You don’t want to be getting into the head of any ballplayer. Mike Bordick of The Orioles had this incredible streak of errorless games at the end of a season. He donated the glove and then three games into the following season, booted a ball. And you felt bad for him. I don’t know how he works his gloves in and out of games, maybe donating his glove to the Hall was fine by him. But you would hate to feel that you are the reason anybody ends their record streak--like getting their bat before they are ready to give it up." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk90YnmcSZCQL0qKFvIQwtkYYph6BlmBeXq-HL4JVVZAQRlZ1z0jjnxFTm5g-prB0DSe89URSgcSi8VXIjq88F7ZY38V5cIb2_anvmC2IjL6j_QgmkFEBxgd_lMsSE7tWpzGH/s1600/IMG_0716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEk90YnmcSZCQL0qKFvIQwtkYYph6BlmBeXq-HL4JVVZAQRlZ1z0jjnxFTm5g-prB0DSe89URSgcSi8VXIjq88F7ZY38V5cIb2_anvmC2IjL6j_QgmkFEBxgd_lMsSE7tWpzGH/s320/IMG_0716.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">In the next installment of our three part interview with John Odell--Curator at The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum, Nats320 looks ahead to some exhibits currently in the planning stages that will go on display in Cooperstown over the next few years and we will finish off with John's look at American history through baseball. That's coming next on Nats320 followed by even more--including a photo essay of The Hank Aaron Permanent Exhibit then an interview with The Director Of Research at The Hall Of Fame--Tim Wiles.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><i>All Photo Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i></span></div>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-35222451167952916562011-04-06T17:55:00.007-04:002011-04-07T18:58:34.600-04:00The Nine Current Latinos In The Baseball Hall Of Fame<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYgMh0jwovS9iRss7RfcxnrIyD421RrK_WXAqaVUR_qMEcXj5ea3XzJR7FhJKmz7n5FbQjPSX9Dm02p3hBPNAZaWdLN5M5CVNvGt_aYrYUvuJyeRV4_aPyBFc-dBmQJFj63_c/s1600/IMG_1496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYgMh0jwovS9iRss7RfcxnrIyD421RrK_WXAqaVUR_qMEcXj5ea3XzJR7FhJKmz7n5FbQjPSX9Dm02p3hBPNAZaWdLN5M5CVNvGt_aYrYUvuJyeRV4_aPyBFc-dBmQJFj63_c/s320/IMG_1496.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LAb060tXakZZCtdKgEdLgN7hBuhTi5J3QArd0cEi5df9YMe0xAKQpaVjgiqqyVrkhZ-x5Q445XVwgZvzwOkhyxtuEi5TVRRHIK_v36mM4tA_rwh59HjvpAEl2AJqyu6ZVTJC/s1600/IMG_1441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LAb060tXakZZCtdKgEdLgN7hBuhTi5J3QArd0cEi5df9YMe0xAKQpaVjgiqqyVrkhZ-x5Q445XVwgZvzwOkhyxtuEi5TVRRHIK_v36mM4tA_rwh59HjvpAEl2AJqyu6ZVTJC/s320/IMG_1441.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7i1YGOJp4TjLGa8zPYdfVXzUhCb-9BZCpx63zOpY4I2bOIWz1XBJNO_NxjaaIkoFU76RfJpFXjoWDYGQulMTC1UmISHHF5FGLc5OHHosm0jsRf0TIPTM_tyTeAhQNMeqZ9hm/s1600/IMG_1443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7i1YGOJp4TjLGa8zPYdfVXzUhCb-9BZCpx63zOpY4I2bOIWz1XBJNO_NxjaaIkoFU76RfJpFXjoWDYGQulMTC1UmISHHF5FGLc5OHHosm0jsRf0TIPTM_tyTeAhQNMeqZ9hm/s320/IMG_1443.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In following up to our earlier <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/04/viva-baseball-latino-contributions-to.html" target="_blank">Viva Baseball story</a> from the National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum here are the plaques of the nine foreign born Latinos currently inducted into Cooperstown.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYfr4Rw2Ogs4xMtkyDi4bLSii2dLKEAqYSJ__a4k4Nq5YC0qYMe0XBu_tAJsSj4yBPQ9ZU4ObUWiUgBc_EUP8A6TLB96LwaPXLvTuuY6bJAenzxWz-J5mO5cq_uuYFuDVHjLc/s1600/IMG_1458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYfr4Rw2Ogs4xMtkyDi4bLSii2dLKEAqYSJ__a4k4Nq5YC0qYMe0XBu_tAJsSj4yBPQ9ZU4ObUWiUgBc_EUP8A6TLB96LwaPXLvTuuY6bJAenzxWz-J5mO5cq_uuYFuDVHjLc/s320/IMG_1458.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico)--Elected in 1973</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwUjTfbStdpzWT3rQmBlzhvAW3BPDzAZYa0NrHIse7X2iSKpTIIS7CNPXTsTX5qYM9JoY7u5Vah6m5-S8Fc_ICzNrmGImbEfyVKtOu0s-mzzcQH_NS9xTJDkAv9hRFXQpXxIc/s1600/IMG_1449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEwUjTfbStdpzWT3rQmBlzhvAW3BPDzAZYa0NrHIse7X2iSKpTIIS7CNPXTsTX5qYM9JoY7u5Vah6m5-S8Fc_ICzNrmGImbEfyVKtOu0s-mzzcQH_NS9xTJDkAv9hRFXQpXxIc/s320/IMG_1449.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7yvzc-krxr0jVcjQoZxnSmAuwNQTG2e3ubndnM6YI9k03DCZEmZOBK46i3s2QjVK1Qi-hYatD3Gwy89wJ8yqXxpw9CkR5g6N7Pv9Xdar2JsWb_wVDIDiT1K8Km0O74c3seO-/s1600/IMG_1457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj7yvzc-krxr0jVcjQoZxnSmAuwNQTG2e3ubndnM6YI9k03DCZEmZOBK46i3s2QjVK1Qi-hYatD3Gwy89wJ8yqXxpw9CkR5g6N7Pv9Xdar2JsWb_wVDIDiT1K8Km0O74c3seO-/s320/IMG_1457.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Martin Dihigo (Cuba)--Elected in 1977</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QxN_WS23uXqXPXYKHcaPxKKjgUM1tmiOA_o4cfLilYvvHiOkeIJBlpI2Z6Q0SiAwPUVN1SjZMCwdtkAJa5y2DBRKf4X85Ibn3AyEU7sy8_7YxFycfwUaloQZS_n9Etvk-k9t/s1600/IMG_1456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QxN_WS23uXqXPXYKHcaPxKKjgUM1tmiOA_o4cfLilYvvHiOkeIJBlpI2Z6Q0SiAwPUVN1SjZMCwdtkAJa5y2DBRKf4X85Ibn3AyEU7sy8_7YxFycfwUaloQZS_n9Etvk-k9t/s320/IMG_1456.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Juan Marichal (Dominican Republic)--Elected in 1983</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufDTsgs3P8jh1j0kjLj7zcDOb-5ECSX8H0swv44EnsJuSemFreJzLBqRz9Ry0wifei_rEPcKGNRC7KkT3mWZQ5qHbRYbIDb0wHfws-LhELH2MxmB-WTJHfgxhPA88TKSVnHfy/s1600/IMG_1444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiufDTsgs3P8jh1j0kjLj7zcDOb-5ECSX8H0swv44EnsJuSemFreJzLBqRz9Ry0wifei_rEPcKGNRC7KkT3mWZQ5qHbRYbIDb0wHfws-LhELH2MxmB-WTJHfgxhPA88TKSVnHfy/s320/IMG_1444.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpw_vq8Hn1OzeLEPdhAmc2d-rQZhEAD4ViHdSk6QxEAf4kf6yo_1c5rw-dOTvX9gLHN6gTz3auiePucQy3E4ZWC5Z3VHXhhpT9v5BI_PWHcITMwG09wzqt3eiWGcghwT6s88rJ/s1600/IMG_1455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpw_vq8Hn1OzeLEPdhAmc2d-rQZhEAD4ViHdSk6QxEAf4kf6yo_1c5rw-dOTvX9gLHN6gTz3auiePucQy3E4ZWC5Z3VHXhhpT9v5BI_PWHcITMwG09wzqt3eiWGcghwT6s88rJ/s320/IMG_1455.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Luis Aparicio (Venezuela)--Elected in 1984</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp26AXIKs5sjvupovriO-Al7zvD6JBYLex3EbOkVnpGrjELucOMdoEAJVtvXpiOYWzZd-8RPlOpSkuufBpCoegzrg8drSuMbSw5vPU27-xPh33leafvjm6AlRZcbA1r_M65RD/s1600/IMG_1450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp26AXIKs5sjvupovriO-Al7zvD6JBYLex3EbOkVnpGrjELucOMdoEAJVtvXpiOYWzZd-8RPlOpSkuufBpCoegzrg8drSuMbSw5vPU27-xPh33leafvjm6AlRZcbA1r_M65RD/s320/IMG_1450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJFsivIeenTfzlSZwmlPShby5nfb_Gw7kUeNdNE-wkpQwJ6upwdcd5T85YhPUUup9aHnw4pEZ0KV-gTFXTWEsbPNyUNyO__cUKRByEUIYfqqUEyJvbEenBBG-Uls-V4-flxhR/s1600/IMG_1452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtJFsivIeenTfzlSZwmlPShby5nfb_Gw7kUeNdNE-wkpQwJ6upwdcd5T85YhPUUup9aHnw4pEZ0KV-gTFXTWEsbPNyUNyO__cUKRByEUIYfqqUEyJvbEenBBG-Uls-V4-flxhR/s320/IMG_1452.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rod Carew (Panama)--Elected in 1991</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN_ZM-epaWs_LmFExBvLvu5T8TeXblF1VQaOgbqbtrG_9GkR_OWhMUPi9IJAJLhI1YvzU29wJr01_wmNFg5pPzqtxWPtedTtmX1GhzWTUcIbekET1neiJ3fT-Ai2QkiTId9C4/s1600/IMG_1448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdN_ZM-epaWs_LmFExBvLvu5T8TeXblF1VQaOgbqbtrG_9GkR_OWhMUPi9IJAJLhI1YvzU29wJr01_wmNFg5pPzqtxWPtedTtmX1GhzWTUcIbekET1neiJ3fT-Ai2QkiTId9C4/s320/IMG_1448.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyPaJ4uvZipaCOWWkJ6PEe335faryh0hENAFzQz5hdOmST5Hu_Nj6Pf_FRNwvJ9sWb9OfQR8A4Onv4wEdrPKaQba_XEQVcEo4_d6nDa-DkbeSxI5jap3wM19nvltwfvshSe6r/s1600/IMG_1459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyPaJ4uvZipaCOWWkJ6PEe335faryh0hENAFzQz5hdOmST5Hu_Nj6Pf_FRNwvJ9sWb9OfQR8A4Onv4wEdrPKaQba_XEQVcEo4_d6nDa-DkbeSxI5jap3wM19nvltwfvshSe6r/s320/IMG_1459.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Orlando Cepeda (Puerto Rico)--Elected in 1999</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_28XyRdzjt-ikV0kswQpCU2bBdp769EXcvmEAk2jnhOWH1TBuImA7zSBDnRzwqAriwOusZXd3VEu5DMQRZcCkQPcGRJ_qENILUyFuVgdM1fZs9l5mn85pr09BO93O557siDD/s1600/IMG_1460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_28XyRdzjt-ikV0kswQpCU2bBdp769EXcvmEAk2jnhOWH1TBuImA7zSBDnRzwqAriwOusZXd3VEu5DMQRZcCkQPcGRJ_qENILUyFuVgdM1fZs9l5mn85pr09BO93O557siDD/s320/IMG_1460.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Tony Perez (Cuba)--Elected in 2000</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNmQF_nIQghi-TltZDimJkp7zxnTe1zyS84STkw78SZi2CdLQLb1gCpw7-tOd-ho6iCKd4RTM8XumYr5_TyyOf1EZBgGcEv1HHMLxj01gHNok0tcU6dTBCVhQh_eMfrKk3sK-/s1600/IMG_1461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNmQF_nIQghi-TltZDimJkp7zxnTe1zyS84STkw78SZi2CdLQLb1gCpw7-tOd-ho6iCKd4RTM8XumYr5_TyyOf1EZBgGcEv1HHMLxj01gHNok0tcU6dTBCVhQh_eMfrKk3sK-/s320/IMG_1461.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Jose Mendez (Cuba)--Elected in 2006</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBAyUMN0zU5erdbUGhYo14dwv2G72oGUCrjB7GzR90D5LtLaRzC_Xfn-pLeI74ctTD-YB1zqupwQvkeMr2TEZgcnCaPE4tlAYKTaBkl05KrgLkw2dpsv4EPzyFicLeLMvCX16/s1600/IMG_1462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBAyUMN0zU5erdbUGhYo14dwv2G72oGUCrjB7GzR90D5LtLaRzC_Xfn-pLeI74ctTD-YB1zqupwQvkeMr2TEZgcnCaPE4tlAYKTaBkl05KrgLkw2dpsv4EPzyFicLeLMvCX16/s320/IMG_1462.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Cristobal Torriente (Cuba)--Elected in 2006</b><br />
And in case you were interested, here are the four other foreign born players and architects & pioneers currently inducted into The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum In Cooperstown, New York<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2qM5qr6jRjATFF32eslWMAbMzauC-nrD9DM4AFe8HtimA0Icjz-RJ86ihahb7Em7EAKE2ajKjE6Ap5rWGrlEBIiAPyIB4hKHoLAbHuWf4Ubh6njIPK-mGSSEjlFJBgz6XF4f/s1600/IMG_1442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2qM5qr6jRjATFF32eslWMAbMzauC-nrD9DM4AFe8HtimA0Icjz-RJ86ihahb7Em7EAKE2ajKjE6Ap5rWGrlEBIiAPyIB4hKHoLAbHuWf4Ubh6njIPK-mGSSEjlFJBgz6XF4f/s320/IMG_1442.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqochTgLucMWkQU-Kj8NqXnLtgXsrZzKKy8-5yTW9iXB-ZceMIF8CVzJmKxn_F7grjPCvEoVxfWjj1Z8o03jX5rAIzxFfkgaXErWqda2SyQVziEx_EmnKu36NFg76TSspNhhb/s1600/IMG_1463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqochTgLucMWkQU-Kj8NqXnLtgXsrZzKKy8-5yTW9iXB-ZceMIF8CVzJmKxn_F7grjPCvEoVxfWjj1Z8o03jX5rAIzxFfkgaXErWqda2SyQVziEx_EmnKu36NFg76TSspNhhb/s320/IMG_1463.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b>Henry Chadwick (England)--Elected in 1938</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB82m9QPwF1ej2-q1slC4r4io_NBnd8PQs0cMxWhHV_k87x54s9lKS2sIcCVP8jHtOFdYBqmNtj9NIAUiaL9JjCzapV80d8m_m_RPt_zM7AP3wzov97s0uAAt_-jq89ZM6aKmq/s1600/IMG_1465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB82m9QPwF1ej2-q1slC4r4io_NBnd8PQs0cMxWhHV_k87x54s9lKS2sIcCVP8jHtOFdYBqmNtj9NIAUiaL9JjCzapV80d8m_m_RPt_zM7AP3wzov97s0uAAt_-jq89ZM6aKmq/s320/IMG_1465.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b>Harry Wright (England)--Elected in 1953</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iV4pq0dm1FGdFHGdURtCOtowNhJMvZzhPttIiS8kxMsufpMsGeY_8mDr9D-q9uaS7TAFDCgw4pgBQWP0qZyJwxPuW16HyZpZlU7nDE9vuAl57rhPeZiANkEtAzg4AmCt8Dai/s1600/IMG_1464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iV4pq0dm1FGdFHGdURtCOtowNhJMvZzhPttIiS8kxMsufpMsGeY_8mDr9D-q9uaS7TAFDCgw4pgBQWP0qZyJwxPuW16HyZpZlU7nDE9vuAl57rhPeZiANkEtAzg4AmCt8Dai/s320/IMG_1464.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b>Tom Connolly (England)--Elected in 1953</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9rCs6RGprwDEm3fZ7dNlF-QifdG6viK-FLOuvetfw9PzNyqpB0wLR7mQJP0lDQN7V06D5zwsf_2_s84ucJVAXFtYHWdnvOr6kwj1QSdBfLGuSDH4FYxIzfIc3iQ4Qnbts1Wm/s1600/IMG_1445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9rCs6RGprwDEm3fZ7dNlF-QifdG6viK-FLOuvetfw9PzNyqpB0wLR7mQJP0lDQN7V06D5zwsf_2_s84ucJVAXFtYHWdnvOr6kwj1QSdBfLGuSDH4FYxIzfIc3iQ4Qnbts1Wm/s320/IMG_1445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGj_ELzFtFzX2XmjaeBjEH-qU7EyxhVjUzwaFo-woUIm071XA6py3QOLScTapx36BZ9g1ySpg87uY0RNEtL7ymb24oFxtthZZt0tzi3VDb0k2r5Ix5ZUMz4NTsO0QRXLzW73PR/s1600/IMG_1454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGj_ELzFtFzX2XmjaeBjEH-qU7EyxhVjUzwaFo-woUIm071XA6py3QOLScTapx36BZ9g1ySpg87uY0RNEtL7ymb24oFxtthZZt0tzi3VDb0k2r5Ix5ZUMz4NTsO0QRXLzW73PR/s320/IMG_1454.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b>Ferguson Jenkins (Canada)--Elected in 1991</b><br />
One last note: There are no members of the Baseball Hall Of Fame with last names of any nationality beginning with the letters Q, U, X & Z. Interesting in light of the fact that Our Washington Nationals star player's name is Ryan Zimmerman.<br />
<b><br />
</b></div><i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-78583961955620278692011-04-06T13:45:00.021-04:002011-04-06T15:19:07.630-04:00Viva Baseball--Latino Contributions To The Game<div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvZWjCMq48MoTq4hYp0S2X1Gyc_gCPmX2kxe2x7Be22N1_shi_vjJOMMPKK6jqCNdQ3ey6mwSgKcmT-6vAGixM9NoijtlitL8p4L0X4gG0Qi7YknfxTDXB8NchbJ5muoCwMsa/s1600/IMG_0913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvZWjCMq48MoTq4hYp0S2X1Gyc_gCPmX2kxe2x7Be22N1_shi_vjJOMMPKK6jqCNdQ3ey6mwSgKcmT-6vAGixM9NoijtlitL8p4L0X4gG0Qi7YknfxTDXB8NchbJ5muoCwMsa/s320/IMG_0913.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcGORkQEJAYlk5ZAu6G0Dp-QwE02A0hRhFV_kQafFOnqGHCsnXc7h1e7vFubE8XkYl0zjy1q7JA_FmtiJnJmIF1CeKH1IfrTQ1Oe5_b8ErUIWgWGFBg7AMfFouEDEDz7exkni/s1600/IMG_0912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcGORkQEJAYlk5ZAu6G0Dp-QwE02A0hRhFV_kQafFOnqGHCsnXc7h1e7vFubE8XkYl0zjy1q7JA_FmtiJnJmIF1CeKH1IfrTQ1Oe5_b8ErUIWgWGFBg7AMfFouEDEDz7exkni/s320/IMG_0912.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEigituIpR5bF13lfIsGnBmw3ohraXr3y8OSljPd3WNXshBY0eVR2dXNm8y0oMf969dWwIg8UxaUiQ7s4Q_yVRIynCdgOelj7iMCM-DjsSadBBG3ckUX_6EOHBPYMlZS6Vq4m/s1600/IMG_0969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEigituIpR5bF13lfIsGnBmw3ohraXr3y8OSljPd3WNXshBY0eVR2dXNm8y0oMf969dWwIg8UxaUiQ7s4Q_yVRIynCdgOelj7iMCM-DjsSadBBG3ckUX_6EOHBPYMlZS6Vq4m/s320/IMG_0969.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZFgU-FHTSLj_Okm-NQOif3KUhdpLfxL-IOjwacqbLtokcEQH-OhWj46X5I9Y0aAc_K268blFPc419BBNTxExm6l3TLCc7ua2ItNU2u84Oudl72j8tyP-2hFyHUrnxh2rjFf0/s1600/IMG_0956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZFgU-FHTSLj_Okm-NQOif3KUhdpLfxL-IOjwacqbLtokcEQH-OhWj46X5I9Y0aAc_K268blFPc419BBNTxExm6l3TLCc7ua2ItNU2u84Oudl72j8tyP-2hFyHUrnxh2rjFf0/s320/IMG_0956.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The Viva Baseball exhibit at the National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum stands out among the three floors of historical displays of baseball's history in Cooperstown. Representing every country in Latin America which plays America's greatest game today, Viva Baseball is colorful, has flare and shows the strong emotions aficionados that live within the Caribbean, Central and South America have for baseball.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UMbToKSSLskRC8EFqzhANDt4PR1z-tkCmw4gMFZ7zh04mDa_ZrTBGMbrOg0sXEijzczHK4a0HbUxQVHb6t30IK2vCK_Uwoem0-F9kmPj1gCRLehmBJiYTUuOzaO13hlq9A-g/s1600/IMG_0925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UMbToKSSLskRC8EFqzhANDt4PR1z-tkCmw4gMFZ7zh04mDa_ZrTBGMbrOg0sXEijzczHK4a0HbUxQVHb6t30IK2vCK_Uwoem0-F9kmPj1gCRLehmBJiYTUuOzaO13hlq9A-g/s320/IMG_0925.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">"That was done on purpose," stated John Odell, Curator at The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum in Cooperstown. "Absolutely, it should feel different. If you walk in there and you’ve been to Latin America and you get a little bit of feeling for what it's like in those countries in this exhibit--in addition to the Latin music going on--then our designers did what we wanted them to do--show the passion that flows throughout that part of the world for the game."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/back-at-national-baseball-hall-of-fame.html" target="_blank">Continuing</a> Nats320's look <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/highlights-from-our-behind-scenes-tour.html" target="_blank">inside Baseball's Shrine</a> to the game, Mr. Odell chatted with Sohna and I about how The Hall Of Fame came to producing Viva Baseball. An exhibit which represents the large Latino influence on baseball over the past 70 years.</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMPBoph75KBnnpbPNYPecQgAoNKfPwhrNPD6khWJrMPHvplChqWWT4XxibwGPC3zld16MmPVD9foDVvvSxeCpkXWGi89QDphEFlRaYxMbXveRfkHvPhDeHrB_jprcjmf-2KD_/s1600/IMG_0914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMPBoph75KBnnpbPNYPecQgAoNKfPwhrNPD6khWJrMPHvplChqWWT4XxibwGPC3zld16MmPVD9foDVvvSxeCpkXWGi89QDphEFlRaYxMbXveRfkHvPhDeHrB_jprcjmf-2KD_/s320/IMG_0914.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "Viva Baseball is a great example of how we put together exhibits. When I came here almost 12 years ago, I was going through the museum with my boss talking about all these exhibits we had like the Pride & Passion exhibit about African-Americans. And he said the next one we are going to do is one on Latinos. ‘Really,’ I said. ‘When are we going to do that? That sounds great.' </span>He said: ‘We are not ready yet. But this is what the story is. This is a growing demographic, it’s getting bigger in baseball and it’s getting bigger in the United States. It’s making a big impact on the game. We have a few Hall Of Famers, but there are plenty of ballplayers (Latinos) right now who are going to be coming into the Hall Of Fame. But we need to develop the story first. We need to find out what all the stories are, and that takes time.'"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzeUVL4BGgVTDUZQUK95prqDohOhu0lxuW8I7nVAaZBvc5j9EtkAtG1F_1Z5qnDC-zNBqt_NgQg7KBZeHlaa-Q0xP6z_bUbh_vAviYO4Rdr8Na-sVxm46r6PRvidUjyFP0fAX/s1600/IMG_1744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmzeUVL4BGgVTDUZQUK95prqDohOhu0lxuW8I7nVAaZBvc5j9EtkAtG1F_1Z5qnDC-zNBqt_NgQg7KBZeHlaa-Q0xP6z_bUbh_vAviYO4Rdr8Na-sVxm46r6PRvidUjyFP0fAX/s320/IMG_1744.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmVO5HGW2nAM5sZ0m7y6PDXxh074RIXasUjVxpH9pp7xzEiClBpOdG6BGP9bY1LAZD30Ue-OUYCssqwiSxZeNVfm_KJHZMYqOtaqjN2KO_nh1fTPhm4k6VmB5QjO6V3yfMYXK/s1600/IMG_0977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOmVO5HGW2nAM5sZ0m7y6PDXxh074RIXasUjVxpH9pp7xzEiClBpOdG6BGP9bY1LAZD30Ue-OUYCssqwiSxZeNVfm_KJHZMYqOtaqjN2KO_nh1fTPhm4k6VmB5QjO6V3yfMYXK/s320/IMG_0977.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURm4PeYildKV3JzC4D_lqpX5Dnd32_jN_XV9fhvbOIfA8p93BughISie0hcz45wgjC9lhvkMdnKZdu5RgOX3cj-TmqF8eC6wvnpRt413yeMajWDJCLjibd0QbKdHQU6QtPcMc/s1600/IMG_0965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURm4PeYildKV3JzC4D_lqpX5Dnd32_jN_XV9fhvbOIfA8p93BughISie0hcz45wgjC9lhvkMdnKZdu5RgOX3cj-TmqF8eC6wvnpRt413yeMajWDJCLjibd0QbKdHQU6QtPcMc/s320/IMG_0965.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">"You can’t just do that over the course of a single season. So we talked about it for a long time. We talked with a lot of different professionals. Then we talked with researchers outside of the Hall Of Fame. Ultimately, we created an advisory group. We knew a lot about baseball in the majors, but when you start moving outside of the majors--just like we did with Pride & Passion and it made the most sense in the world. Don’t pretend that you are an expert, when you are not. Go find the experts, bring them in, and your product will be infinitely better. So that’s what we did for the Latino exhibit."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyg9cw8DtwE5aU3W1YFgkEHZyLCDG7RDURov7U1874wKiRbuSTVQvRtsmw5mC91sKMODKEtkTWiQMWoG47rXPERd_1zWvd-wIWgOxpEvOE5Vr_uEaa0kTL2gBcPX_8N0jhnVX/s1600/IMG_0973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyg9cw8DtwE5aU3W1YFgkEHZyLCDG7RDURov7U1874wKiRbuSTVQvRtsmw5mC91sKMODKEtkTWiQMWoG47rXPERd_1zWvd-wIWgOxpEvOE5Vr_uEaa0kTL2gBcPX_8N0jhnVX/s320/IMG_0973.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeox9fZXWIlXPwIJyHrrLH2SzSZTpCyABb4vs55zmy70oKCJcFLyfj3Im_TuzEy49bPTLFaUEQgv98lgg3HoI6Y69h9anpKpgbcehybMDDBFfjE6YSuNunsG3PoMLCPLP64Tmb/s1600/IMG_0967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeox9fZXWIlXPwIJyHrrLH2SzSZTpCyABb4vs55zmy70oKCJcFLyfj3Im_TuzEy49bPTLFaUEQgv98lgg3HoI6Y69h9anpKpgbcehybMDDBFfjE6YSuNunsG3PoMLCPLP64Tmb/s320/IMG_0967.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>"We brought in a great group of people. Rob Ruck who wrote '<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tropic-Baseball-Dominican-Republic/dp/0803289782" target="_blank">The Tropic Of Baseball.</a>' It’s about the Dominican Republic, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=eswlHSUgeooC&printsec=frontcover&dq=milton+jamail&source=bl&ots=_zQlKA3mu3&sig=6bLKF00f0fdSH27ZrhP2olJmsUI&hl=en&ei=I7ycTZS8LOnu0gHPz7GABQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDUQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="_blank">Milton Jamail</a> and <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=WCZsaMqEnNAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=alan+klein+baseball&source=bl&ots=KpGPYl40w6&sig=fGNXoUyMnQPNp_S0BiKhhflrF5A&hl=en&ei=CZicTc3DHfKx0QHR752_Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&sqi=2&ved=0CDkQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="_blank">Alan Klein</a>. The important part of their participation was that they were all scholars who’ve work on baseball down in the Caribbean and not just the game between the lines but how baseball interacts with the culture down there. And one of the great things we found was how long baseball had been going on down in the Caribbean and how each country down there has its own baseball history. So when we started off Viva Baseball, even before we had a name for the exhibit--which we called the Latino Exhibit during planning stages--we thought we’d talk with Juan Marichal and his contributions all the way up to Big Popi (David Ortiz), about Pedro Martinez, to Rod Carew who speaks English so well you forget he’s from Panama. He’s so bi-lingual."<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJauqHodW67gz-5JXVOUdGK-qwI9wIIisgzgFPjAyC6VQo2XykGLJr7F9fUdUaPfMEjy4woazdZahzEJD4OuIov3gxkWyfGG45QfVXwYCqZGFGk3RhCJwCHQFpzUIZ3MDG7cu/s1600/IMG_0948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJauqHodW67gz-5JXVOUdGK-qwI9wIIisgzgFPjAyC6VQo2XykGLJr7F9fUdUaPfMEjy4woazdZahzEJD4OuIov3gxkWyfGG45QfVXwYCqZGFGk3RhCJwCHQFpzUIZ3MDG7cu/s320/IMG_0948.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1Db4d-v41_EpmJnwqylngJvpWI5GYnD8R105d7nOCdFWj4-sE1flE6UkLqdItgNJXT7BNqptP2sx6VKjC8QeO_ugCffdQR_nx4FAP_M_dYwT25tA7zjnH8_d8tTLimPtz3xc/s1600/IMG_0957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1Db4d-v41_EpmJnwqylngJvpWI5GYnD8R105d7nOCdFWj4-sE1flE6UkLqdItgNJXT7BNqptP2sx6VKjC8QeO_ugCffdQR_nx4FAP_M_dYwT25tA7zjnH8_d8tTLimPtz3xc/s320/IMG_0957.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcVaDA8FkBrp1rFL0uF3Bap9HtNbzTKDMUIZrc6T1Jcgvfk8LEnQYKcTYWCP4S4Z1o_9zkNNugGRT8jucK3A_r511tagMQYl6OgvG7UAUUX1WEzNnl9RhH2ETCcuPpdtuC9zp/s1600/IMG_1741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcVaDA8FkBrp1rFL0uF3Bap9HtNbzTKDMUIZrc6T1Jcgvfk8LEnQYKcTYWCP4S4Z1o_9zkNNugGRT8jucK3A_r511tagMQYl6OgvG7UAUUX1WEzNnl9RhH2ETCcuPpdtuC9zp/s320/IMG_1741.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>"We decided to talk about all these great Latino players who are Major Leaguers. Then we found out there is a great story of this game in all these separate countries down in the Caribbean and Latin America. And we then learned more about the difficult bridge these ballplayers had to cross culturally, with language, everything in order to be able to play in the United States. First of all, for baseball owners of the 1940’s & 50’s they are the wrong color. They might be great baseball players, but until 1947 you were not going to have any black players on your team. And after 1947 you are going to have one or two because that was the unspoken quota. You could have two because then they could room together. You couldn’t have a black and white man rooming together."<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Juan Marichal talks about this in the exhibit. Vic Power has spoken eloquently about it before he passed, Orlando Cepeda. The tough road they had to hoe in order to play baseball in the United States because of the racism, especially in the south. And there were so many Minor League teams in the south, these guys ended up playing in the south. One of the things that’s really amazing about all this is that so many of them were so good that they, along with the former players in the Negro Leagues, set all sorts of Minor League records that will never be broken because now when someone is as good as Bryce Harper (of The Washington Nationals) comes along, he gets promoted up and comes to the big leagues faster. At that time, they (the teams) were saying: ‘No, that’s alright, we already have our black man here and we have a Spanish speaking fellow here. So we are not going to move him up, because our ‘spots’ are already filled." </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirW78vqhgCm9YrtEs1cpDIMno9X5WCBhkV0HNK8C3iYdTXtf-SR74o7c_oph6V5kL1TzagHFiNjWryo4O171cKS31_k4_l77zJuqsW76fjaXCGBiYBxKmNS-ptiZvOzF1unF27/s1600/IMG_0920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirW78vqhgCm9YrtEs1cpDIMno9X5WCBhkV0HNK8C3iYdTXtf-SR74o7c_oph6V5kL1TzagHFiNjWryo4O171cKS31_k4_l77zJuqsW76fjaXCGBiYBxKmNS-ptiZvOzF1unF27/s320/IMG_0920.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtWYPly-c-O86nUHMf2Z3K2xmWVTQvgb4wjalkzTbzwB549D8hDvRrsCRvgWIg-pk0bk8YhamiROUTjKyDd8r_3joj4k1TUhB6saJxEnaMZvMGb54-vqTnkSCec9wrTtR18aB/s1600/IMG_0921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtWYPly-c-O86nUHMf2Z3K2xmWVTQvgb4wjalkzTbzwB549D8hDvRrsCRvgWIg-pk0bk8YhamiROUTjKyDd8r_3joj4k1TUhB6saJxEnaMZvMGb54-vqTnkSCec9wrTtR18aB/s320/IMG_0921.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"So in Viva Baseball, we learn about all of these kinds of things and this is the sort of history people can look at and say: ‘O’yeah, that is how we used to deal with Spanish speaking people.’ And one of the other things we wanted to do, and the ballplayers were very open to it, was talking about their experiences coming to the United States. They talk about how they didn’t know how to speak any English. So in a restaurant they would just point at the menu. Or just say: ‘chicken’. ‘Everytime I went somewhere I would just say chicken. And they would answer back whether I wanted it baked or fried and I didn’t know what they were asking and I would just nod. But I knew whatever came out was chicken.’" </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> So as you mentioned to us before, when you put together this Viva Baseball exhibit the museum wants the memorabilia to reinforce the story line being displayed?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmFxrae74S3oICyFRnm_GBIw_wITsBA6ngEw9B5nvRrzn2zomqus5XQN9oS2MTfPiabofFW2LU_qJwhq-WUVcet34r3IZ8UrgYMH8-xgoc3pidUKq-90-Y0P89aDyrQsspSre/s1600/IMG_0971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmFxrae74S3oICyFRnm_GBIw_wITsBA6ngEw9B5nvRrzn2zomqus5XQN9oS2MTfPiabofFW2LU_qJwhq-WUVcet34r3IZ8UrgYMH8-xgoc3pidUKq-90-Y0P89aDyrQsspSre/s320/IMG_0971.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEito9Z5pbvqBZ2AdaPyF3khiVr_TMcIn7yelI5NDGAujH4Expr57pHl_wHq_TKdMspyguD7l2v3A9QM3HFi_b7Cr6K7Fs6mnW1IPkpo1b4me6MVqnp3QOsIGU7tLC2ST7Hfo5HE/s1600/IMG_1739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEito9Z5pbvqBZ2AdaPyF3khiVr_TMcIn7yelI5NDGAujH4Expr57pHl_wHq_TKdMspyguD7l2v3A9QM3HFi_b7Cr6K7Fs6mnW1IPkpo1b4me6MVqnp3QOsIGU7tLC2ST7Hfo5HE/s320/IMG_1739.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXaViQKyfVbPHzqrj0F_eGGXZzBbEmJiRAC9u41OShsfB8fDUfxft0KrjUy_tDpJBcJggyTOSIsHnk1mYLNS6ITWQZtsCiflIdMqfdTHYIOU1CbBp8rFpkLtuJWeRgiAvzm32/s1600/IMG_1742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXaViQKyfVbPHzqrj0F_eGGXZzBbEmJiRAC9u41OShsfB8fDUfxft0KrjUy_tDpJBcJggyTOSIsHnk1mYLNS6ITWQZtsCiflIdMqfdTHYIOU1CbBp8rFpkLtuJWeRgiAvzm32/s320/IMG_1742.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "That’s right. We use the artifacts to hook people into the story. When we started reaching out to different people down in the Caribbean, people who love baseball, and people found out what we were doing--we ended up getting people contacting us saying: ‘Hey, I’ve got something for you.’ And one of things we learned is that these countries are very dynamic and the sport grows when there are rivalries between teams. Sort of like the Red Sox and Yankees or The Cardinals and The Cubs. In Latin America, there was enough critical mass of ballplayers playing good baseball that each side wanted to win and that started ratcheting up the atmosphere. They feel really good when they beat those other guys."</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CC3lD4voE60u3hgG3-UGUfi926aSy0-0OKyk8563v6JtvO7fQTuNtIFFf2b-baTiVfryaNwhbj724RRsiypFfpa8OaMOK50Pt7ve1_VouNReKpj_fBNlCxXSYFSD0_vNYTMz/s1600/IMG_0918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9CC3lD4voE60u3hgG3-UGUfi926aSy0-0OKyk8563v6JtvO7fQTuNtIFFf2b-baTiVfryaNwhbj724RRsiypFfpa8OaMOK50Pt7ve1_VouNReKpj_fBNlCxXSYFSD0_vNYTMz/s320/IMG_0918.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"And in countries like Panama and Nicaragua, they’ve had good teams but they were kind of in a vacuum. They have fewer teams to play against and it’s hard to build on. But in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Cuba--they did have many teams, many good teams where rivalries developed. As it turned out, we got introduced to the owner of the team in Santiago, Dominican Republic--<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81guilas_Cibae%C3%B1as" target="_blank">Aguilas (Cibeanas)</a>. His name is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Llenas" target="_blank">Winston Llenas</a>, a wonderful fellow. </span>Aguilas and Licey are the two teams down in the D.R. that just have a passionate rivalry with each other. So they are the two teams. Licey is in Santo Domingo, that’s the big city and Santiago is the smaller city--the underdog kind of thing."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;">"For some time, I had been trying without much success to get something from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tigres_del_Licey" target="_blank">Licey</a>. I was leaving messages, leaving them in English and they are just not getting back to me. So I talked with Winston and I explained to him what I am doing and what I am looking for and I was wondering if the Aguilas have anything we could put into this exhibit? As it turns out, Winston played for a few years <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/llenawi01.shtml" target="_blank">for the Angels in the Major</a>s, but he was also the MVP of The Caribbean Series and was captain of the Aguilas (Eagles) as a player. Now he is the owner of the very same team giving back to Caribbean baseball what was given to him--which is a great trust as he sees it."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8efjQV4XY0-GOk6h4CXMsWqeuxQjlzf8iP695vKX2i9L2RcwyZ3iiproCzDSfrXbDI2XlwPYD9GI2zCegFHzK0828hdZIwtHoa8buJx9W5JZr971P4GqEgdqlAL0ByMWyUN81/s1600/IMG_0945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8efjQV4XY0-GOk6h4CXMsWqeuxQjlzf8iP695vKX2i9L2RcwyZ3iiproCzDSfrXbDI2XlwPYD9GI2zCegFHzK0828hdZIwtHoa8buJx9W5JZr971P4GqEgdqlAL0ByMWyUN81/s320/IMG_0945.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>"‘Well,’" Winston said. ‘"I have my jersey from when we were the champions and I would like to donate that.’" That’s perfect!! That’s Great!! That’s way better than what I was expecting. I didn’t want something from someone that played there for one year and moved on. I wanted something that showed baseball has been played there at a high level for a long period of time. He played back in the 60’s. So this was great. And I told him that I would like to have something from Licey--the other great team in the Dominican. He says he will help me and then gives me a contact with Licey and he (Winston) says he will talk to him."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBkUMYBVT46ri_VPMOkuIGSgUb7O7iFLBc0uqge_xueDtSK6he6GFd4apWtXfoZ343uHwywmJ-ZqrlYyxfFLoTtO1AIAInMhgctJpbPRZo49kdeCY5RqLublXIpS5Op5ESLGO/s1600/IMG_0944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBkUMYBVT46ri_VPMOkuIGSgUb7O7iFLBc0uqge_xueDtSK6he6GFd4apWtXfoZ343uHwywmJ-ZqrlYyxfFLoTtO1AIAInMhgctJpbPRZo49kdeCY5RqLublXIpS5Op5ESLGO/s320/IMG_0944.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">"A little bit later the contact in Licey got back to me. I explained to him what we were doing and that Aguilas was going to have a piece in the Hall Of Fame. Well immediately he says: ‘Licey, would like to have something in the Hall Of Fame too!!' (laughing) So now you see in the Viva Baseball exhibit the very first Caribbean Series Trophy that Licey won. Thanks to the passion and rivalry between the two teams and two cities the competition between Aguilas and Licey worked to our advantage. And it’s a great example of the story on Latino baseball that we are telling here at the Baseball Hall Of Fame." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrFDik8ixZFoqbLnvfPqWcDJFE0yWAQHviTfAHz86jlbXvM5x1PpR9P_Ntg3Y5AcpwRcv19ScFuJX3AxkZG7z01p5rQvV4yC9gqXPV9Omgr5_726yP_wLs4nzMEVlD9nmXvhS/s1600/IMG_1738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrFDik8ixZFoqbLnvfPqWcDJFE0yWAQHviTfAHz86jlbXvM5x1PpR9P_Ntg3Y5AcpwRcv19ScFuJX3AxkZG7z01p5rQvV4yC9gqXPV9Omgr5_726yP_wLs4nzMEVlD9nmXvhS/s320/IMG_1738.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX6NJfArZrQVaQI5X2KGmVrpBlPcB0ToUFv-DVrdsbQruejLCPp32lJ1pQajrU1Vuj1KtSLHrV_VGtk_buFF5QPutakp3kYEsJ18hrxnTUG7PE4mqbCxx8wawYJldyqBi6oMk/s1600/IMG_0958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsX6NJfArZrQVaQI5X2KGmVrpBlPcB0ToUFv-DVrdsbQruejLCPp32lJ1pQajrU1Vuj1KtSLHrV_VGtk_buFF5QPutakp3kYEsJ18hrxnTUG7PE4mqbCxx8wawYJldyqBi6oMk/s320/IMG_0958.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Later on, someone else was able to put us in touch with the Zorrilla family, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=t0SEaYUjA1QC&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3&dq=pedro+zorilla+santurce&source=bl&ots=LbBolzcI4z&sig=hy1f5EMNyGaRIdBWyE09sEypaiw&hl=en&ei=DZacTdCmKMLf0QGtlNnADw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="_blank">Pedro Zorrilla--the long time owner of Santurce (Crabbers).</a> They were able to donate the Santurce Jersey and the big trophy that came from the year Willie Mays and Roberto Clemente played on the Santurce team--which is considered to be one of the very best teams in winter ball history in Puerto Rico. And that’s another reason why it takes time to build these exhibits because it takes time to develop relationships with people. I might be able to ask you for something as soon as I meet you, but until we’ve developed a relationship you might not be ready to lend it or donate it. So very often and this happened here, folks are interested in lending something first, then they see the care we take of it and the presentation of it and that hundreds of thousands of people get a chance to see it and they see their name ‘loaned by’ written on a card within the display and they realize we can be trusted."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqiT8_Fsh5TUADcpOHBxq4535DiAaNBFdF9z5bPIVlX1Dvoedm1yaCcpl8T6_pHeIhIR4zUqjwfv0a8mV_c0cHVlyQgJ0vsLlI_GxPVNFiMEKCl-RcCUkp5715ipcA6J3xSkw/s1600/IMG_0949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqiT8_Fsh5TUADcpOHBxq4535DiAaNBFdF9z5bPIVlX1Dvoedm1yaCcpl8T6_pHeIhIR4zUqjwfv0a8mV_c0cHVlyQgJ0vsLlI_GxPVNFiMEKCl-RcCUkp5715ipcA6J3xSkw/s320/IMG_0949.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>"in fact, the ‘loaned by’ or ‘lended by’ or ‘donated by’ markers are new since you two came here last. Many times you will see much of the items are donated by players and, I think, that elevates the understanding of how we operate a little bit. People see that and say: ‘Hey, this is great.’ And after that relationship and trust is achieved, many times people's loans become donations. <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7JNcxFeIhk8oWUbMXNhnH1ecEo4n2atpq9cOgn0TE9KUFY31s_vNf0X6O3YPS3mXt2wiUJICApiurCPyzpGu_8uXaQ3CK8rmXjq57TqVb10DDFxV0y4ExIBJzlesCbpStW6x/s1600/IMG_1743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7JNcxFeIhk8oWUbMXNhnH1ecEo4n2atpq9cOgn0TE9KUFY31s_vNf0X6O3YPS3mXt2wiUJICApiurCPyzpGu_8uXaQ3CK8rmXjq57TqVb10DDFxV0y4ExIBJzlesCbpStW6x/s320/IMG_1743.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> And many times it’s probably taken care of better here than sitting in a damp attic or cold basement somewhere.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell: </b>Very often that is the case. </span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Nats320:</b> With all these artifacts coming from out of the country, and you are dealing with people you may not know well enough yet--is the verification process on the authenticity of the artifact any different?</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOEgXaUCVC7zzOC6hzuwP-6FIhF8YwEaC2IJEtERo_qYj9QQ7E6B7exnPxHMLGiBe0O0Wg96Cn2uQpyY4mSgK3XXRY48M88V0y7P6tkeVrJy8LTLGpo9OdN5K3vE4B3JnGnyo/s1600/IMG_0976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOEgXaUCVC7zzOC6hzuwP-6FIhF8YwEaC2IJEtERo_qYj9QQ7E6B7exnPxHMLGiBe0O0Wg96Cn2uQpyY4mSgK3XXRY48M88V0y7P6tkeVrJy8LTLGpo9OdN5K3vE4B3JnGnyo/s320/IMG_0976.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>John Odell</b>: In substance it’s not. It’s always when did you get it? Where did you get it? How did you get it? How did you come by it? Fortunately for us, these items for Viva Baseball had not gone through what many times happens to baseball artifacts here in this country. They didn’t go into and out of these auctions. And each time they go into and out of an auction, it gets harder and harder to trace where this came from? We’ve dealt with this issue any number of times. </span>Trying to track the artifact down to who the original owner was can be difficult. You’ve been to ballparks. A ballplayers uniform, bat, glove and shoes is his equipment. But they don’t always pay as much attention to them as their personal things at home. And so if someone asked them if this is the uniform they wore on such and such date in this particular game? They will shrug their shoulders and say; ‘Sure. Probably.’"</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">"Does it say Set 1, year 19 whatever on it? Sure. Well, we can walk right down to the street right here in Cooperstown, or anyplace for that matter, and see real live genuine uniforms that are close enough that if you just added in a couple of tags--if you are unscrupulous--you can create the uniform for that moment. And that’s one of the things that we have to worry about."<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEAnz_OSVyMyvatosFW19OGoiIg61wrqMgqEGlfdLSBcstKYV6yDbrfUjF7Fb2XsEbW-DKl2d-Qou1U9twR4uUkh9Yacvj0aBeiQewCPPAC0SZh72-uUyLiyKfI94QMX1a40p/s1600/IMG_0917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEAnz_OSVyMyvatosFW19OGoiIg61wrqMgqEGlfdLSBcstKYV6yDbrfUjF7Fb2XsEbW-DKl2d-Qou1U9twR4uUkh9Yacvj0aBeiQewCPPAC0SZh72-uUyLiyKfI94QMX1a40p/s320/IMG_0917.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"When we were doing Viva Baseball, these artifacts were things coming straight out of the players own collection. Or the owners personal collection. The teams own collection. It was a little tighter and easier to verify so that we didn’t have to track it all the way back through multiple owners. When Licey said this is the trophy we got for winning the championship and it has all the information on the artifact we can say: ‘Ok, we know what this is.’ When Winston Llenas says this is my jersey and it’s been hanging up in his office and says Llenas on the back and ‘campiones’ on the sleeve and it’s from 1967--that works for me!! (chuckling)"</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3UAUKVK3yAi9qc5aKICEr0fzMS2RqytSNzyE35yrIqBjiQ-Fl8WGDUOQdPuQtAkUS9SjUh3uM9MXbdCg5-CM5SBUHSP5yarsDqlQQYlXVzYDKYgwlPfrVtX6n8hPHZQKH1b8/s1600/IMG_0952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3UAUKVK3yAi9qc5aKICEr0fzMS2RqytSNzyE35yrIqBjiQ-Fl8WGDUOQdPuQtAkUS9SjUh3uM9MXbdCg5-CM5SBUHSP5yarsDqlQQYlXVzYDKYgwlPfrVtX6n8hPHZQKH1b8/s320/IMG_0952.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">"Then we had another that was a little different but it worked out fine. There was a Puerto Rican historian who when the Caribbean Series was in Puerto Rico one year, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A9ctor_Espino" target="_blank">Hector Espino from the Mexican League</a>--a great home run hitter--was a coach for the Mexican League team. He was wearing his jersey and this Puerto Rican historian recognized him and told Espino how great he was and how much he admired him and would it be possible to buy his jersey? I think for $50 or something like that. And he got the jersey. </span>That’s in the display that says Naranjeres. The Orange Growers or Pickers or Men. All of those translate properly in Spanish. But that’s how he got it. He explained to us how he got it and the year he got it. Hector Espino is no longer living so we couldn’t go back to him. But even if we had, he would have said: ‘Yeah, I imagine it is.’ So those are the ways we fact check those things."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfUhG-6ZJwLnkjZmghMmmi5w1v4wjMipLvVLqKVXcthytjaPNq3qf0-BVvcW7kwdFCAMAtw5MPuIlRxeiOPM82a_uV9R4FXokvGJZqKZ1WbVMCk9txpx6xqUxJLhw3ZXRwZfK/s1600/IMG_0962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYfUhG-6ZJwLnkjZmghMmmi5w1v4wjMipLvVLqKVXcthytjaPNq3qf0-BVvcW7kwdFCAMAtw5MPuIlRxeiOPM82a_uV9R4FXokvGJZqKZ1WbVMCk9txpx6xqUxJLhw3ZXRwZfK/s320/IMG_0962.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoIrs6_VCGYcOhA0wYOZsUXDOfO-7zsPs3kMUrkf5Lise1lcAV8owbYlHsJq26tbK7Usr3qzu5tZ1MWIZJDFIfIEdT8XJv3YLLtdykGTS32sRluPluWhhY4bj8kPlQmy33wsg/s1600/IMG_0975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoIrs6_VCGYcOhA0wYOZsUXDOfO-7zsPs3kMUrkf5Lise1lcAV8owbYlHsJq26tbK7Usr3qzu5tZ1MWIZJDFIfIEdT8XJv3YLLtdykGTS32sRluPluWhhY4bj8kPlQmy33wsg/s320/IMG_0975.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>"For the more modern things in Viva Baseball, we brought Latino baseball up to today by adding in Albert Pujols artifacts. We called Omar Minaya (the first Latino GM). We called Pedro Martinez and David Ortiz to show the progression of the Latin game and how it continues on. We also called out how you see all of these Latino sounding and spelled names--like Keith Hernandez--whose family have been in the United States for a long time. He happens to have an Hispanic last name. He's Hispanic in his background, but he didn’t grow up speaking Spanish. And then you have someone like Mike Lowell. If you hear the name Mike Lowell--you might say that sounds Anglo to me. His parents escaped Cuba. He was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in Miami. It’s a complicated kind of thing this whole issue of ethnicity and we wanted to talk a little bit about that too." </div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOer60_aG2T_IYC6u4CRQX1WOUKLwtuGws7SBtACUVPKZw8nVofJiuYkKyBhVFqczB0H7etT8Jv48D38ntYH6tBiZh7Ecd0X591RiBcYyEdCS3py896rEyrj1ignERYapmGVaA/s1600/IMG_0972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOer60_aG2T_IYC6u4CRQX1WOUKLwtuGws7SBtACUVPKZw8nVofJiuYkKyBhVFqczB0H7etT8Jv48D38ntYH6tBiZh7Ecd0X591RiBcYyEdCS3py896rEyrj1ignERYapmGVaA/s320/IMG_0972.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>"But the best part about this exhibit was learning about the Latin flavor for the game. The love of the game and the idea that, and this is a little bit different from the Anglo game. If you are really good at the game in Latin America, not only should you be playing the game well but you should be giving back to the game in a certain way by giving some personality to the game. That’s where guys like Roberto Alomar comes up with new ways to play the game. A little something special. He realized he could do something that not everyone could do. Alomar could go to his right (while playing 2nd base) farther than anybody else can, catch the ball, do a 360 and throw blind to first base and get the guy. You don’t teach that. That’s a superior athlete that says; ‘Let me try something different.’ He added a little bit of flair to the game that not only makes him better but increases the enjoyment of everybody."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;">"And all of that is a big part of Latino contributions to the game."</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 12.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 14.0px;"><i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i></div>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-72428382253085264532011-04-04T09:09:00.000-04:002011-04-04T09:09:25.388-04:00Danny Espinosa Fan Choice Bobblehead Winner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJi0UChzP3koU4M3cRYmCKFLNyI_cnb_xzciuCYJyXcf4ghL125kUIfPpBnUV6wo9jMUbFzJKU_oS0evuLPlQLIzY5LU67Vhrt2r_q4IEFpITpZiJGfjRWQfbOZ6sszHvb5ok/s1600/espinosa+bobblehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJi0UChzP3koU4M3cRYmCKFLNyI_cnb_xzciuCYJyXcf4ghL125kUIfPpBnUV6wo9jMUbFzJKU_oS0evuLPlQLIzY5LU67Vhrt2r_q4IEFpITpZiJGfjRWQfbOZ6sszHvb5ok/s320/espinosa+bobblehead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/04/2011-fan-choice-bobblehead-vote.html" target="_blank">In four days of online ballot casting</a>, fans of Our Washington Nationals selected Danny Espinosa as their choice for the final of three bobbleheads to be given away at Nationals Park in 2011. The final tallies were not given, but Espinosa beat out Adam LaRoche, Ryan Zimmerman, Jordan Zimmerman and Drew Storen to win the competition.<br />
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On September 10th when The Houston Astros visit South Capitol Street, the first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive a Danny Espinosa Fan Choice Bobblehead.Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-19997675165227325932011-04-02T23:45:00.013-04:002011-04-03T09:30:09.358-04:00What Was Your Favorite Moment?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrefDqHF3L8H4gpbHGCqqgY3tKekUfmYTu5yY6JHLp3hI2JLEV_WdVVgWVS0AUbh8gAHDKY_1tzdnJbb7cc9Xt5Lz77DQasY-iHrtXwStVZiJ7rZmf_2D6l46hVxHVqEAXXWcU/s1600/IMG_2605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrefDqHF3L8H4gpbHGCqqgY3tKekUfmYTu5yY6JHLp3hI2JLEV_WdVVgWVS0AUbh8gAHDKY_1tzdnJbb7cc9Xt5Lz77DQasY-iHrtXwStVZiJ7rZmf_2D6l46hVxHVqEAXXWcU/s320/IMG_2605.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>What was your favorite moment from today's twice delayed by rain and hail--ending in whipping wind and freezing temperatures game at Nationals Park?<br />
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Was it Rick Ankiel's two run homer off Tommy Hanson that sailed over the Out Of Town Scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning that found Ankiel jumping up and down as he crossed home plate galloping into the dugout like a 10 year old? From an enjoyment to watch standpoint--that was precious.<br />
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Or was it the fact that as Hanson delivered the fateful pitch to Rick--Ryan Zimmerman (leading off 1st base) ran on a 3-1 pitch with two outs? How many times have you seen Our Washington Nationals be so daring early in a tie ball game?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrtMKWIm41TQc2WhpXdGR_MXm3Dj1yD7z9C4m3ae4rbWpR9oEgJJa6wNsdxU2NzRKqcsdMpp_YWNqE3nfsWDcjSEbTa3eOd_co9Fm9qWPRVdhjfp8YuHtiXEDsTaO54XimcmS/s1600/IMG_2588.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrtMKWIm41TQc2WhpXdGR_MXm3Dj1yD7z9C4m3ae4rbWpR9oEgJJa6wNsdxU2NzRKqcsdMpp_YWNqE3nfsWDcjSEbTa3eOd_co9Fm9qWPRVdhjfp8YuHtiXEDsTaO54XimcmS/s320/IMG_2588.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Maybe you enjoyed Danny Espinosa continuing his rather stellar play at 2nd base two games into 2011? In the top of the 2nd he dove to his left to snare a hot grounder off the bat of The Brav-OS Freddie Freeman. As good of a defensive play as you might see in any game. Only to watch "DANO" (as The African Queen now calls Espinosa) one inning later go airborne to his right, backhand grabbing JUST before the baseball hit paydirt--a vicious line drive off the bat of Atlanta's "Pest"--Martin Prado.<br />
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The Defensive Play Of This Game that found Espinosa protecting his left wrist (the same one he hurt last year) by rolling over his palm of his glove hand as he snatched the baseball out of the air. That was a Big League Play by a rookie with talent and smarts. A Veteran Catch!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgtJx7foerzE9JbBbBTBEwJlKe1TzbeUOEHsQdZUOuo73k56yATf6clGAnIiEXe_BarEY1Swg3ILIos0O3FjMZWKTPAw8BHjOvjls4VtOPWAMtrkBNSO929l-TEMcQcpZtYP1/s1600/i.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgtJx7foerzE9JbBbBTBEwJlKe1TzbeUOEHsQdZUOuo73k56yATf6clGAnIiEXe_BarEY1Swg3ILIos0O3FjMZWKTPAw8BHjOvjls4VtOPWAMtrkBNSO929l-TEMcQcpZtYP1/s320/i.jpeg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit--Alex Brandon (AP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Possibly you also appreciated seeing John Lannan return to the mound for the 5th inning in order to qualify for the win after a one hour rain delay? Did that not give you pause? Atlanta's Tommy Hanson couldn't do so. Washington's Southpaw wearing Number 31 somehow did and looked strong doing so. That shows maturity.<br />
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Forgiving Jayson Werth for his twice turning around, lost in the sun (yes, amazingly the sun did come out today after the second rain delay) misplay of a Freddie Freeman fly ball that landed five feet away on the warming track just in front of Washington Bullpen in the top of the 6th--hasn't New Number 28 wearing D.C. White & Red been impressive in showing ALL of his tools in just two games wearing a Nationals Uniform?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHD1rExQZb68c4Jl0T5cYhHheS-fn4qdHHa9Qk4pWHKx-Z_cT3Nunybb6decBK651NSdMZvCu2hHMiriNjJaSBp_scAO4aJLS5r2_dvprLvSDHRocBDpq0S8AQMcKtZm1HS6S/s1600/IMG_2580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHD1rExQZb68c4Jl0T5cYhHheS-fn4qdHHa9Qk4pWHKx-Z_cT3Nunybb6decBK651NSdMZvCu2hHMiriNjJaSBp_scAO4aJLS5r2_dvprLvSDHRocBDpq0S8AQMcKtZm1HS6S/s320/IMG_2580.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Opening Day--Werth made two fine defensive plays. Today, three hits including a scorching liner to right center in the bottom of the third that looked to be out of the park, but landed three to five feet below the railing. He even added some fabulous base running when he laced a sure single to left center in the bottom of the second and didn't let up rounding first--hustling to second for a double when The Braves' Nate McLouth wasn't quick enough picking up the baseball rolling toward the outfield wall.<br />
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Jayson Werth has been impressive by bringing it strong out of the box.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOWFr1N6t21bjsPdio-e4lXjE4hXo4HWQkeMtbciqHoeMD2aRkEs0x9FZIjAXHWnAPib2iBtDAFpo-hA3FUTkoSXI3dFo3IBtkqsglfEOiIpKznHyQbs_wmQ2rSAMqbHIgV3k/s1600/i-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOWFr1N6t21bjsPdio-e4lXjE4hXo4HWQkeMtbciqHoeMD2aRkEs0x9FZIjAXHWnAPib2iBtDAFpo-hA3FUTkoSXI3dFo3IBtkqsglfEOiIpKznHyQbs_wmQ2rSAMqbHIgV3k/s320/i-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit--Alex Brandon (AP)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BlaGh2vFZrQVtUZ4Crr7XYl6x7j93jsgjDKVaMLPG9BFWW6uJdyr0SAdEctGUj2elHEYkWwbT8A_Ayf6a_Rc7IQL6CI49tc53YL1abT_I_cxleNv3f8lm261YM27ERvqCD2o/s1600/i-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BlaGh2vFZrQVtUZ4Crr7XYl6x7j93jsgjDKVaMLPG9BFWW6uJdyr0SAdEctGUj2elHEYkWwbT8A_Ayf6a_Rc7IQL6CI49tc53YL1abT_I_cxleNv3f8lm261YM27ERvqCD2o/s320/i-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit--Alex Brandon (AP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Much like what Rick Ankiel again showed in the bottom of the 8th when he suicide squeezed home Zimmerman with a perfectly placed bunt into the grass in front of home plate and the pitching mound. A run scoring sacrifice not seen many times at Nationals Park that brought a huge roar from the announced crowd of 21,941. Neither Brian McCann nor George Sherill had any chance for Atlanta to tag Zimmy at the plate. An important insurance run that would NEVER had scored if not for Laynce Nix taking out The Braves' Dan Uggla at second base moments earlier to break up what would have been the inning ending double play.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPqG62riMi-7xKwiw9jRFlx_rVht5KHH4U6bdNMjBsGvkA7dnAtEfIWxHLF7C6NA4mg2-xu24tvuOIFG2tYqQC7i6haVsWSBXMWdEJfLOw5r_v_Jh4RZ3JB7OaNAFJDfIdh9m/s1600/IMG_2681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCPqG62riMi-7xKwiw9jRFlx_rVht5KHH4U6bdNMjBsGvkA7dnAtEfIWxHLF7C6NA4mg2-xu24tvuOIFG2tYqQC7i6haVsWSBXMWdEJfLOw5r_v_Jh4RZ3JB7OaNAFJDfIdh9m/s320/IMG_2681.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Moment after satisfying moment occurred on South Capitol Street this afternoon. Quality play that did not end until the final out was recorded--thanks to Sean Burnett. Hockey is not a sport Washington's lefty has regularly played, but around 5:20PM this Saturday, Burnett played like a hockey goalie. First swooping down his glove hand to pocket a sharply hit ball right back to the mound by Martin Prado in the top of the 9th. Then ended off this truly well played game by D.C.'s Team by gloving Chipper Jones' hot liner right back to the box. A baseball that was hit top shelf all the way. Caught so convincingly by Sean Burnett that he laughed as he high fived his catcher Wilson Ramos in celebration.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKar68xTSz77144FtqSZkSmU_6VLKjq5AkireR4B2xDEDAkHLapHhwLQWnKT4JSYFZNMkE2FLp5C5m8y_mlzt3lGHtAP7Vaz9VF1XuDesfKHyqflsfsc7syWvC3BlbFm2YjZ7/s1600/IMG_2621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKar68xTSz77144FtqSZkSmU_6VLKjq5AkireR4B2xDEDAkHLapHhwLQWnKT4JSYFZNMkE2FLp5C5m8y_mlzt3lGHtAP7Vaz9VF1XuDesfKHyqflsfsc7syWvC3BlbFm2YjZ7/s320/IMG_2621.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Those were all the great moments from today's game. Well that and the sight of watching fans near the left field foul pole and center field plaza run for cover from the fast moving rain and hail approaching the ballpark in the bottom of the 4th. All the while, the game continued briefly as the sky darkened considerably and those sitting near home plate and the first base line--just sat in the their seats watching the game. Very odd.<br />
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That was terrific too. And fitting for one of the better played games by Washington over the past few seasons.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8mg4J3mzkw6OWFfkfEzsQsXtKBKisKEqXB-uP7Skw1wz-Sqp_quIyaJUF6oxyHe0GvoIbH7gIii62VxVBEwWW8a-I7YU94n526zoVxhoqb-hbbLgzxR7o22d5RcPajeTCfg-/s1600/IMG_2686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8mg4J3mzkw6OWFfkfEzsQsXtKBKisKEqXB-uP7Skw1wz-Sqp_quIyaJUF6oxyHe0GvoIbH7gIii62VxVBEwWW8a-I7YU94n526zoVxhoqb-hbbLgzxR7o22d5RcPajeTCfg-/s320/IMG_2686.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Final score from Nationals Park where incredibly "The Bang!! Zoom!! Of The Fireworks!! is heard no longer after a Curly "W"--instead a horn? Really, a horn? Our Washington Nationals 6 and The Atlanta Braves 3. Inning after inning the 2011 Version of D.C.'s team showed a different style of play than seen on South Capitol Street in three previous seasons. This win was an errorless, complete effort from the mound, in the field and at the plate--proving decisive over one of the National League East's best team.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKlhZABXfXTdRYLuLy5aSS9IfgSGN6pDbnwa1J5QnHYnPqqQ8Xq1BZjzPek5hQkyXeBw5SCYNihDP-S_EkWe3H4y3KiWZCBKC86udX25MdbOS6m5FnVgouNas_Wqi__jbZZZw/s1600/IMG_2604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKlhZABXfXTdRYLuLy5aSS9IfgSGN6pDbnwa1J5QnHYnPqqQ8Xq1BZjzPek5hQkyXeBw5SCYNihDP-S_EkWe3H4y3KiWZCBKC86udX25MdbOS6m5FnVgouNas_Wqi__jbZZZw/s320/IMG_2604.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Curly "W" Number One was filled with favorite moments to choose from--timely hitting, solid defense, deft base running, and the joy of executing so perfectly--as was Ankiel's suicide squeeze RBI bunt. But our most cherished effort we took home this afternoon was Laynce Nix giving up his own body to keep an inning alive so his team MIGHT score something later. That's the hard nose type of play that wins the close games--like the one played today--and many, many more in the future. Nix had saved a run and in doing so may have set the tone for the months to come.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDyvBStKeFsOEwrGmg2pPAj34VyWzGU0BkYVZwK2UZ8KjR2KIWJdxd2RRw32o1-y6Q0V7E-MOj4dfAlSwxhNBvsHvPBVgw9mvZZm5egqN-5n0EE7RRFxf_0cnS7dT2B-wqQDL/s1600/IMG_2693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDyvBStKeFsOEwrGmg2pPAj34VyWzGU0BkYVZwK2UZ8KjR2KIWJdxd2RRw32o1-y6Q0V7E-MOj4dfAlSwxhNBvsHvPBVgw9mvZZm5egqN-5n0EE7RRFxf_0cnS7dT2B-wqQDL/s320/IMG_2693.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Our Washington Nationals showed some growth this afternoon at Nationals Park. The entire 25-man roster went after The Atlanta Braves. That's a favorite moment we'd love to see throughout the remainder of this fresh and new 2011 baseball season.<br />
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<b>Game Notes & Highlights</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQ36Ql9u10kNXBSQ5RqrpbkDLg2t8wPL_Qaa3wujDePnj7pqmv7unrokNnkrZYsmacnW68MzE4wKhVNqp2c5lILZLAl9MjmIqaguoMkHwE2AMe-EDGlVAdQfbSF9b6a_FLJGh/s1600/IMG_2575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQ36Ql9u10kNXBSQ5RqrpbkDLg2t8wPL_Qaa3wujDePnj7pqmv7unrokNnkrZYsmacnW68MzE4wKhVNqp2c5lILZLAl9MjmIqaguoMkHwE2AMe-EDGlVAdQfbSF9b6a_FLJGh/s320/IMG_2575.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUaUcvSl8oWif10Wb7rmSSKgrsIsPfZaWIZ3yHqimd7NXWGXu21YLds99rjlv5Klrj86fKIQOUQtNPh4zbrw6OlyYZVMBVtsvcnDCwfpNrF0xnWAlC6ZGQySYIhyphenhyphenFUb5bMinL/s1600/IMG_2577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOUaUcvSl8oWif10Wb7rmSSKgrsIsPfZaWIZ3yHqimd7NXWGXu21YLds99rjlv5Klrj86fKIQOUQtNPh4zbrw6OlyYZVMBVtsvcnDCwfpNrF0xnWAlC6ZGQySYIhyphenhyphenFUb5bMinL/s320/IMG_2577.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Absolutely stunned to see John Lannan return to the mound after the first rain delay. Early in the season, that was unexpected. But it turned out well for Washington as Lannan held his own and finished five complete allowing just one run on five hits while striking out three. Gaining his first personal win of 2011, John hung in there when most other pitchers would not for a cold, wet, early April game.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGtHbHAz9rUuyfCQ-gz0ep7GslbXl7V_Lnb1r-KdAbzYWcHNAiKlggSFKlJGe2mlrFVPzpPQakjUhDIWsEn4za2jkpD3wN4NosrXfcaV1gKFfDci5Gv6AYAOdA-TXni4mIPxm/s1600/IMG_2629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGtHbHAz9rUuyfCQ-gz0ep7GslbXl7V_Lnb1r-KdAbzYWcHNAiKlggSFKlJGe2mlrFVPzpPQakjUhDIWsEn4za2jkpD3wN4NosrXfcaV1gKFfDci5Gv6AYAOdA-TXni4mIPxm/s320/IMG_2629.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EQ78HH86_caND0MTVIc-Gqp2ubgm6Xv0Kqy6LYIkTIYHsuC2CdMvfVMKEme5kw6cgkCqWgsbtBRuHQs1PG5cjh5sPtus4nH6CKdYiOP-sNVD8cSH8Zu8Nn8n8dkR8fYNOlti/s1600/IMG_2630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EQ78HH86_caND0MTVIc-Gqp2ubgm6Xv0Kqy6LYIkTIYHsuC2CdMvfVMKEme5kw6cgkCqWgsbtBRuHQs1PG5cjh5sPtus4nH6CKdYiOP-sNVD8cSH8Zu8Nn8n8dkR8fYNOlti/s320/IMG_2630.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCx0OTJ4pz5G0Am1mbD7Cp5iAjwJH-IPnkcOUUnE-RvyWc3-mhus3t-prXoc8e62LJv7xaOFKlxrveQ6gcHo9o47sQi7_4fIJpKpgF_NCCkbUeUSdVs9JH7Yks8CIZlgdPpAqF/s1600/IMG_2633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCx0OTJ4pz5G0Am1mbD7Cp5iAjwJH-IPnkcOUUnE-RvyWc3-mhus3t-prXoc8e62LJv7xaOFKlxrveQ6gcHo9o47sQi7_4fIJpKpgF_NCCkbUeUSdVs9JH7Yks8CIZlgdPpAqF/s320/IMG_2633.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Chad Gaudin had quite the experience in his first appearance in a Washington uniform. Former Marlin and always Nats Nemesis, Dan Uggla, swatted Gaudin's initial offering directly over the left field wall and into the visiting bullpen for a home run. We could see the look of discomfort on Chad's face the second the baseball was hit from Section 218. Not a good start for Gaudin, especially when Our Manager Jim Riggleman relieved him for Doug Slaten just two batters later.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnlnPfEfnNUUSsuBrIdDey0Pt-lP2temQtu-5_b_gWU7OcfuZo23j-TN6sY1uM0vUGthBS3WwlPZ4RUGaDX9emX9FXCPJXy0HDHyabHfSSe_P3maF5JaKlyZljByBHv4f-3T-/s1600/IMG_2665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvnlnPfEfnNUUSsuBrIdDey0Pt-lP2temQtu-5_b_gWU7OcfuZo23j-TN6sY1uM0vUGthBS3WwlPZ4RUGaDX9emX9FXCPJXy0HDHyabHfSSe_P3maF5JaKlyZljByBHv4f-3T-/s320/IMG_2665.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bPDAIHRXIAGzezi9BLraJnEfOW9yM13RtW2VLnekpy1UPxs0w0uv7LilfOP3pJKB1NT6vwHnNQAlQwAFLtOw3yC2P9UtclP1nbrgHGQ-ncn2Kp8D5Vvqot8roT-pVljNA5si/s1600/IMG_2666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bPDAIHRXIAGzezi9BLraJnEfOW9yM13RtW2VLnekpy1UPxs0w0uv7LilfOP3pJKB1NT6vwHnNQAlQwAFLtOw3yC2P9UtclP1nbrgHGQ-ncn2Kp8D5Vvqot8roT-pVljNA5si/s320/IMG_2666.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-IqODY8yOWTxRxxRgVItuPwULFVE-OkgvkkcD29_Y8BOq6GtVnPrgiwF4oamoIFyKrpPdwcWwypVOfZD_oB-982eEFS2OndEgLrmSVM0c7bUfJmCyCT-VGWBkyrAaB3ltqUs/s1600/IMG_2667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-IqODY8yOWTxRxxRgVItuPwULFVE-OkgvkkcD29_Y8BOq6GtVnPrgiwF4oamoIFyKrpPdwcWwypVOfZD_oB-982eEFS2OndEgLrmSVM0c7bUfJmCyCT-VGWBkyrAaB3ltqUs/s320/IMG_2667.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Interestingly, Slaten lasted just one batter as Manager Jim then doubled switched when he sent Tyler Clippard to the mound and Nix to leftfield, replacing Michael Morse. Clippard settled the game back down for Washington by pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless relief before Drew Storen entered in the 8th and was taken deep by Atlanta's Alex Gonzalez. A slider over the outside corner of the plate that The Braves' Shortstop (3 for 3 today at the plate) somehow got his bat on and launched out of the park. That was an impressive home run.<br />
<br />
Sean Burnett, the presumptive closer for Washington gathered his first save in as many opportunities to close this one out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfDv8OtKEKcjV4oemXbT6uG72IvJDz8ESfJRACod8-DgLQcOlIqOtaZXkf2mRyHuQYYFpp720k0qLOQ278_sc5sdw8MSEtAtwpiYYeqOVwbdawHoNiXtz6LlEMGvfWRyuHjMK/s1600/IMG_2578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfDv8OtKEKcjV4oemXbT6uG72IvJDz8ESfJRACod8-DgLQcOlIqOtaZXkf2mRyHuQYYFpp720k0qLOQ278_sc5sdw8MSEtAtwpiYYeqOVwbdawHoNiXtz6LlEMGvfWRyuHjMK/s320/IMG_2578.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNkW5o8Y-TF2HODBfRdgsZ2HEGQGBLmjIWyxwgGy8HvJZ-Y8NQwS8dJB3pYay0CdQ6JMLDTcpO43I3av4zerJu3rDz3gXBC3QVnTSFux5GOH5KZmFwYmIoJRrcArsvxLrqWYr/s1600/IMG_2596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNkW5o8Y-TF2HODBfRdgsZ2HEGQGBLmjIWyxwgGy8HvJZ-Y8NQwS8dJB3pYay0CdQ6JMLDTcpO43I3av4zerJu3rDz3gXBC3QVnTSFux5GOH5KZmFwYmIoJRrcArsvxLrqWYr/s320/IMG_2596.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Atlanta's Tommy Hanson was anything but sharp. The Braves top young starter didn't last four innings. He threw away a pickoff toss to first base that eventually allowed Mikey Mo to score Washington's first run of 2011 on a sacrifice fly by Espinosa in the bottom of the 2nd. He faced 19 batters, seven of them reached, four of them scored. And Hanson didn't return when the rains began with Jayson Werth at the plate in the bottom of the 4th.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjLihyphenhyphenQIHwRhYwIchtkS2Y8M-xJG0FsBkzisWqZLcf16fJ-tYY2Bm8byn4O3_sro-6MlPIDhMZMcCO3S_7YO3FXKmxFma3lO_-ek8WCORWYysEkpUlN_N_g8bfalsyV68m9q0/s1600/IMG_2579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjLihyphenhyphenQIHwRhYwIchtkS2Y8M-xJG0FsBkzisWqZLcf16fJ-tYY2Bm8byn4O3_sro-6MlPIDhMZMcCO3S_7YO3FXKmxFma3lO_-ek8WCORWYysEkpUlN_N_g8bfalsyV68m9q0/s320/IMG_2579.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOL7aeR8VnwOsDjIewLE5-XIEUgGKett8IKxtApx4xqt58_CEQ-de9l4Lh0zkHL5cxoSoQnD7zia5vNbxtM4hRLF1NZ4DFpTBLlDT2YXq6PXCNdrCt825DjsaCVNqqylCC10g/s1600/IMG_2675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOL7aeR8VnwOsDjIewLE5-XIEUgGKett8IKxtApx4xqt58_CEQ-de9l4Lh0zkHL5cxoSoQnD7zia5vNbxtM4hRLF1NZ4DFpTBLlDT2YXq6PXCNdrCt825DjsaCVNqqylCC10g/s320/IMG_2675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Werth had three hits (two doubles) and scored one run. Zimmerman had two hits, walked, scored two runs and knocked in his first run of 2011. In his first start of the season, Wilson Ramos slapped out three hits and showed behind the plate his capabilities. Three times we counted Ramos quickly getting to his knees to block a Lannan pitch in the dirt. His throwing arm displayed on a sacrifice bunt by Hanson in the top of the 4th wasn't bad also.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEE58ZUoWYzhLQQxgjkho-1ElJmeWuyRQa7SKlrBcQViZW_ZMYR3hAganuli2atoTco6BBNsJYj7Ine7AqTULIY_mP-31HQWfSyXl0GsGU51yrODiWCeqYHgt_QV_MevHq555/s1600/IMG_2664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEE58ZUoWYzhLQQxgjkho-1ElJmeWuyRQa7SKlrBcQViZW_ZMYR3hAganuli2atoTco6BBNsJYj7Ine7AqTULIY_mP-31HQWfSyXl0GsGU51yrODiWCeqYHgt_QV_MevHq555/s320/IMG_2664.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Picked by Jim Riggleman as his centerfielder, Rick Ankiel knocked in two runs with his home run scoring Zimmy before him in the 3rd and The Z-Man again in the bottom of the 8th on that terrific suicide bunt. Ankiel producing some good baseball you had to appreciate.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGx4n12pKiX-UoLwR5arU1hc02Yj2X-BwPEe4DFqlKA8aDLE1s-Jr9sNrCYGjyg8aUvR_ORb9BLf3yyuWFCrYf6Bke5_6w3ga7VwsgmzfnwKZWoR7m3Ta8zt0kjS5P2qkRegE/s1600/IMG_2655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGx4n12pKiX-UoLwR5arU1hc02Yj2X-BwPEe4DFqlKA8aDLE1s-Jr9sNrCYGjyg8aUvR_ORb9BLf3yyuWFCrYf6Bke5_6w3ga7VwsgmzfnwKZWoR7m3Ta8zt0kjS5P2qkRegE/s320/IMG_2655.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Three times this afternoon, Manager Jim came out of the home dugout to argue umpiring calls. Three times he didn't win any of the arguments, but Riggleman made a point of protecting his players--publicly.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRp3sWcfpSidpxjDNU9pU440jiGtf81AmykKwO91BJwUuJ9sMXzZSuHDws_TZx7_T3JONX4oMnCVeS8QECn69xFFvIJut_Ha0KIH1fByaZQmC7l-lnAhY3EglYq9xjU8XdjwN/s1600/IMG_2612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRp3sWcfpSidpxjDNU9pU440jiGtf81AmykKwO91BJwUuJ9sMXzZSuHDws_TZx7_T3JONX4oMnCVeS8QECn69xFFvIJut_Ha0KIH1fByaZQmC7l-lnAhY3EglYq9xjU8XdjwN/s320/IMG_2612.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUjaqD0UKaU0xdtHjVwGc2Aouwr-IInww_kzovjJUh1ePRhRjDevaqYn2vdZvOfwfR-wmgq1OO2DaeHanvAJQ821o-9Bk5s2Ynifu9AJbF3BVrFqxKS5Asj17V9bqaQVzl_0-/s1600/IMG_2615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUjaqD0UKaU0xdtHjVwGc2Aouwr-IInww_kzovjJUh1ePRhRjDevaqYn2vdZvOfwfR-wmgq1OO2DaeHanvAJQ821o-9Bk5s2Ynifu9AJbF3BVrFqxKS5Asj17V9bqaQVzl_0-/s320/IMG_2615.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfzonTXwkmilzvXzKBF-waunzs3mBqdnTcllmCl86cK1J3oBsFX_NudtOvSM7NdLiMuSDXDIDVdkHrRZQ17LkLcoqdqOGMpVJumo2kOpE6G_iJ2JzDjhi1ZME-IjH_odchUPl/s1600/IMG_2616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEfzonTXwkmilzvXzKBF-waunzs3mBqdnTcllmCl86cK1J3oBsFX_NudtOvSM7NdLiMuSDXDIDVdkHrRZQ17LkLcoqdqOGMpVJumo2kOpE6G_iJ2JzDjhi1ZME-IjH_odchUPl/s320/IMG_2616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCILXrgZYKslZUMxJJcxqydw_HuBs7Xf2vK7omLNBl3uVXq0ozFHP5XErQ7n1b8XlH3qmScb57hi5X_z1KORmw9PMjOzQyfvUlHEk_DL3Bbut86VTF8CSh8cA8QAG6LsuCBA0/s1600/IMG_2617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaCILXrgZYKslZUMxJJcxqydw_HuBs7Xf2vK7omLNBl3uVXq0ozFHP5XErQ7n1b8XlH3qmScb57hi5X_z1KORmw9PMjOzQyfvUlHEk_DL3Bbut86VTF8CSh8cA8QAG6LsuCBA0/s320/IMG_2617.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYv3_CbS6Ypw6YheJ2jJSzBShxncvcfBEGgIyb8s2jE8wWHdVzRpHpaERdfhdJ648Nc7kVLgrS7XGflXEvokw5daHQ9iZn7ntaBFui8UPUKzaAfP6kZR58IRICe3oEM2i2m9na/s1600/IMG_2618.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYv3_CbS6Ypw6YheJ2jJSzBShxncvcfBEGgIyb8s2jE8wWHdVzRpHpaERdfhdJ648Nc7kVLgrS7XGflXEvokw5daHQ9iZn7ntaBFui8UPUKzaAfP6kZR58IRICe3oEM2i2m9na/s320/IMG_2618.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In another tandem race, this time on bicycles, George and Tom defeated Abe & Teddy pretty handily.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1oEtkfef5k-UGBw4Ph6UP_eDGVCAK5TAYwmQV3BL54a2FEKlp9iOTaohm2UEGbdUAznwMusF2UXIDzUDO1njL3CsdxhRDdfMLthsh5Ean7Mh25_hCv_FV-KycdOej5FIuxNW/s1600/IMG_2507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1oEtkfef5k-UGBw4Ph6UP_eDGVCAK5TAYwmQV3BL54a2FEKlp9iOTaohm2UEGbdUAznwMusF2UXIDzUDO1njL3CsdxhRDdfMLthsh5Ean7Mh25_hCv_FV-KycdOej5FIuxNW/s320/IMG_2507.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Jt1rMaBKYADAQddjiv1IqpvVSK0dGQSuUQKBHImXQKFfgNZEYK_HEmzDbWzp_QWNA-cP9HZDPiyTl9ZGei4AUvEDyTYN3Xj9TWh8VFcvJWklqRZxG9nKbkvbi6nOCgdY_2bC/s1600/IMG_2591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Jt1rMaBKYADAQddjiv1IqpvVSK0dGQSuUQKBHImXQKFfgNZEYK_HEmzDbWzp_QWNA-cP9HZDPiyTl9ZGei4AUvEDyTYN3Xj9TWh8VFcvJWklqRZxG9nKbkvbi6nOCgdY_2bC/s320/IMG_2591.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0PeT4CxDRmAS3VexXn6UNitwSO3ZbZ7u6kIEFkO3vMsh_oR-sl8YlL1yCz0CnEM8GlbamkQTP7vcM3OUI_o9Fks6EEKSY2PgaZ_ZSrl0FRV6MxOJkRu4DU9XDr6GVK1FM50N/s1600/IMG_2646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg0PeT4CxDRmAS3VexXn6UNitwSO3ZbZ7u6kIEFkO3vMsh_oR-sl8YlL1yCz0CnEM8GlbamkQTP7vcM3OUI_o9Fks6EEKSY2PgaZ_ZSrl0FRV6MxOJkRu4DU9XDr6GVK1FM50N/s320/IMG_2646.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>As is the case for every Saturday home game, The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation held their first silent auction of 2011. Up for grabs today were signed baseballs from Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond, as well as, a Bryce Harper autographed bat and Jason Marquis Jersey. Today's bids garnered $1170 for Our Washington Nationals charitable arm. Before the game, Sohna and I purchased game worn Josh Willingham (Home) and Luis Atilano (Away) jerseys from a selection available off the rack at the Dream Foundation Kiosk in Center Field Plaza. Both jerseys were authentic cool base jerseys. Additionally, we picked up a Jesus Flores signed baseball.<br />
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New additions to our new changes at Nationals Park 2011 list:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW1ox1Kwh5Bp1H7nFjhrCk83BAFPmMGYqxDCyMFjLRlQCqy0hDqdTLSOLFFxw26LAQCX3tJebxzATrC-yQXAeWReAkyEluR0noEOuaRJz-m2JhxF6NJ2lMUgd8FLAXajwcUYU/s1600/IMG_2497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyW1ox1Kwh5Bp1H7nFjhrCk83BAFPmMGYqxDCyMFjLRlQCqy0hDqdTLSOLFFxw26LAQCX3tJebxzATrC-yQXAeWReAkyEluR0noEOuaRJz-m2JhxF6NJ2lMUgd8FLAXajwcUYU/s320/IMG_2497.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCxK4QmtzKSApQG5Pm9Wh9M_c1mG2pogrf22jNgZx1AyyoiFPIPX7JDmVy8qrDchbrBYcoW7kTelr_XKQhqohE4ozChIjXCUmwbrIA5HepgR06fS3xLib95t6mgFp-9E4dRjB/s1600/IMG_2499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCxK4QmtzKSApQG5Pm9Wh9M_c1mG2pogrf22jNgZx1AyyoiFPIPX7JDmVy8qrDchbrBYcoW7kTelr_XKQhqohE4ozChIjXCUmwbrIA5HepgR06fS3xLib95t6mgFp-9E4dRjB/s320/IMG_2499.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The exterior of the ballpark running from South Capitol Street around Home Plate Gate to Potomac Avenue to 1st Street SW has been completely repainted in two tones of gray.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrdKW1P6jBReYdjiw-qCirP9n8cljnIR43o3S84InzlL-10f8h0Y9EQOoXrtxJHGGb-yH6wHG5CzXMxINJ9Fzjn5MilM98QL3iaABs11Oc5QUlX8jidu3sZ2v8-2sy_z-CAgu/s1600/IMG_2504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzrdKW1P6jBReYdjiw-qCirP9n8cljnIR43o3S84InzlL-10f8h0Y9EQOoXrtxJHGGb-yH6wHG5CzXMxINJ9Fzjn5MilM98QL3iaABs11Oc5QUlX8jidu3sZ2v8-2sy_z-CAgu/s320/IMG_2504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77SMPoCcyvP7wE5jsp4pvwnBq_3i1suhwQeWLIE4-DuJBkmpIf8QS6sB2bK3ontU1-yXxKmydWNaV4LR6aWUV7Nx6pnbwsgGybiR-0vpotJDPjwqLh4HeWhxZJ1kdUpPO8F46/s1600/IMG_2501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77SMPoCcyvP7wE5jsp4pvwnBq_3i1suhwQeWLIE4-DuJBkmpIf8QS6sB2bK3ontU1-yXxKmydWNaV4LR6aWUV7Nx6pnbwsgGybiR-0vpotJDPjwqLh4HeWhxZJ1kdUpPO8F46/s320/IMG_2501.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The Sony Playstation in the Kids Zone in Center Field Plaza is no longer. After their three year commitment came to a close after the end of the 2010 season, Sony decided not to re-up for another year. The lounge furniture that used to be at the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk has been placed inside this area which now includes two large HD TV screens.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9G9hPdUiyHUc_rnc5WBBApsBsWppxwOEQOH-oRx1OZ6f0X7jGMxWq7XrNSm_mmILz3cpDm9FA6Je0QnFipNquyQoei2utilcf-cVcQIbZwILI-jTrtWIvXck8CfIvpkojXbw/s1600/IMG_2525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9G9hPdUiyHUc_rnc5WBBApsBsWppxwOEQOH-oRx1OZ6f0X7jGMxWq7XrNSm_mmILz3cpDm9FA6Je0QnFipNquyQoei2utilcf-cVcQIbZwILI-jTrtWIvXck8CfIvpkojXbw/s320/IMG_2525.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Love the banner placed on Garage B that acknowledges all previous professional baseball teams and stadiums that called Washington D.C. their home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_FaPJ6ZR3FZElEW7YVJQONW1XzvJQgrZK3Byfh_jC0czP1FsqhHXjPnHF4ySLsMHJ4T6zfl9lPijnf2W1IBZgT5thaZJxIoQvAaU9zcT3uHSc5Is3meE83oeZGCyFzAVGAIN/s1600/IMG_2619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_FaPJ6ZR3FZElEW7YVJQONW1XzvJQgrZK3Byfh_jC0czP1FsqhHXjPnHF4ySLsMHJ4T6zfl9lPijnf2W1IBZgT5thaZJxIoQvAaU9zcT3uHSc5Is3meE83oeZGCyFzAVGAIN/s320/IMG_2619.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdALTz5XPD7bKfYmCrHX2b0-ZL9VcmSDLSQOh6xoWcpzVcqBoL4ns1CUEyMymiFP5qTjj8ij2IMjCCt56QAdrAWuOI6WRaZxINZXHhed22gTo6P1Kr_EpTXV29czyXpfB8HV4a/s1600/IMG_2620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdALTz5XPD7bKfYmCrHX2b0-ZL9VcmSDLSQOh6xoWcpzVcqBoL4ns1CUEyMymiFP5qTjj8ij2IMjCCt56QAdrAWuOI6WRaZxINZXHhed22gTo6P1Kr_EpTXV29czyXpfB8HV4a/s320/IMG_2620.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Washington Senators/Nationals American League & World Series Championship Flags above the HD Scoreboard are bigger, brighter and easier to read in 2011.<br />
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New food in the Stars & Stripes Club:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_anrckQpjooepz0gXMA54FDK-G5QMC1PV7kYxujN-DRLlyiGoLDdJHbM1uQlrsCDVgg4qYGTM-Ki8_gjsS1GvG1jdzHidC1RBAScKrFmuyS0IDmNHW74P1oFHuAV8uRsqqaAJ/s1600/IMG_2543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_anrckQpjooepz0gXMA54FDK-G5QMC1PV7kYxujN-DRLlyiGoLDdJHbM1uQlrsCDVgg4qYGTM-Ki8_gjsS1GvG1jdzHidC1RBAScKrFmuyS0IDmNHW74P1oFHuAV8uRsqqaAJ/s320/IMG_2543.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZWMYNlscKpmIokad7l6y-ghBNkML3lc6OJye-7_cmEWaFfPDi7Mo1gpV4X8hTU04swtziP07-7Cm0al_5QPakhyphenhyphenC_axJuNu5fl-f5jmYU_5-Cgz0dme_lmWjxkiJNwUQ8e0N/s1600/IMG_2536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZWMYNlscKpmIokad7l6y-ghBNkML3lc6OJye-7_cmEWaFfPDi7Mo1gpV4X8hTU04swtziP07-7Cm0al_5QPakhyphenhyphenC_axJuNu5fl-f5jmYU_5-Cgz0dme_lmWjxkiJNwUQ8e0N/s320/IMG_2536.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXTqYgOXSVNyklBc2q3f5XbZ7fIVppsgIrK4aLagrSEt36YGVY928KfP3p732S65h0KN0VzmN3hGcRx7mIpTF5NuyOghtq_5cm4WBY1IoNE5Y87bBIRHbr5DzECrMCOXxUiZH/s1600/IMG_2540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfXTqYgOXSVNyklBc2q3f5XbZ7fIVppsgIrK4aLagrSEt36YGVY928KfP3p732S65h0KN0VzmN3hGcRx7mIpTF5NuyOghtq_5cm4WBY1IoNE5Y87bBIRHbr5DzECrMCOXxUiZH/s320/IMG_2540.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Pork Wingettes, Fish & Chips, Veggie Burger at the South Capitol Grill<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1T8wMDKiE1WUrFKA2HZCvX3dHncthTy8iMPucBluI1CNKCzfeoLoj3epRFOgsrSLbniEh1aXebIDlvrIhchHbt5F95tOviAZmrr2ZDMAaUkVwF3tqAKVBRyZmWNjm5Ca-y2x/s1600/IMG_2571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1T8wMDKiE1WUrFKA2HZCvX3dHncthTy8iMPucBluI1CNKCzfeoLoj3epRFOgsrSLbniEh1aXebIDlvrIhchHbt5F95tOviAZmrr2ZDMAaUkVwF3tqAKVBRyZmWNjm5Ca-y2x/s320/IMG_2571.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qxeww94UNMIZI_KY2VrvpygaVWZ7DGyItow3QYIrpV6SJXeQ9HUry71ZQcSrCO3SCJXCStFfwS5XcF4l04x2HHFOamcDHuedCezylizu3OYg3IYUIp004UATDLJErukB-BS0/s1600/IMG_2557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qxeww94UNMIZI_KY2VrvpygaVWZ7DGyItow3QYIrpV6SJXeQ9HUry71ZQcSrCO3SCJXCStFfwS5XcF4l04x2HHFOamcDHuedCezylizu3OYg3IYUIp004UATDLJErukB-BS0/s320/IMG_2557.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPHZzIVH1nurktDzn1cdCTjxS7cNmQAz5Sq-JMgHNsxWG4eAEUqY8iX_NEaL2QElolQsSWsOw21UbX8WfbxyUm-Nr6pB9uk3udJLvT-HDG8TFZ_sZslshsNuwnM5Lm_dEmCyC/s1600/IMG_2558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSPHZzIVH1nurktDzn1cdCTjxS7cNmQAz5Sq-JMgHNsxWG4eAEUqY8iX_NEaL2QElolQsSWsOw21UbX8WfbxyUm-Nr6pB9uk3udJLvT-HDG8TFZ_sZslshsNuwnM5Lm_dEmCyC/s320/IMG_2558.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jerk Chicken Sandwich, Braised Short Rib and Sweet Potato Fries at the Anacostia Station.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWrPf0GMDxovPk64qCaa8stWP0Y5wHdkuQsvjAFDf3ecMDXodtfdbDMUAiCFeGZmhVTUdUw453m44sqmgTkkZV9lYoYtlFtNLAtzZHQTelbHWffHN7MGIeFU4lyUlTAorPSAi/s1600/IMG_2563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrWrPf0GMDxovPk64qCaa8stWP0Y5wHdkuQsvjAFDf3ecMDXodtfdbDMUAiCFeGZmhVTUdUw453m44sqmgTkkZV9lYoYtlFtNLAtzZHQTelbHWffHN7MGIeFU4lyUlTAorPSAi/s320/IMG_2563.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLoBsb-i4rOTn0WFofn3vSVCASat98L3Ewtv1oACleN6S2Zb4M_hgMQpaKIJdhggzm_Xf9gGWQEowyvUBo983RqlsBQWgR5SI3lbruxPfE4uvk-sYzHtGqbNHiBUWQnlU6TMk/s1600/IMG_2551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCLoBsb-i4rOTn0WFofn3vSVCASat98L3Ewtv1oACleN6S2Zb4M_hgMQpaKIJdhggzm_Xf9gGWQEowyvUBo983RqlsBQWgR5SI3lbruxPfE4uvk-sYzHtGqbNHiBUWQnlU6TMk/s320/IMG_2551.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLT8d2rI0yB0XfAzc8-Xz9E0l4mSnSOF_MD0MqFQ6-0C-xl3Sbx8XkeHjjZl1cnzmS2KXrZFJrhGiwE-vTC8ALPDN0CVYue3HfsOmmffsV_I4hfeD8kMt2bQWVxccPZNIFnqM/s1600/IMG_2553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLT8d2rI0yB0XfAzc8-Xz9E0l4mSnSOF_MD0MqFQ6-0C-xl3Sbx8XkeHjjZl1cnzmS2KXrZFJrhGiwE-vTC8ALPDN0CVYue3HfsOmmffsV_I4hfeD8kMt2bQWVxccPZNIFnqM/s320/IMG_2553.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Supreme Nachos with BBQ chicken for $12.50 at the Nachos Stand behind Section 218.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuI5l3b85GwehbFlavJ6jwMog1NgY5yM7HQgcL5BOwLd_SilTO-lfSHce7vpm32xCg-VUn8IQx7sp4z5fdDbjmhec5j7rfMdxoa64wSSXxmt4KM_ConiRfPqt6Fn263rEsrBu/s1600/IMG_2562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuI5l3b85GwehbFlavJ6jwMog1NgY5yM7HQgcL5BOwLd_SilTO-lfSHce7vpm32xCg-VUn8IQx7sp4z5fdDbjmhec5j7rfMdxoa64wSSXxmt4KM_ConiRfPqt6Fn263rEsrBu/s320/IMG_2562.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD0ouCOtkCiu3hF77Xmc3DnOMmESkEMvDelN8Bs21iuvYGuCBPU92JO3HvOmQtw6qqYn4vgn2kxl3_TS2eHUaxBBA6S11sdR5pjqFNJx3IGTc1jJzQDTRf3I1j8eHIITTTsEt/s1600/IMG_2547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyD0ouCOtkCiu3hF77Xmc3DnOMmESkEMvDelN8Bs21iuvYGuCBPU92JO3HvOmQtw6qqYn4vgn2kxl3_TS2eHUaxBBA6S11sdR5pjqFNJx3IGTc1jJzQDTRf3I1j8eHIITTTsEt/s320/IMG_2547.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTT2dItFAevM-ktF2qRUgUEk9tLqOdPmt2FEXDV7BrpObQQVgpcIYZcR1RKt5um9Z1VskB4GeFNY7TDU9H0N69gcTcWknxrtmxbOuUrAlU96Qz2dvj9pmWb6pnrenAATpeh3j/s1600/IMG_2548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTT2dItFAevM-ktF2qRUgUEk9tLqOdPmt2FEXDV7BrpObQQVgpcIYZcR1RKt5um9Z1VskB4GeFNY7TDU9H0N69gcTcWknxrtmxbOuUrAlU96Qz2dvj9pmWb6pnrenAATpeh3j/s320/IMG_2548.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The Carving Station behind Section 216 (next to Flippin Pizza) has reduced their prices for Sandwiches $2 for 2011.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6i4r4b2CWMs7N4mCbEXMSlxzMtBgrX2VfqO7PIr166KUpuSaJrkLOFV9au523NLH4t4Ql9XuFSBUzi_dEr-hWNDhlY8d7zlGUej0vkwMzb6_P-F62ld6HqebjjubE3sF8y7X/s1600/IMG_2589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6i4r4b2CWMs7N4mCbEXMSlxzMtBgrX2VfqO7PIr166KUpuSaJrkLOFV9au523NLH4t4Ql9XuFSBUzi_dEr-hWNDhlY8d7zlGUej0vkwMzb6_P-F62ld6HqebjjubE3sF8y7X/s320/IMG_2589.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35_cT0Sr6pSIuWT7EoFHDcucZkcJqah7WayoCQfuaNoMafVWV0ZUr9151GQWkUSfjRThWxfaCEq1Xnls0wixtgG1JHDeX7RC6WYiIyX2PPCp699RpQUYAGccBRs19b3WStGzU/s1600/IMG_2626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi35_cT0Sr6pSIuWT7EoFHDcucZkcJqah7WayoCQfuaNoMafVWV0ZUr9151GQWkUSfjRThWxfaCEq1Xnls0wixtgG1JHDeX7RC6WYiIyX2PPCp699RpQUYAGccBRs19b3WStGzU/s320/IMG_2626.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXjrcMfKiGkfld_8JDgCHJJ0cwnzD82d30PcY9pJZmW1idmDfnFlSOWrwArBghHZ23q8b7_A6mZRVT0W55KfrO0c-2WZyvr4IGnPXumNcrGNUImTqinznXpJVeVOIroVJG_Wq/s1600/IMG_2632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXjrcMfKiGkfld_8JDgCHJJ0cwnzD82d30PcY9pJZmW1idmDfnFlSOWrwArBghHZ23q8b7_A6mZRVT0W55KfrO0c-2WZyvr4IGnPXumNcrGNUImTqinznXpJVeVOIroVJG_Wq/s320/IMG_2632.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We also got a kick out of the questions and sentences printed on the back of service staff employees this year at Nationals Park. Some of the ushers have the phase: "Ask Me!" Food service staff have the phrase: "Hungry?" And roving concession workers have the phrase: "Eating is not a spectator sport." Sort of funny and pretty noticable. Usher staff no longer wearing yellow dress shirts but blue polos with white sleeves and Curly "W" on the left breast pocket.<br />
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And finally, isn't "Bang!! Zoom!! Go The Fireworks!! after a Washington Nationals home run or win one of the few baseball traditions intrinsic to Our Washington Nationals? Started by Radio Broadcaster Charlie Slowes in 2005 when fireworks were shot off after home runs and wins at RFK Stadium--it became an iconic phrase that baseball fans recognize as D.C. Baseball. Why are we getting rid of a naturally born tradition? Haven't The Washington Capitals embraced a horn from a fan at their games? Why copy that when we have something all our own?<br />
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<i>All Other Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-53598685246506297102011-04-02T10:15:00.001-04:002011-04-02T10:19:36.834-04:00More Cooperstown & Baseball Hall Of Fame Stories Coming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwnJ-KZBh7b3kJC2c43U_UdqoZBi4-7DRO4tkz47MKnvgnlg3Yejl89f_Bss6U6-vxRba7drmtRNGI3hlZ7yxGMua-wy6_hoAWHx_yfnNTjqxfgzgCEV9voiEt4Sek4f0-7lt/s1600/IMG_0943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirwnJ-KZBh7b3kJC2c43U_UdqoZBi4-7DRO4tkz47MKnvgnlg3Yejl89f_Bss6U6-vxRba7drmtRNGI3hlZ7yxGMua-wy6_hoAWHx_yfnNTjqxfgzgCEV9voiEt4Sek4f0-7lt/s320/IMG_0943.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Just a reminder.<br />
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With Opening Weekend for Our Washington Nationals in full swing, Nats320's <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/back-at-national-baseball-hall-of-fame.html" target="_blank">series of stories</a> on The <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/highlights-from-our-behind-scenes-tour.html" target="_blank">National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum</a> and Cooperstown, New York will continue next week. We didn't want to continually break up the stories with commentary and reaction to the first three games of 2011 played at Nationals Park.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqR0uTFJcygAMBxfHdWbET6eeBKyRBcAQZeZ9JE0U2xwGR1Mw73kQP4AsX3XkRgLskIUPCbaN0lNmslA-xG1sS6MeMCOMHf6AaXaYHQnCbW9hjuS2d_vmso-DAJfOmZq7lpOlw/s1600/IMG_1549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqR0uTFJcygAMBxfHdWbET6eeBKyRBcAQZeZ9JE0U2xwGR1Mw73kQP4AsX3XkRgLskIUPCbaN0lNmslA-xG1sS6MeMCOMHf6AaXaYHQnCbW9hjuS2d_vmso-DAJfOmZq7lpOlw/s320/IMG_1549.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
So look for the series to continue in the next couple of days.Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-91615216145983881882011-04-01T19:00:00.007-04:002011-04-01T19:00:03.260-04:002011 Fan Choice Bobblehead Vote Underway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vB09Oor0d_GZtmTCWAmhSlBqK24y0JyECvj56eaFysLaPXdcLQVlh03VIXsJvXl3CrChHUhjuR_r02sTXG7IXeQoXgKT7VFeRM_iM8Nc9WyeVpdDTcWTRsVwNfOFsxCvyQFA/s1600/Fan+Choice+Bobblehead+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vB09Oor0d_GZtmTCWAmhSlBqK24y0JyECvj56eaFysLaPXdcLQVlh03VIXsJvXl3CrChHUhjuR_r02sTXG7IXeQoXgKT7VFeRM_iM8Nc9WyeVpdDTcWTRsVwNfOFsxCvyQFA/s320/Fan+Choice+Bobblehead+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div></div>The 2011 Fan Choice Bobblehead vote is underway. Until Sunday, April 3rd at 10PM, fans can choose Adam LaRoche, Ryan Zimmerman, Jordan Zimmermann, Drew Storen or Danny Espinosa as their favorite bobblehead to be given away on September 10th at Nationals Park when Our Washington Nationals take on The Houston Astros.<br />
<div></div><br />
<div>There is no limit to the amount of votes anyone can place. Just click on <a href="http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/was/fan_forum/fan_choice.jsp" target="_blank">this link </a>to make your choice. On Monday April 4th, the winner will be revealed. Last year, Pudge Rodriguez was selected by fans as their choice for the last Bobblehead Giveaway of 2010.</div><div><br />
</div><div>A Jayson Werth Bobblehead Night is already scheduled for July 30th when The New York Mets come to Washington. And Ian Desmond will be honored with a Bobblehead on August 20th when The Philadelphia Phillies and their fans invade the Nation's Capital.</div>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-91516837656551059222011-04-01T14:50:00.015-04:002011-04-01T17:15:48.273-04:001969 Frank Howard Nestle's Quik Commercial<b>Update: Frank Cumberland contacted us to let everyone know that MASN's Phil Wood first alerted him on the Hondo Nestle's Quik Commercial.</b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Sy7luN3SbNc" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
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After the conclusion of yesterday's game, Nationals Fan Frank Cumberland, Sohna and I were chatting about how wonderful My Favorite Player Of All Time!! Frank Howard was to every single fan he encountered <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/natsfest-2011-harper-hondo-nats.html" target="_blank">at NatsFest 2011</a> this past Wednesday at Nationals Park. All three of us agreed, Hondo is a great ambassador for the sport in the Washington, D.C. area.<br />
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He gets it.<br />
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This long conversion eventually led to Frank Cumberland bringing up the famous Nestle's Quik Commercial from 1969 when Howard was in his prime slugging baseball after baseball out every park in the American League for The Washington Senators. Having personally not seen the video in decades, Frank Cumberland says that someone <b>(MASN's Phil Wood)</b> told him Hondo's Nestle's Quik Commercial was recently placed on YouTube.<br />
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And sure enough--it's all there in all its glory (a little down in picture quality though).<br />
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In the 30 second ad, Frank Howard is wearing the transitional uniform The Senators wore in 1968 and for Spring Training 1969. The uniform shirt and pants depicted are the blue pinstripe versions with red "Senators" across the front worn with the blue cap with Red Curly "W" and red stripes down the crown in the Mid-1960's. For 1968 and Spring Training 1969, Washington wore red sleeves, red stirrups and red caps and White Curly "W" with that pinstripe uniform.<br />
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When the regular season in 1969 began (Ted Williams' Rookie Year As Manager), The Senators switched to off-white (cream color) home jerseys with script "Senators" across the front and a 100th Anniversary of Baseball patch on the left sleeve. No pinstripes anymore.<br />
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A few things of note in the video:<br />
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He is wearing Number 9, his original uniform number with Washington before Ted Williams took it for the 1969 season and Frank switched to Number 33.<br />
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Look at how large Frank Howard's Curly "W" is on his red batting helmet with no ear flap. It's huge.<br />
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Notice how big Hondo is compared to the catcher.<br />
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And don't miss his classic all or nothing swing. Frank Howard ropes that pitch like a missile down the left field line. That was Hondo's power unleashed.<br />
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Great stuff to see again for the first time. This ad brings back fond, fond memories of Hondo and my trips to D.C. later renamed RFK Stadium in the late 60's and early 70's.<br />
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Enjoy!!Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-62462987180772755822011-04-01T11:30:00.002-04:002011-04-01T11:35:00.406-04:00Changes To Nats Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r3bL1V2RM5TBgw3KcwtOQo9LpFnqFjzFIUt9XYeFt16lFmfLrx1gaQUZV0N4F6Uxnh1x3m5k-OrsY9tfDRb23Snnr31Ug1recCVCycvAiKljPTiJZNWuFUmZC8r1e9dtTvUK/s1600/IMG_2287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4r3bL1V2RM5TBgw3KcwtOQo9LpFnqFjzFIUt9XYeFt16lFmfLrx1gaQUZV0N4F6Uxnh1x3m5k-OrsY9tfDRb23Snnr31Ug1recCVCycvAiKljPTiJZNWuFUmZC8r1e9dtTvUK/s320/IMG_2287.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK-rED2RPc_HGKxUUAxxrWzr7oKct-Ni0fXU-XVYhoYCfeOpIwaVMdHYRWSe3vP5wM1h5VXZcpFvBgDpYYQ1vHbsUqXpPDw_PHPem09cLjAOE6kaqhqb44ojHDSj62Loy9Ihu/s1600/IMG_2239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilK-rED2RPc_HGKxUUAxxrWzr7oKct-Ni0fXU-XVYhoYCfeOpIwaVMdHYRWSe3vP5wM1h5VXZcpFvBgDpYYQ1vHbsUqXpPDw_PHPem09cLjAOE6kaqhqb44ojHDSj62Loy9Ihu/s320/IMG_2239.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Walking around Nationals Park before yesterday's game and the start of the pre-game ceremonies, The African Queen and I noticed these changes to Our Washington Nationals Ballpark. Some were subtle, others were not. As we walk more around the stadium this weekend, this list will expand.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHo2nW7YJ4YuyiwL5HhbZAHqQiiv_AkHU2qIqzDXtIgZAdFdgs0qgVOHQzP3t7Adu9Ebi-VZfWEYtjCT3Lg7DfTEG9V63WsUMWPWaz9lZTKxoceBBAGsvfpbi5Vv2kfMjVwqL/s1600/IMG_2262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHo2nW7YJ4YuyiwL5HhbZAHqQiiv_AkHU2qIqzDXtIgZAdFdgs0qgVOHQzP3t7Adu9Ebi-VZfWEYtjCT3Lg7DfTEG9V63WsUMWPWaz9lZTKxoceBBAGsvfpbi5Vv2kfMjVwqL/s320/IMG_2262.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcTKzuZmNMV5cgHIHSLiKJLh_iZVqCm6lfU-Dnx0bS35FE9tYro2ZJuUlN7W9oiIHwJYVN5T5jDrH13UWsdEMg8ND7LserYrotA8vbZ_653U3gmZQZdL4FT6786sKII_3aHS9/s1600/IMG_2278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcTKzuZmNMV5cgHIHSLiKJLh_iZVqCm6lfU-Dnx0bS35FE9tYro2ZJuUlN7W9oiIHwJYVN5T5jDrH13UWsdEMg8ND7LserYrotA8vbZ_653U3gmZQZdL4FT6786sKII_3aHS9/s320/IMG_2278.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Fresh new player oriented banners adorning parking garages B & C and the Center Field Gate side of the Red Porch Restaurant. They looked nice.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9xxAfriiHH0OEO1ba5I37UxGlXSm3zvB5xacXqRRn4C3Ej_bCt-5GtfT9Ek6J2tinGPcM0qwJLLRPqmbKGHZYC8xO0sgReET8JTE9Yb87XH-mk8t0GIKtXz5kHL4w4JPKcb8/s1600/IMG_2295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ9xxAfriiHH0OEO1ba5I37UxGlXSm3zvB5xacXqRRn4C3Ej_bCt-5GtfT9Ek6J2tinGPcM0qwJLLRPqmbKGHZYC8xO0sgReET8JTE9Yb87XH-mk8t0GIKtXz5kHL4w4JPKcb8/s320/IMG_2295.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9rC7W0ee3buE43KfPUVYazgKquLUG_7yZudSkCuniz7LPkOSE_aUvTHa4OQAhFAtSMCJpD4hugifK47uqyqsQv4Dqw-9mXTIkghQfTob8NTY80WimkqMJzmQle95LOfS4K_c/s1600/IMG_9781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu9rC7W0ee3buE43KfPUVYazgKquLUG_7yZudSkCuniz7LPkOSE_aUvTHa4OQAhFAtSMCJpD4hugifK47uqyqsQv4Dqw-9mXTIkghQfTob8NTY80WimkqMJzmQle95LOfS4K_c/s320/IMG_9781.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curly "W" Pretzel (2008)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Gluten Free soft Curly "W" Pretzels and Pretzel Dogs from NJ's gone. Noah's Pretzels renamed NJ's--whose proceeds go to autism is no longer on the menu selection of Nationals Park. NJ's still at Verizon Center and possibly at Camden Yards in 2011. NJ's now replaced by the basic ballpark hard pretzel, sadly.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ie74r_BO0On1dUXQAu4QwhubBL7Gp-FiEYeetj1PpoV0ecUQdHJKo_WU5Vmb8oMiEZ5gzxRk8i5Mz8JxU9ymjZkRe9VaA5avdtktzNdiUQMXX8fEqWIqY4JKIyEml9f1DEq0/s1600/IMG_2259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ie74r_BO0On1dUXQAu4QwhubBL7Gp-FiEYeetj1PpoV0ecUQdHJKo_WU5Vmb8oMiEZ5gzxRk8i5Mz8JxU9ymjZkRe9VaA5avdtktzNdiUQMXX8fEqWIqY4JKIyEml9f1DEq0/s320/IMG_2259.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KmKjeWT_q2K6jbQJc293M5wYkcdbZ3-b5AIG0Eh6KHEyXHJ1z8pxGqKQ2Kq9SbMDSeTEvPgU4KSAxhP6tc4T8B_EcC43cjTGmVRyPeJmt8F77Drin_cJg8T_XRrhI-bg6ENY/s1600/IMG_2260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-KmKjeWT_q2K6jbQJc293M5wYkcdbZ3-b5AIG0Eh6KHEyXHJ1z8pxGqKQ2Kq9SbMDSeTEvPgU4KSAxhP6tc4T8B_EcC43cjTGmVRyPeJmt8F77Drin_cJg8T_XRrhI-bg6ENY/s320/IMG_2260.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLA1I8Nl1NRQoSlX-1mQHE6lOaaORgabNmWX7Bq5wzF_LVMqkpPPPABljg8ARpYEgBaH5u4uh3GiVe74NnTFycBLQP2jGnkjucXFzbJmdYMZYuOBXQzlaQtXJaKfTHg44l0uD/s1600/IMG_2224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLA1I8Nl1NRQoSlX-1mQHE6lOaaORgabNmWX7Bq5wzF_LVMqkpPPPABljg8ARpYEgBaH5u4uh3GiVe74NnTFycBLQP2jGnkjucXFzbJmdYMZYuOBXQzlaQtXJaKfTHg44l0uD/s320/IMG_2224.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Levy Executive Chef Phil Bucco With Teddy's Barbecue Short Rib (2009)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSBTJWawgbDm89pFMBvrUfy2mlL6o9eovLV43yesbeDwxwxhZutm-L2yS7HBUfAqoQ6WArlxSlTYU2BGDlkPEhxd6YMuuubntKLPdtFxiHl0wUhxcQgUTynjP64wglIBKYR0k/s1600/IMG_2222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSBTJWawgbDm89pFMBvrUfy2mlL6o9eovLV43yesbeDwxwxhZutm-L2yS7HBUfAqoQ6WArlxSlTYU2BGDlkPEhxd6YMuuubntKLPdtFxiHl0wUhxcQgUTynjP64wglIBKYR0k/s320/IMG_2222.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teddy's Barbecue Short Rib (2009)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Teddy's Barbecue being replaced by Loaded Dogs behind Section 143 (right centerfield). We actually liked Teddy's Barbecue and believed their short rib and bbq sandwiches were two of the best offerings in the entire ballpark the past two years. Sohna was disappointed to see her <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2009/06/total-number.html" target="_blank">Fred Flintstone Brontosaurus bone</a> taken off the menu.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflPUAYaJeX3AhIS4v3ZIEMuMKN4qfciyGBaLbUNyPuXINM5xtNNzlwQSebiXXfPbg0HW1QcUNNGKDn7fCJe6vX-D8gVr7aq5zBnEhz4fd-bwCoxTiLXy4K7Lvr2nc-4scQ_ZN/s1600/IMG_2265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflPUAYaJeX3AhIS4v3ZIEMuMKN4qfciyGBaLbUNyPuXINM5xtNNzlwQSebiXXfPbg0HW1QcUNNGKDn7fCJe6vX-D8gVr7aq5zBnEhz4fd-bwCoxTiLXy4K7Lvr2nc-4scQ_ZN/s320/IMG_2265.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEIRaOg1jM25PCDZm0rDsU9ZdiXND93LOPcYcY155VUO4LYHIRIMz_Nw6JAWmjifh2yfnhbb_ZLDRsS7uryM0-K5oc6YB4Lq-3MbIlKbYLsy10E1mz9v0fcHtf03-l6Fpj-z4/s1600/IMG_2266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoEIRaOg1jM25PCDZm0rDsU9ZdiXND93LOPcYcY155VUO4LYHIRIMz_Nw6JAWmjifh2yfnhbb_ZLDRsS7uryM0-K5oc6YB4Lq-3MbIlKbYLsy10E1mz9v0fcHtf03-l6Fpj-z4/s320/IMG_2266.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbuwIGVB61-iVjcfmfd3uUwaXfd8c2rK_kkHo5l8hL2Cuh5gzuYDBpmGunGp8GlM4Ixm0unQXgkIgSA3tB51AMYIWob0nD4uy00n3Vz4fvTyvVi9CL4xKKGlq_GkkVawB8Syd/s1600/IMG_2267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbuwIGVB61-iVjcfmfd3uUwaXfd8c2rK_kkHo5l8hL2Cuh5gzuYDBpmGunGp8GlM4Ixm0unQXgkIgSA3tB51AMYIWob0nD4uy00n3Vz4fvTyvVi9CL4xKKGlq_GkkVawB8Syd/s320/IMG_2267.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK2GbS5gzR6LyEMNwQuOWnbO3fZMbNHWwIAgjUtSrbWsLrVF1BVoEI9gAMG0A1eSkaMA7yxbVsWRdbdmcYXNb7_uqBrF68C0voZlxmmqpPFjmLnM4C3vhEqCmdqbHvlRLlCEq/s1600/IMG_2268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsK2GbS5gzR6LyEMNwQuOWnbO3fZMbNHWwIAgjUtSrbWsLrVF1BVoEI9gAMG0A1eSkaMA7yxbVsWRdbdmcYXNb7_uqBrF68C0voZlxmmqpPFjmLnM4C3vhEqCmdqbHvlRLlCEq/s320/IMG_2268.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>There is a temporary Teddy's Barbecue set up under a tent near the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk, but that will go away once Danny Meyer Union Square Hospitality Group revamps and officially takes over the area where local favorite Five Guys was situated the past three years. USHG to offer Blue Smoke Pit Barbecue, Box Frites Belgian Fries with dipping sauces, El Verano Taqueria mexican food plus burgers, hot dogs and frozen custard from Shake Shake in that location.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOxPr_1yTKN_cDtq8CgR_6kjVp4rfQCGPupbGOpj2bl1iAtrgM-KIbZqfTn5zGLdVwmSp4ikSUgV2B-Q8F2uspdcn7MzQZPuLpg4SBScjykfvDCwE_9p35ds9aMeb5wEX1RPH/s1600/IMG_2263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOxPr_1yTKN_cDtq8CgR_6kjVp4rfQCGPupbGOpj2bl1iAtrgM-KIbZqfTn5zGLdVwmSp4ikSUgV2B-Q8F2uspdcn7MzQZPuLpg4SBScjykfvDCwE_9p35ds9aMeb5wEX1RPH/s320/IMG_2263.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsA5uqMeg6J6XhxZsCB85flvzilT42Z7vCZ-knIGZfJvqeu4-lt-SA7Q3pGwnQl8npJLyexSZykzxLb8I0oTwH0DyukNVS6hojwcSzFHzLKH1mehG4og0J0lMQEjl_-6s2Pg7B/s1600/IMG_2264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsA5uqMeg6J6XhxZsCB85flvzilT42Z7vCZ-knIGZfJvqeu4-lt-SA7Q3pGwnQl8npJLyexSZykzxLb8I0oTwH0DyukNVS6hojwcSzFHzLKH1mehG4og0J0lMQEjl_-6s2Pg7B/s320/IMG_2264.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu6zAJAmzUbkJG_-ab2wyp7-_6AaIw_QGLZqL9rjaKJwlesqNbW5JuA5rKxssnHnt3p2_PJb_DXmQqlV8JprcUwLGZ4Ng5dimSV19I8mNJAZtb5o-X-Da4g70JKIKFBEtVPUD/s1600/IMG_2273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu6zAJAmzUbkJG_-ab2wyp7-_6AaIw_QGLZqL9rjaKJwlesqNbW5JuA5rKxssnHnt3p2_PJb_DXmQqlV8JprcUwLGZ4Ng5dimSV19I8mNJAZtb5o-X-Da4g70JKIKFBEtVPUD/s320/IMG_2273.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruEfIjz3w5QbNnmhkcGB9y36p4Yr8Ts6tsFsEeNLBtlsMzvJ8PuaHoEO7foLtNtHowt9mur6xnoNngt-ylOXF_B3WR7yRftzlGFiBHG4dQTN828cQda7a3nM9WeLd-hN5iytm/s1600/IMG_2274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruEfIjz3w5QbNnmhkcGB9y36p4Yr8Ts6tsFsEeNLBtlsMzvJ8PuaHoEO7foLtNtHowt9mur6xnoNngt-ylOXF_B3WR7yRftzlGFiBHG4dQTN828cQda7a3nM9WeLd-hN5iytm/s320/IMG_2274.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNkh99hF4CSLblIVAB_wC8ICBGeB8pGk-OYBvPiq-Ir-t6CS0ybkVa-4orLtddIMYIexgm5mFjFoGSlVSD6jijAbo8Q53q1EMnp1AtZ5Y8HY9Hn4S5nHKo7znbX54SD1JVP5N/s1600/IMG_4205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwNkh99hF4CSLblIVAB_wC8ICBGeB8pGk-OYBvPiq-Ir-t6CS0ybkVa-4orLtddIMYIexgm5mFjFoGSlVSD6jijAbo8Q53q1EMnp1AtZ5Y8HY9Hn4S5nHKo7znbX54SD1JVP5N/s320/IMG_4205.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Scoreboard Walk</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbTR0fR1nYjPMJMrVsVUXrG_Hwj6XHH1HqNfj_dSGY3yz3A7m5h2IMiXOUIZ4oZsQ06p07m8Xm4EmHyD2sr10PsNb4o8tcbdYaqKplpMAHdDFW4-JJHi3NLW6IOuKiEJIwZYp/s1600/IMG_4206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsbTR0fR1nYjPMJMrVsVUXrG_Hwj6XHH1HqNfj_dSGY3yz3A7m5h2IMiXOUIZ4oZsQ06p07m8Xm4EmHyD2sr10PsNb4o8tcbdYaqKplpMAHdDFW4-JJHi3NLW6IOuKiEJIwZYp/s320/IMG_4206.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Scoreboard Walk Lounge Seating</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The seating decor around the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk has changed. The Tiki Bar motif lounges now gone and replaced by chairs, tables and stand up table tops.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSE3ONUa-wAhea7uaII-ODIpN4XpGh0Xh15r3oSlJzZZpp_yoABjpYujnHt9deEVgWb095Ic8d8dV5Q6sodCsXpuZrww_eK9zbYGNILmyhyC5vS9Yo_Seo2rpnsqqf3n_mdZf/s1600/IMG_2270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSE3ONUa-wAhea7uaII-ODIpN4XpGh0Xh15r3oSlJzZZpp_yoABjpYujnHt9deEVgWb095Ic8d8dV5Q6sodCsXpuZrww_eK9zbYGNILmyhyC5vS9Yo_Seo2rpnsqqf3n_mdZf/s320/IMG_2270.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4Bo3BYC0EmOlxW5F7vtd4tzPIJ_LK7mq2BMuoKfsYVqdGqupz2OzL36q7o1MML9TjL7G2BBnkfMGQaiUu_c2z7FORa8ATxNXYl89WQycpSdRXcrwQwdJUD6GcIYOZuK3Lw0M/s1600/IMG_2271.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4Bo3BYC0EmOlxW5F7vtd4tzPIJ_LK7mq2BMuoKfsYVqdGqupz2OzL36q7o1MML9TjL7G2BBnkfMGQaiUu_c2z7FORa8ATxNXYl89WQycpSdRXcrwQwdJUD6GcIYOZuK3Lw0M/s320/IMG_2271.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>There is also a new HD Electronic Board located on the back side of the HD Scoreboard replacing the large white Nationals Park With Monuments Logo Banner--facing patrons within the Scoreboard Walk.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFr3L2eSGed5y5xhE6479_0ro8fjecxipwXrWGvFLR4nSPloz4ELWHm2ZAqajtxgi_fqAp8zDA6HKs8Yk_fP3NicU3SoTpueHV0nzlqJygWWzr7Ipir_zVmFB7Y1ggZzggoyL/s1600/IMG_2280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFr3L2eSGed5y5xhE6479_0ro8fjecxipwXrWGvFLR4nSPloz4ELWHm2ZAqajtxgi_fqAp8zDA6HKs8Yk_fP3NicU3SoTpueHV0nzlqJygWWzr7Ipir_zVmFB7Y1ggZzggoyL/s320/IMG_2280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlS-i9ZzSAr4n9N0BpJnE8GmWwsmnGtsy8XYdsBZ_XksYYQSSaJd6ZbzqpvM4y6vzYwc7Tf8Mrbz-_AzOzZI6Oj7ekdvJXeqLwimq_C6G1VMx0o3bfPIDj5bG6k2PjKyfgZSiy/s1600/IMG_2282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlS-i9ZzSAr4n9N0BpJnE8GmWwsmnGtsy8XYdsBZ_XksYYQSSaJd6ZbzqpvM4y6vzYwc7Tf8Mrbz-_AzOzZI6Oj7ekdvJXeqLwimq_C6G1VMx0o3bfPIDj5bG6k2PjKyfgZSiy/s320/IMG_2282.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6uvAosAuo3mwmY7SBu5T-gGOXEOvLZ9VlS5r3fR08NnJZMhHZPJAu2YqSo5GqS-_5SXXK-7rR1tsoh8YLykEYrra-wsMgfboD6Lf4EIcnZzrCsgV19NHEP-wZP1ZzIQma16_/s1600/IMG_2283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6uvAosAuo3mwmY7SBu5T-gGOXEOvLZ9VlS5r3fR08NnJZMhHZPJAu2YqSo5GqS-_5SXXK-7rR1tsoh8YLykEYrra-wsMgfboD6Lf4EIcnZzrCsgV19NHEP-wZP1ZzIQma16_/s320/IMG_2283.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TbijKOOcGzMsWdZapdb2xIm0J0nuM-FTDR9qleYM2uAwC8hbm_0hW6ihkQix4MDAA3P-5IW1tMuB0WSqfUhmcWLZ_yJXeqqeOQpBq-wii_Tx57EI1SG6_onQWk1B3EwcFWLy/s1600/IMG_2279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TbijKOOcGzMsWdZapdb2xIm0J0nuM-FTDR9qleYM2uAwC8hbm_0hW6ihkQix4MDAA3P-5IW1tMuB0WSqfUhmcWLZ_yJXeqqeOQpBq-wii_Tx57EI1SG6_onQWk1B3EwcFWLy/s320/IMG_2279.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Situated between the Scoreboard Walk and the Red Loft is now Jammin Island BBQ--A Jerk Chicken and Jerk Ribs stand--replacing the Pit BBQ from last year. Prices range from $10 to $16. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYRVNK1JoVe3RvrCMbSUiGttkXirMuUHTYFr3Uofv4JNgB8Li8nDYOp2pqrexYnV8EJslJcES58vzSpB8HkInMHYJbIx5EOnciB3CFpst_W6bSHYB9qamfYYQPOFY5N9lD5tA/s1600/IMG_2286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYRVNK1JoVe3RvrCMbSUiGttkXirMuUHTYFr3Uofv4JNgB8Li8nDYOp2pqrexYnV8EJslJcES58vzSpB8HkInMHYJbIx5EOnciB3CFpst_W6bSHYB9qamfYYQPOFY5N9lD5tA/s320/IMG_2286.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Bar stools and table tops added just a few feet away.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenwURfrfI03OjtbgH16SHnveecThq2BlnqAL1LwKfgB3vI5-p5PbDWaYikhsZXXAXktGmeknym_SJ23mtfN3VpAVCG9MN9rcIehlj1Xhnyh7ukj203gqkMHtBGRVBE4ihV4rb/s1600/IMG_2301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenwURfrfI03OjtbgH16SHnveecThq2BlnqAL1LwKfgB3vI5-p5PbDWaYikhsZXXAXktGmeknym_SJ23mtfN3VpAVCG9MN9rcIehlj1Xhnyh7ukj203gqkMHtBGRVBE4ihV4rb/s320/IMG_2301.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The main walkway outside Presidents Club has been repainted and the seat backs now embroidered with the Lexus logo.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzrhAuhH1R2KTzuJvhDNKynRT3EOQmVd7RwFSZjiU07mG7rztnD2wD_vMzNmc6hJTsB_rj-GKqSnQMyqiucFpOG8a4aZzbthuMELe5N6m9QD4RjbDZWJtxWARt9douXk5Yy_e/s1600/IMG_2325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzrhAuhH1R2KTzuJvhDNKynRT3EOQmVd7RwFSZjiU07mG7rztnD2wD_vMzNmc6hJTsB_rj-GKqSnQMyqiucFpOG8a4aZzbthuMELe5N6m9QD4RjbDZWJtxWARt9douXk5Yy_e/s320/IMG_2325.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZslHJffg4NqC0hv3EAQPM9Ijt1z2P1dLNuTg2ehZ2kLGWUdfeFzx2CgbsUwzSMa7SMAyaByTae2gAIvitJFCo6hJn59mGFf5UilUUgBguZ0WQRFta5zmI2k9sMpFUEuDsVzU/s1600/IMG_2416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZslHJffg4NqC0hv3EAQPM9Ijt1z2P1dLNuTg2ehZ2kLGWUdfeFzx2CgbsUwzSMa7SMAyaByTae2gAIvitJFCo6hJn59mGFf5UilUUgBguZ0WQRFta5zmI2k9sMpFUEuDsVzU/s320/IMG_2416.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLmiMI2HyW-dsc2hmQ2AauetP3QB5rStT8eQn3ViTzO7nZCn2wCDATLbtGrn55mOtAG9m3Em8PK6pO87uhQP4MjVLgRYBk1kuPhiW1lXpym2H-fzG190ty_yMGFaGHiX6EUm4/s1600/IMG_9080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLmiMI2HyW-dsc2hmQ2AauetP3QB5rStT8eQn3ViTzO7nZCn2wCDATLbtGrn55mOtAG9m3Em8PK6pO87uhQP4MjVLgRYBk1kuPhiW1lXpym2H-fzG190ty_yMGFaGHiX6EUm4/s320/IMG_9080.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Left Center Field Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The new script Nationals logo adorns the left centerfield wall. In fact "Natstown" not seen anywhere.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzml16zTjRyyWiQ6G0ecdVgQD9Dm-Gykk5n7k1y_zliM1gpI-a3qN3pnmCTgqh17T0G5jcKcd780h8fhmyXFTyFyOYvapYJmBqsIgA9GjXhITL2MC5b9wfbJ7Ip5f6OdsU4JE/s1600/IMG_2417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNzml16zTjRyyWiQ6G0ecdVgQD9Dm-Gykk5n7k1y_zliM1gpI-a3qN3pnmCTgqh17T0G5jcKcd780h8fhmyXFTyFyOYvapYJmBqsIgA9GjXhITL2MC5b9wfbJ7Ip5f6OdsU4JE/s320/IMG_2417.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbCNlt9Q5P2M0oDO3sr_y_L4DRGLSiw66s2VCOsSJkq-YjAfW4QmyWzuiJp3sDJ5xmFJRg3u7EKKA_WZgt__OdZiiERDwZ2xW5BU-XsO-5y9HH086e4biajEIZGRR2nRJiH3M/s1600/IMG_0391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbCNlt9Q5P2M0oDO3sr_y_L4DRGLSiw66s2VCOsSJkq-YjAfW4QmyWzuiJp3sDJ5xmFJRg3u7EKKA_WZgt__OdZiiERDwZ2xW5BU-XsO-5y9HH086e4biajEIZGRR2nRJiH3M/s320/IMG_0391.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Previous Logo On The Right Field Wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A big white Curly "W" adorns the right field wall--replacing the Nationals Park & DC Monuments logo we liked a lot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobNlOTZze4cU91ZCj6a9R71ryiKlFoaW3FnXVojW6t1JkjfvlubN8HYPSYdGhv1RE3bLOEKEBK74KJxNlqyyoLKYOam1DrTD4XNRn4Od-PyIPcc3ogKj80UiElI13hWKBVHZh/s1600/IMG_2415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobNlOTZze4cU91ZCj6a9R71ryiKlFoaW3FnXVojW6t1JkjfvlubN8HYPSYdGhv1RE3bLOEKEBK74KJxNlqyyoLKYOam1DrTD4XNRn4Od-PyIPcc3ogKj80UiElI13hWKBVHZh/s320/IMG_2415.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation has placed designs on the left field wall. One depicting the new logo of Our Washington Nationals charitable arm. The second promoting the new Baseball Youth Academy. Ground breaking for that long awaited project coming soon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePOW0NZ9gsqGY-qZ8-6QNhtyAPXLNcJnK-Bq1sVgcaJaFi1Vx3RCT3-mgS1dVDayrG9HIuITjt8tuhEz5urmPxwD2tHzmZFNlB_q2CK9pEhyphenhyphenIg9kwR89S8Vvysn4UweruksH3/s1600/IMG_2419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePOW0NZ9gsqGY-qZ8-6QNhtyAPXLNcJnK-Bq1sVgcaJaFi1Vx3RCT3-mgS1dVDayrG9HIuITjt8tuhEz5urmPxwD2tHzmZFNlB_q2CK9pEhyphenhyphenIg9kwR89S8Vvysn4UweruksH3/s320/IMG_2419.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKHCmKs2GXUxfBQeGtiGInrP5tMOlFch1LqHiCzk269T6SMuwjF_d8Z2ZAseiYtT1FdHqxQE2yiEKauTR45GLr9kEXUeR6D6qYcBVzofC0uSxHk83A3xBHAMUNRHwWCVCUJxU/s1600/IMG_6095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcKHCmKs2GXUxfBQeGtiGInrP5tMOlFch1LqHiCzk269T6SMuwjF_d8Z2ZAseiYtT1FdHqxQE2yiEKauTR45GLr9kEXUeR6D6qYcBVzofC0uSxHk83A3xBHAMUNRHwWCVCUJxU/s320/IMG_6095.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Blue NatPack Flag</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Nat Pack Curly "W" Flag waved from the home side dugout as Washington takes the field before each game is now red. It was blue the past two seasons.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5C4mkE-ip_AykKdCVEgytQc35EehfxJjQOHHuSCNvjkMPwXA1yFdnscxzm66dohQeJsdiY1fz8vVtS_0EzggnCfk7lZDhwxanXXb0qS6AkhgePmHr8Xb0w8CowL3eTFaWjsi/s1600/IMG_2480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5C4mkE-ip_AykKdCVEgytQc35EehfxJjQOHHuSCNvjkMPwXA1yFdnscxzm66dohQeJsdiY1fz8vVtS_0EzggnCfk7lZDhwxanXXb0qS6AkhgePmHr8Xb0w8CowL3eTFaWjsi/s320/IMG_2480.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoH6hqKgGLnI9iVHwbKEdjU-n_nebcszc371AGZvAFCdMGP_qxxRj2NIRgcO3ooKHK-GZlSq1WVP17ShS4JILWYgpSfCjJ4Tkh5hX-8C0xaTDaUwvSb0Xr27RPdSHW-FSk1dc0/s1600/IMG_5898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoH6hqKgGLnI9iVHwbKEdjU-n_nebcszc371AGZvAFCdMGP_qxxRj2NIRgcO3ooKHK-GZlSq1WVP17ShS4JILWYgpSfCjJ4Tkh5hX-8C0xaTDaUwvSb0Xr27RPdSHW-FSk1dc0/s320/IMG_5898.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Dugout Tops--"Home Of The Nationals/Welcome To Natstown"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The dugout tops have been repainted lighter blue with white letting. A Curly "W" and Washington Nationals is on the home dugout. Nationals Park is painted on the visiting dugout.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrcBtpznvGEZMpWyBVCtyNzuO-o-qEqGnrHureW923Y15GLSZeFkHk8sJen0NMZscLYdBqZos3Yu_Jtbse7UIAT6F-doVbPmrjKpqlNOu7XUvB7LpgTOT2FfJru7uY9ZxQW4q/s1600/IMG_2454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzrcBtpznvGEZMpWyBVCtyNzuO-o-qEqGnrHureW923Y15GLSZeFkHk8sJen0NMZscLYdBqZos3Yu_Jtbse7UIAT6F-doVbPmrjKpqlNOu7XUvB7LpgTOT2FfJru7uY9ZxQW4q/s320/IMG_2454.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And finally--if fans find themselves having an issue with someone or something during any game, or need to call medical assistance--they can now text team officials directly for support. The first time this service has been available at Nationals Park.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i>All Photo Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-26224750735972814122011-03-31T23:45:00.054-04:002011-04-01T08:32:38.013-04:00Stinging Cold Opening Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIx8lgw97BMntzL2XE4qMwW_umYSXKC35WONpgKLZHCvzmYLCYfOWoq9UDYT3RYzyI8Nz3N9t3ftsHVJpq2MgkKVgamB7LNfJHAU8lfbdYB48vfGp_acYzWWNeHoVgmc5Qz4w/s1600/i.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIx8lgw97BMntzL2XE4qMwW_umYSXKC35WONpgKLZHCvzmYLCYfOWoq9UDYT3RYzyI8Nz3N9t3ftsHVJpq2MgkKVgamB7LNfJHAU8lfbdYB48vfGp_acYzWWNeHoVgmc5Qz4w/s320/i.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit--Rob Carr Getty Images</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Contact with a baseball thrown hard upon a swinging bat in cold weather many times stings.<br />
<br />
Today on Opening Day 2011 at Nationals Park, Our Washington Nationals were stung by terrific pitching at the hands of The Atlanta Braves. Yes, it was 41 degrees at the 1:11PM official first pitch--thrown by Livan Hernandez. And a misty rain fell throughout as the ever dropping temperature deteriorated the conditions for fans and players alike.<br />
<br />
It was frigid outside.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzCnU-avObkNcmZdXJlUy4Qp3lgjn5bfRUArkb1_pgoNCyw27BbGjofF28_-LGxO5CDMvgSWLDfWfTPQZ7vJfKLwlNtmoe41_6tOcGJteMz7fySVNJ8-6zGg5EsGb1u1pDLfc/s1600/i-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzCnU-avObkNcmZdXJlUy4Qp3lgjn5bfRUArkb1_pgoNCyw27BbGjofF28_-LGxO5CDMvgSWLDfWfTPQZ7vJfKLwlNtmoe41_6tOcGJteMz7fySVNJ8-6zGg5EsGb1u1pDLfc/s320/i-4.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit--Rob Carr (Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But heat always overcomes cold and on this dreary Thursday afternoon, Atlanta pitchers Derek Lowe, Eric O'Flaherty, Peter Moylan, Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel bettered Washington's Livan Hernandez, Doug Slaten, Tyler Clippard, Todd Coffey and Sean Burnett. Look, in the bottom of the 9th, The Braves new closer, Kimbrel, was heaving the ball in frosty breath conditions--97 miles per hours.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeZnVsIrYl1Gf637yeHzXQ5G3B6HAqTY7nfTM2DEZiukA2HQnpwHiorANKn7Z6S2oZo8zBWcpWhrb1tCpylMYcuCziEOd62qoeXXSG_pg0udwZtuE_7Ime7ThXhVJL_CosJNF/s1600/i-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgeZnVsIrYl1Gf637yeHzXQ5G3B6HAqTY7nfTM2DEZiukA2HQnpwHiorANKn7Z6S2oZo8zBWcpWhrb1tCpylMYcuCziEOd62qoeXXSG_pg0udwZtuE_7Ime7ThXhVJL_CosJNF/s320/i-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit--Alex Brandon (AP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Warmth cuts through ice and this afternoon on South Capitol Street Atlanta's pitching made Washington's batters appear as if their bats were melting from the high heat pitches thrown from their solid staff. Understand, Ole Number 61 didn't pitch bad. In fact, Jayson Heyward's second inning home run BARELY made it over the right field wall. But it did. And a little bit of lost focus in the top of the very 1st inning--with two outs by Livo--plated the first tally of the new season against D.C.'s Team when Brian McCann slapped the first pitch he faced all season right back up the middle to score Chipper Jones from 2nd base.<br />
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That was it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCscWIi9eU9jtH4K95CkE76AlXq4JJeeLm44rfD5-SsA8r-0g5v_LRGTTOahSlT_xh345xxJGep0rvEX0fom5CwlZ625nQoZ_DgXMZciveuVzy2AaHLtFEeqf2W8DIop4NpU9Q/s1600/i-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCscWIi9eU9jtH4K95CkE76AlXq4JJeeLm44rfD5-SsA8r-0g5v_LRGTTOahSlT_xh345xxJGep0rvEX0fom5CwlZ625nQoZ_DgXMZciveuVzy2AaHLtFEeqf2W8DIop4NpU9Q/s320/i-3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit--Rob Carr (Getty Images)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>That was the ball game because Our Washington Nationals couldn't muster any rally and weren't helped either by the dead air stagnated over the stadium throughout the competition. Rick Ankiel's drive to the Out Of Town Scoreboard in the bottom of the 2nd inning off Lowe--is a home run in hot, humid weather. Adam LaRoche's opposite field whack to the visiting bullpen wall in left in the bottom of the 4th would have gone out in July & August as well. Unfortunately, this was late March--the last day in fact on the calendar month-which meant you not only had to hit every baseball hard--but you needed to make perfect and solid contact as well.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteb8GLYEEmEQjLNnqtmdWZfl_ODKKprfbzXrvgYaajoPNa7qtC5FQKTAstdNzE7Lqg-zgIIM-wJ7TSMck94uzcmqAUOynVzOZl2hxS-Z7t9o1N-EF5tUL9exuWHJ65wAL13QU/s1600/IMG_2490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiteb8GLYEEmEQjLNnqtmdWZfl_ODKKprfbzXrvgYaajoPNa7qtC5FQKTAstdNzE7Lqg-zgIIM-wJ7TSMck94uzcmqAUOynVzOZl2hxS-Z7t9o1N-EF5tUL9exuWHJ65wAL13QU/s320/IMG_2490.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Derek Lowe wasn't going to allow any of that today. And when Craig Kimbrel threw nothing but smoke to get Ankiel looking to end this game 2 hours and 32 minutes after first pitch--The Tomahawk Choppers had put Opening Day in the win column while Washington was left thinking about 161 more days to come.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqElwzsGXw_mFRn6COl1UA1fZXL_ROaJtUHV5eCoJKDGahZ1gjj2yu5ewGFgyH9T6HgDcBBJmp8bLY6J6yvKgDGPmaxn6sSXQGgTPAB9mH8Y0I4wpyBoIKpLx3jV4IMcf5uVWM/s1600/IMG_2492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqElwzsGXw_mFRn6COl1UA1fZXL_ROaJtUHV5eCoJKDGahZ1gjj2yu5ewGFgyH9T6HgDcBBJmp8bLY6J6yvKgDGPmaxn6sSXQGgTPAB9mH8Y0I4wpyBoIKpLx3jV4IMcf5uVWM/s320/IMG_2492.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Final score from Nationals Park where chilly winter weather nine days into spring and great pitching by an opponent took every last warm feeling out of the well bundled home crowd--The Atlanta Braves 2 and Our Washington Nationals Zero. Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche combined to make three fine defensive plays for D.C.'s Team. Danny Espinosa singled, doubled, made a terrific up the middle backhand stab and throw to first to record an out on Nate McLouth in the top of the 6th. And Washington's pitching really was--really good.<br />
<br />
The pitching, defense and athleticism Our General Manager Mike Rizzo has consistently stated this spring was there. To everyone's dismay watching and rooting for Washington, the offense was not. Yes, heat melts ice and hopefully today's stinging cold Opening Day loss to The Atlanta Braves on South Capitol Street will soon be forgotten.<br />
<br />
<b>Game Notes & Highlights</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7h5EBumwPmHmRVaACFpyCV9It7VrZ4HXLKV9SAQbphlQevCnlD2eISBnG_VksPgxPq9O6BBkFblLEMEgw39ohuDsbXOfmW-OzVFyyExlLmytkc1J4OVirmkNySLESDxEJBH0/s1600/i-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH7h5EBumwPmHmRVaACFpyCV9It7VrZ4HXLKV9SAQbphlQevCnlD2eISBnG_VksPgxPq9O6BBkFblLEMEgw39ohuDsbXOfmW-OzVFyyExlLmytkc1J4OVirmkNySLESDxEJBH0/s320/i-1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Credit--Alex Brandon (AP)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I wish we had a picture of this. When Livan Hernandez was warming up as the entire roster was traditionally being announced for both teams--Livo was standing in right field just beginning his warmups. In true Big Cuban Style, as his name was announced and the NatsHD camera was upon him--Ole Number 61 paused in mid rotation of a toss and flicks his neck up in acknowledgement to the crowd. That man gets the entertainment value of baseball plus the devotion and appreciation many fans in Washington have for him.<br />
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He's just so unique.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFgajfONl7CIenGtm6k0rodl0tfS4bm83JTTKBCeD6Z6c18S8kW7IcKPOOjJ34cSBJRLO_9zB-rHuffBYGy1xw40E9hpo193FzQxD5I1ZdVSG8NxFjpfKg7X4O_os1NqAdOqI/s1600/IMG_2430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFgajfONl7CIenGtm6k0rodl0tfS4bm83JTTKBCeD6Z6c18S8kW7IcKPOOjJ34cSBJRLO_9zB-rHuffBYGy1xw40E9hpo193FzQxD5I1ZdVSG8NxFjpfKg7X4O_os1NqAdOqI/s320/IMG_2430.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>That's also why you can't fault him for getting into the 7th inning today and allowing two runs and taking the loss. He deserved better, but it just wasn't his day. Washington's offense didn't muster a single run against Atlanta's pitchers to his favor. It happens.<br />
<br />
Jim Riggleman's bullpen was solid. Slaten, Clippard, Coffey and Burnett were all good. Our Manager's called upon relief corp throwing 2.2 innings of one hit, one walk, shutout ball. You couldn't have asked for more.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28li8PoInRlG4kFK6lk6esmKPzp_qFaskKz38REAtjpRMcWpqXRsGyuure-BcJtGpJhRFldwEZD2-udf5uC9-32_tDP_izSrEIiKyM7iZP_oa6yDgVROaLCFEE-5d0miN26lc/s1600/IMG_2443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28li8PoInRlG4kFK6lk6esmKPzp_qFaskKz38REAtjpRMcWpqXRsGyuure-BcJtGpJhRFldwEZD2-udf5uC9-32_tDP_izSrEIiKyM7iZP_oa6yDgVROaLCFEE-5d0miN26lc/s320/IMG_2443.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>He didn't last through the sixth inning and he tossed an astronomical 105 pitches (in Livo territory) during his time on the mound, but Derek Lowe had that great sinker of his working. Six Washington batters went down on strikes. There were just three fly ball outs recorded by The Braves all afternoon. New Atlanta Manager Fredi Gonzalez has a good pitching staff with Tommy Hanson and Tim Hudson still to be seen this series. The type of hurlers Washington would love to emulate with Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann leading way in the years to come. For right now though--you have to appreciate what The Braves bring to the mound. Good stuff to emulate.<br />
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Batting 7th today in Manager Jim's starting lineup, Danny Espinosa showed all of his tools--a quick bat from both sides of the plate, tremendous range fielding at 2nd base and hustle that everyone can appreciate. Espi may just be a rookie, but Danny has all the tools to be a very good player. <br />
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A Very Good Player.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4V3MxJM2c3yRRxdaVJqF2Nx99_hubVTJDR0u7pmeMcdIppFerrE0Vw9q8tKRXRtBz-b1BTcFtio_kUGOP5moDR1o3qdqUXf3GMN62bp2ke7vBFbD0mtWS75j0eqxu6M9YK9d/s1600/IMG_2447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4V3MxJM2c3yRRxdaVJqF2Nx99_hubVTJDR0u7pmeMcdIppFerrE0Vw9q8tKRXRtBz-b1BTcFtio_kUGOP5moDR1o3qdqUXf3GMN62bp2ke7vBFbD0mtWS75j0eqxu6M9YK9d/s320/IMG_2447.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OZ8iClVN5y3a7ve8Mg2Yj4AUsnhwPYzVkLVQAeePObHERRw1JBRQ1lC2-O3OpG0Qhxj_WofMLScc3lAu4upV0UC-6uhrXeqjcBeg8N1FsbXvIIM4aO5Aza3XK7UaVzigd8N-/s1600/IMG_2448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2OZ8iClVN5y3a7ve8Mg2Yj4AUsnhwPYzVkLVQAeePObHERRw1JBRQ1lC2-O3OpG0Qhxj_WofMLScc3lAu4upV0UC-6uhrXeqjcBeg8N1FsbXvIIM4aO5Aza3XK7UaVzigd8N-/s320/IMG_2448.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The heart of Washington's order--Werth, Zimmerman and LaRoche all singled today to complete the five hits surrendered by Atlanta's pitching. Zimmy and Ankiel also walked.<br />
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Talking with Original RFK Stadium Section 320 Nats Fan "Red Shoes Jim" during the 7th inning this afternoon, we discussed how Jayson Werth's two running in sliding catches and Adam LaRoche's sprawling dive to his right in the top of the 4th to retire Brian McCann during today's game are the type of defensive plays not seen consistently over the past few seasons in Washington. The type of defensive gems that when not made turn a one and two run down ball game into four and five run down ball game.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDiWb2aIpIbxjCxEoKneFfOgpD8A8CwBZ52ZQJPt_rhKVCK4rdNzCog2XxZW0ikQwUcd2uoRjEkSTGjhRmB08btYR91WnLzCQFLlSBN_PSe0rt1oArkaTzEwlp8CHTc0behOc/s1600/IMG_2457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicDiWb2aIpIbxjCxEoKneFfOgpD8A8CwBZ52ZQJPt_rhKVCK4rdNzCog2XxZW0ikQwUcd2uoRjEkSTGjhRmB08btYR91WnLzCQFLlSBN_PSe0rt1oArkaTzEwlp8CHTc0behOc/s320/IMG_2457.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Odd stat of the day. The type of reference only baseball can consistently provide. Jayson Heyward's home run on Opening Day this afternoon was his second in as many seasons since beginning his Major League Career. Only Kaz Matsui of the 2004/2005 New York Mets has ever accomplished the same feat. Go figure.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpAoyDgvSmuAKa6M6_tv7HpS4z18Vu0Hskaqjzgz7LV6FirBukrXC25dtepeo-_YiTgdD209RMTE6BsuDXnn6an7ffXLOW4rR7WuXuvr3NbgBTj53tCbQZA-6og6LWhfsTBeL/s1600/IMG_2400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpAoyDgvSmuAKa6M6_tv7HpS4z18Vu0Hskaqjzgz7LV6FirBukrXC25dtepeo-_YiTgdD209RMTE6BsuDXnn6an7ffXLOW4rR7WuXuvr3NbgBTj53tCbQZA-6og6LWhfsTBeL/s320/IMG_2400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMXm3ULV9N6ywTn-Z82me6D9ZF6yXfjxsY3PgmVlrnRZ3X_z5m3gyld8wytuVqUW7O5GKwROcq_Ulcrv9ghyphenhyphenS73804GHro2NSvdhcpmHiptEtBVC2OhJqcotJKdouw-g-XKr8/s1600/IMG_2407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMXm3ULV9N6ywTn-Z82me6D9ZF6yXfjxsY3PgmVlrnRZ3X_z5m3gyld8wytuVqUW7O5GKwROcq_Ulcrv9ghyphenhyphenS73804GHro2NSvdhcpmHiptEtBVC2OhJqcotJKdouw-g-XKr8/s320/IMG_2407.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Of course, Opening Day had its usual pagentry. The announcing of the team rosters and starting lineups. The presentation of the colors. The unraveling of a gigantic American Flag. The playing of the National Anthem by The U.S. Navy Band and the throwing out of the first pitch. This year performed by the Armed Forces represented by Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard soldiers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47MAydz7bvDIHPJGU3XthPDLgKPponsbWgTS2dYfkXM957HS2FtAmqyrdPwW1r5UbXzxLKra-QjhaKHtBn5HbCVe6780Vi5RlkU729sw4r3CIUyhOjj-1QEI5PMaA8snor3T6/s1600/IMG_2388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh47MAydz7bvDIHPJGU3XthPDLgKPponsbWgTS2dYfkXM957HS2FtAmqyrdPwW1r5UbXzxLKra-QjhaKHtBn5HbCVe6780Vi5RlkU729sw4r3CIUyhOjj-1QEI5PMaA8snor3T6/s320/IMG_2388.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTRU3ck9Yt6SClHtko8vLC8b1XBXRkIw5avn3YpwFOeCjm9Zkq-b6-YhwJj-Ow748bXxQLIN2dWotFd5lRl8ynRQGspSuHtM1p1XGLJhv1J0j09pRzec0sI0ARxczOusmPr1Q/s1600/IMG_2389.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTRU3ck9Yt6SClHtko8vLC8b1XBXRkIw5avn3YpwFOeCjm9Zkq-b6-YhwJj-Ow748bXxQLIN2dWotFd5lRl8ynRQGspSuHtM1p1XGLJhv1J0j09pRzec0sI0ARxczOusmPr1Q/s320/IMG_2389.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW0XDqhaL1O8FmISetIqOTjk1AO075qrWrsqZDZ22-AtthyXEECzpEdawkO5b_RwvaeQZPpfNG24ItFr8lKcq_oDXkGmktG86o8FQw8kBucXfZ9iPZDpOyc65MVUJAUCBZw5S/s1600/IMG_2394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqW0XDqhaL1O8FmISetIqOTjk1AO075qrWrsqZDZ22-AtthyXEECzpEdawkO5b_RwvaeQZPpfNG24ItFr8lKcq_oDXkGmktG86o8FQw8kBucXfZ9iPZDpOyc65MVUJAUCBZw5S/s320/IMG_2394.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ryan Zimmerman was officially handed his 2010 Silver Slugger Award and Our General Manager Mike Rizzo briefly spoke to the crowd before the game to thank them for their support.</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJAMPUZa2aK5shw51G0yPugm0X0Cd3hqWZSjindoKEdkAUtSOPi_f5XEv-r9vtQhM5djLCk9zGwfHAJj6xL_BJlvLUOCqreffj6MGjqnhH57Da0XCWW6kB9ZWtI6oGGJ8lotS/s1600/IMG_2446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJAMPUZa2aK5shw51G0yPugm0X0Cd3hqWZSjindoKEdkAUtSOPi_f5XEv-r9vtQhM5djLCk9zGwfHAJj6xL_BJlvLUOCqreffj6MGjqnhH57Da0XCWW6kB9ZWtI6oGGJ8lotS/s320/IMG_2446.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 Home Scoreboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_35mZIbnJIH-frVV3YhXniqC8VzvVxeEECJjHNGN3Q7SEJoYPAJBamQWaa6QwYILmlGEXQKJCyKvUdvi__5y3Ms62XnwOIB1Jwu9uLD4I-qrdRGVBjEiLYXSnXbDQt6sdkgp/s1600/IMG_2455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_35mZIbnJIH-frVV3YhXniqC8VzvVxeEECJjHNGN3Q7SEJoYPAJBamQWaa6QwYILmlGEXQKJCyKvUdvi__5y3Ms62XnwOIB1Jwu9uLD4I-qrdRGVBjEiLYXSnXbDQt6sdkgp/s320/IMG_2455.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 Visiting Scoreboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And finally, we noticed quite a few tweaks to Nationals Park today--as compared to 2010 (and more on that coming later). But nothing beat the changes to the HD Scoreboard. What's with all the red & white when Washington comes to bat? And the black when the opposition hits? The lineups are smaller in size. It's much harder to read.<br />
<br />
Why change what was a good thing?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ7BkLwLwfufcfuYDAwYfvUJJ9dzW9rGS5xnSiaFybdAc5dzy93Y0ZKSW-uUOl3T9eslOnhriEwl6yz5HticWJpNzJ6Ok1nVrZOqGxcwzuo35kGtiX_zl3SJX5JSlvMMreHDV/s1600/IMG_9811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ7BkLwLwfufcfuYDAwYfvUJJ9dzW9rGS5xnSiaFybdAc5dzy93Y0ZKSW-uUOl3T9eslOnhriEwl6yz5HticWJpNzJ6Ok1nVrZOqGxcwzuo35kGtiX_zl3SJX5JSlvMMreHDV/s320/IMG_9811.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Scoreboard (Bigger Type-Easier To Read)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK1nbzkhchqZ9Tqbl0WJfBO9pMJoHvS4qpaysyJvFSLs4oI3251ZaG2j2ARzjuqzxQ3TiXFcoZL3F06IlZhCYxhCN-7ISyLs3RVrcJBGPHyDbgyMZbp5KKF8CRGiG60tMCVKB/s1600/IMG_9607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJK1nbzkhchqZ9Tqbl0WJfBO9pMJoHvS4qpaysyJvFSLs4oI3251ZaG2j2ARzjuqzxQ3TiXFcoZL3F06IlZhCYxhCN-7ISyLs3RVrcJBGPHyDbgyMZbp5KKF8CRGiG60tMCVKB/s320/IMG_9607.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Scoreboard (Blue Highlight)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIvUcz0qFpsHjgKpU8Gzco2SY0tmQJ-DADs44Nt3NLxF20ex2kIzg405ow6gSctUQ7ITg9PbbU-4OM7wabcJ4pFlDEuEOtjwy7QLxtcvlhkhzJJaUJbz6K7roYJoujCdputPo/s1600/IMG_9759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnIvUcz0qFpsHjgKpU8Gzco2SY0tmQJ-DADs44Nt3NLxF20ex2kIzg405ow6gSctUQ7ITg9PbbU-4OM7wabcJ4pFlDEuEOtjwy7QLxtcvlhkhzJJaUJbz6K7roYJoujCdputPo/s320/IMG_9759.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Scoreboard (Yellow Highlight)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>There was nothing wrong with the previous version of the HD Scoreboard. Yellow to represent significant numbers (especially scoring), blue to highlight, white to represent other information, larger type to be able to read everything rather easily.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9gi8i8aYqgwlQY6YJNg-Y0L_TCHS8rZ3r5WVZTgH_VGNfi3j5MyI27nJ6cDes_fj1RseUmVGxX8MEkoIDkGAI34ZuL0uq8uYJKXnJpiACfHEJcq2Qq2-EsBota1VOA_r3Iog/s1600/IMG_2481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9gi8i8aYqgwlQY6YJNg-Y0L_TCHS8rZ3r5WVZTgH_VGNfi3j5MyI27nJ6cDes_fj1RseUmVGxX8MEkoIDkGAI34ZuL0uq8uYJKXnJpiACfHEJcq2Qq2-EsBota1VOA_r3Iog/s320/IMG_2481.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 Scoreboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>You can't look at the new 2011 HD Scoreboard graphics without staring at it for a longer period of time. It was difficult to read today and this was a day game. What will it be like when Washington plays its first night game on April 12th?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaLnfiqVNczZNWTi7sO1iHd6FAI4ACVfvec1bgXqHC9vE_q2edIpZWCGxlpVtg8D37fB_qf1VWvH_ot1gP4w9WFChON9AGyp02OeF_STahgUXIluUCEzlHzVPfv7hRdpYnP4x/s1600/IMG_2329.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaLnfiqVNczZNWTi7sO1iHd6FAI4ACVfvec1bgXqHC9vE_q2edIpZWCGxlpVtg8D37fB_qf1VWvH_ot1gP4w9WFChON9AGyp02OeF_STahgUXIluUCEzlHzVPfv7hRdpYnP4x/s320/IMG_2329.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Scoreboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJAMPUZa2aK5shw51G0yPugm0X0Cd3hqWZSjindoKEdkAUtSOPi_f5XEv-r9vtQhM5djLCk9zGwfHAJj6xL_BJlvLUOCqreffj6MGjqnhH57Da0XCWW6kB9ZWtI6oGGJ8lotS/s1600/IMG_2446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJAMPUZa2aK5shw51G0yPugm0X0Cd3hqWZSjindoKEdkAUtSOPi_f5XEv-r9vtQhM5djLCk9zGwfHAJj6xL_BJlvLUOCqreffj6MGjqnhH57Da0XCWW6kB9ZWtI6oGGJ8lotS/s320/IMG_2446.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2011 Scoreboard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>No comparison. The older scoreboard setup was better and far easier to read.<br />
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<i>All Other Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-52070344592326875792011-03-31T09:45:00.036-04:002011-03-31T10:04:09.418-04:00Natsfest 2011--Harper & Hondo & Nats Memorabilia Make The Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1Uo_Tlge61CxYtwHEYkaXr_vVYavaPwYedSiCGvLw8-TUX4GT-KdqRwDBElyZRckoXlGbZ45MovMkQvBHKO8TIJ4iGcDLA9pUUyfwuSV3bYo07YSWjJg8Gnt4pZp_D_eCppb/s1600/IMG_2059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1Uo_Tlge61CxYtwHEYkaXr_vVYavaPwYedSiCGvLw8-TUX4GT-KdqRwDBElyZRckoXlGbZ45MovMkQvBHKO8TIJ4iGcDLA9pUUyfwuSV3bYo07YSWjJg8Gnt4pZp_D_eCppb/s320/IMG_2059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyOhoV-UFLGbuSO_xwq_36WG9P21csdunjxKl3Sod8E-67J7FGmEeo9_uA4oWw4km8iND-16Qn1lWjMAyJu1BdAMyDIP6pf5p6gPhrlhFTif5uHWDh_mkmXxIcX22uHjR_JdV/s1600/IMG_2063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyOhoV-UFLGbuSO_xwq_36WG9P21csdunjxKl3Sod8E-67J7FGmEeo9_uA4oWw4km8iND-16Qn1lWjMAyJu1BdAMyDIP6pf5p6gPhrlhFTif5uHWDh_mkmXxIcX22uHjR_JdV/s320/IMG_2063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>When rain began to fall and the opportunity to watch Our Washington Nationals take batting practice at yesterday's Natsfest was cancelled, fans were left a void of things to do from around 4PM until 5:30PM when all scheduled Q & A Sessions began and the opportunity for player Meet & Greet and Photo Stations which followed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1ykf2hnZHF6gSplrIXqDBO2W8u0CEdn7x1ezKYT4x_2EerbhKL4rbhXpkGmlzjA2_UFE9txPH7598xCkodcs3CyV3mW8wzEhq5mnEsG-VtdnqhgJXVs5xSIo_xWgt5X1kcAs/s1600/IMG_2230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1ykf2hnZHF6gSplrIXqDBO2W8u0CEdn7x1ezKYT4x_2EerbhKL4rbhXpkGmlzjA2_UFE9txPH7598xCkodcs3CyV3mW8wzEhq5mnEsG-VtdnqhgJXVs5xSIo_xWgt5X1kcAs/s320/IMG_2230.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7b8mrN_BNhlpoErFlHJdB6HdORyHOOVnGznJNi9G8WGQ2mnHwVH9BGBJb-T6yjUs6X58TgkpqEHYxz4AMVZQsB7tuG0um3UdjD5gr1-sl-N6biEGf0o80f6kPoMYyPIFtJpu/s1600/IMG_2120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7b8mrN_BNhlpoErFlHJdB6HdORyHOOVnGznJNi9G8WGQ2mnHwVH9BGBJb-T6yjUs6X58TgkpqEHYxz4AMVZQsB7tuG0um3UdjD5gr1-sl-N6biEGf0o80f6kPoMYyPIFtJpu/s320/IMG_2120.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcZqGVyp8IhH6-0-f-ouxqssgn0g0mGLjVcwSefL4B7rqBC9mPWg7E5k-GpewbCeYFYKAzJyP2TW5axeunaN-i6-JRanhq-fzfYtCeruIonjxJyj__0QISfGmeseO1YxCmOSy/s1600/IMG_2157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYcZqGVyp8IhH6-0-f-ouxqssgn0g0mGLjVcwSefL4B7rqBC9mPWg7E5k-GpewbCeYFYKAzJyP2TW5axeunaN-i6-JRanhq-fzfYtCeruIonjxJyj__0QISfGmeseO1YxCmOSy/s320/IMG_2157.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
Thankfully, MASN's Phil Wood put on display in the Stars & Stripes Club (3rd Base Side) some of his vintage Washington Senators memorabilia--some dating back to the early 1900's to pass the time. On exhibit were Sam Rice, Bucky Harris, Ted Williams & Frank Howard uniforms (among others). A nice selection of caps and batting helmets--including an extremely rare white with red Curly "W" expansion Senators cap worn a few times in the mid-1960's and a Hondo batting helmet that was originally blue with red Curly "W" painted over before the 1968 season to red--when The Washington Senators changed their primary color from blue to red.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZqRnbaB5tXCI5e2Z_l81AXNoUjJxAgj4UgoFQYORyjNpGZkPXtjacFyikFW6UyaxN6Brb9a6enhCgaLOhEmheoGM2eCDafVyejTgSpcWYzq0NiTZfrjNVLUkjLF7e9SPxqF4/s1600/IMG_2231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZqRnbaB5tXCI5e2Z_l81AXNoUjJxAgj4UgoFQYORyjNpGZkPXtjacFyikFW6UyaxN6Brb9a6enhCgaLOhEmheoGM2eCDafVyejTgSpcWYzq0NiTZfrjNVLUkjLF7e9SPxqF4/s320/IMG_2231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And some of the baseball pennants were spectacular--including a 1912 "American League Washington" blue felt version that stood out.<br />
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Good stuff.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73j-9k1gJJFbNafJjPPfBmudCUutfpgbS3e3GFXP1lkuEgNTyLHNxHkUB8o6EpDXcm1OY2iH9qgYAYWpvXO3esasOJl6ol5T4QKieTNdpgFFwthcqFNyOcsHvLYx5nEuLQQF0/s1600/IMG_2170.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73j-9k1gJJFbNafJjPPfBmudCUutfpgbS3e3GFXP1lkuEgNTyLHNxHkUB8o6EpDXcm1OY2iH9qgYAYWpvXO3esasOJl6ol5T4QKieTNdpgFFwthcqFNyOcsHvLYx5nEuLQQF0/s320/IMG_2170.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pj8q56RpiUvghgLYov7_uLoFY3W109QGiNk2m5flyOjPMSwY9OB6ZmY1ysLVA6LTOd3djOOw32nVHiJVowT7o6SrcZ6X4spAEq8YEbQYnzxNPLLC8vH2n8Ks7zKBqyuo9tNd/s1600/IMG_2204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pj8q56RpiUvghgLYov7_uLoFY3W109QGiNk2m5flyOjPMSwY9OB6ZmY1ysLVA6LTOd3djOOw32nVHiJVowT7o6SrcZ6X4spAEq8YEbQYnzxNPLLC8vH2n8Ks7zKBqyuo9tNd/s320/IMG_2204.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuIkJHqJFWYye0AK6hXVEmiMJpmAilDrI_6ZtaDlWMnmEBbXQe7FsujTNW7ma4z0W-hrZCY5cWP5brbkNZR41vsU3dMMiQFjVJ0F9zzfHbO6TZ3guk9KrydbkuXYvc6MPG7wJ/s1600/IMG_2203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpuIkJHqJFWYye0AK6hXVEmiMJpmAilDrI_6ZtaDlWMnmEBbXQe7FsujTNW7ma4z0W-hrZCY5cWP5brbkNZR41vsU3dMMiQFjVJ0F9zzfHbO6TZ3guk9KrydbkuXYvc6MPG7wJ/s320/IMG_2203.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>My Favorite Player Of All Time!!--Frank Howard--again put on his usual show in one of the PNC Diamond Club Q & A Sessions Sohna and I attended beginning at 5:30PM. Along with VP of Player Development Bob Boone and Special Advisor to the GM Davey Johnson, Hondo again told one of his favorite stories of making 8 outs in six at-bats at Fenway Park and getting a standing ovation from Boston Red Sox Fans. The story never gets old and you can tell--Big Frank loves the limelight retelling the tale.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDSgqA5Eef2ndl8pAXK8Dv7BzAjq2U5e53oI_mGffruA1N6YgNPqC36bdeUNv9VemcRH_jNJlkfOWbyNg97zW5Rk2P-YPvGoi-Y7Qe1uFk2ehC4qV3gMgZcrShDr7MKdusoWs/s1600/IMG_2168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpDSgqA5Eef2ndl8pAXK8Dv7BzAjq2U5e53oI_mGffruA1N6YgNPqC36bdeUNv9VemcRH_jNJlkfOWbyNg97zW5Rk2P-YPvGoi-Y7Qe1uFk2ehC4qV3gMgZcrShDr7MKdusoWs/s320/IMG_2168.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndofJ0v_z9jvmsjSixayl79CTaL5uw1s2Y7V_4T2wVFvbIjbskQ0hIjkAP3JfYbe5AOKRFMztLeJvovnDH7jqZs1NukVD68y52xnGXQsr7U7i04MEysSO0xY9WoHWIr5Qbfhy/s1600/IMG_2199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhndofJ0v_z9jvmsjSixayl79CTaL5uw1s2Y7V_4T2wVFvbIjbskQ0hIjkAP3JfYbe5AOKRFMztLeJvovnDH7jqZs1NukVD68y52xnGXQsr7U7i04MEysSO0xY9WoHWIr5Qbfhy/s320/IMG_2199.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS1kJkIz1h7Pp1jgM3KEuHoX1NZyeJjp5ZpBINx16dxf8Vd8BjXVPpr2Gvq23US7CZckoAbUqwEYSwKttnoI3FWOzcfDVVbIxx3fv3m2MG419gdY79lg1nDW4KkqjgjIMDIBv/s1600/IMG_2201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfS1kJkIz1h7Pp1jgM3KEuHoX1NZyeJjp5ZpBINx16dxf8Vd8BjXVPpr2Gvq23US7CZckoAbUqwEYSwKttnoI3FWOzcfDVVbIxx3fv3m2MG419gdY79lg1nDW4KkqjgjIMDIBv/s320/IMG_2201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Bob Boone and Davey Johnson--sitting in wonder on stage--enjoyed the rapture Frank had on the audience. For some reason most every fan stood the entire time Hondo told his very funny story. And being like only Howard has always been with fans--Old Number 33 in your scorecard stayed behind after this session ended, signing and taking pictures with anybody that wished to meet him. <br />
<br />
The Man Is A Class Act.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWKq_MnjwgbZJhM7jjvlOAMIiP5Y7ETDD1R88SCHbWy9HxYQVER6FVPjUbG-XpYLhVy2X5d7P-bMxfEJ26Zn1f4D5O7d5nRixov5eHI3jRby9zDaHeedTGsXLaAMTF9OMpwuy/s1600/IMG_2188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWKq_MnjwgbZJhM7jjvlOAMIiP5Y7ETDD1R88SCHbWy9HxYQVER6FVPjUbG-XpYLhVy2X5d7P-bMxfEJ26Zn1f4D5O7d5nRixov5eHI3jRby9zDaHeedTGsXLaAMTF9OMpwuy/s320/IMG_2188.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Speaking of Johnson, Davey mentioned in this session hosted by Phil Wood that when he played for The Baltimore Orioles, Frank Howard lined the hardest hit line drive he's ever seen right past the head of Brooks Robinson (the Hall of Fame 3rd Baseman for the O's). "Brooksie was the greatest 3rd baseman ever, but even he couldn't get his glove up fast enough to catch that scorched liner. After the inning ended, I remember Brooks coming back to the dugout white as a ghost saying: 'If my head was just 1/2" higher--I would be dead now!!' I've never seen a ball hit so hard in my life."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXj6GoHtNDQGuxFpqoRjL21UjccfRRARFgkpLmPy1Js_Vl3Xg1Qx0m3RMoc_tUNqgmsEtaHN2qXH00bsikl1kKv-mfDORDXJB11eNDkwC-TdIS8dpwZzzGwjSIYMf6ciP9mbZ/s1600/IMG_2189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXj6GoHtNDQGuxFpqoRjL21UjccfRRARFgkpLmPy1Js_Vl3Xg1Qx0m3RMoc_tUNqgmsEtaHN2qXH00bsikl1kKv-mfDORDXJB11eNDkwC-TdIS8dpwZzzGwjSIYMf6ciP9mbZ/s320/IMG_2189.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In fact, this Q&A session was very informative--Boone talking at length about how impressed he is with the quality of catchers coming up in Washington's Minor League System--mentioning Wilson Ramos, Derrek Norris, Jesus Flores and raving about Sandy Leon's throwing arm. "Our Minor League System, in general, when I first got here wasn't really worth watching. It is now. We've got some good players at every level of this organization."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGymgsxoJ2KMCi4ULQ3LMJgBGIwBWXi4wlfiqlb9DVqMWNrl7QFxqGwtG3mql-ypAHRSqRhqjzAJgs0Ogesjwnh3EEsERQbdFlWkYOxFO6CH3ghnzEqrCrDkF5bI_xx0EvB3Fo/s1600/IMG_2219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGymgsxoJ2KMCi4ULQ3LMJgBGIwBWXi4wlfiqlb9DVqMWNrl7QFxqGwtG3mql-ypAHRSqRhqjzAJgs0Ogesjwnh3EEsERQbdFlWkYOxFO6CH3ghnzEqrCrDkF5bI_xx0EvB3Fo/s320/IMG_2219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Our other favorite part of the day--happened totally by chance. There were no scheduled autograph sessions with any player or coaches during this NatsFest which made the Photo Station lines extremely long since every season ticket holder in attendance showed up for this event. In fact, The African Queen and I got into the photo line at 6:15 for the 1st of the two consecutive half hour sessions on the 1st Base Side of the Stars & Stripes Club and never got close to the front when Jordan Zimmermann, Doug Slaten, Sean Burnett, Tyler Clippard, Cole Kimball and a couple of other players were posing with fans.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWepJwlJapoAUgyYEGT9h7816rHuJ3gyVnSb_WXAhPf2FNN2Q8Xz3_Qcy0bWND8DgQ531AbTwzzCinV_xfFjRI4HSwLVyt8eVoI7bDeEx2hsWi8J60RklSqUPvy2XDI7otxnv9/s1600/IMG_2216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWepJwlJapoAUgyYEGT9h7816rHuJ3gyVnSb_WXAhPf2FNN2Q8Xz3_Qcy0bWND8DgQ531AbTwzzCinV_xfFjRI4HSwLVyt8eVoI7bDeEx2hsWi8J60RklSqUPvy2XDI7otxnv9/s320/IMG_2216.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Thankfully patience paid off, when as we finally neared the front of the line with the final half hour photo session 15 minutes through--Bryce Harper walked in and started taking pictures with fans waiting. That made the day for not only us--but every single fan that hung in there for that period of time--happy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgV037We6jj7DP0o08mSgdgXfKuzLZue97NBdozP1Hm3YEJTJoRiOar5zMfQrLO_MTJOoFagUJgxff6wX3eVb6ib8Oal99ne7mDBQOztZKCwadnn0QaG7qmmulRPkOfEJsiz4/s1600/IMG_2220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgV037We6jj7DP0o08mSgdgXfKuzLZue97NBdozP1Hm3YEJTJoRiOar5zMfQrLO_MTJOoFagUJgxff6wX3eVb6ib8Oal99ne7mDBQOztZKCwadnn0QaG7qmmulRPkOfEJsiz4/s320/IMG_2220.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJFkX4p3FJzi_szUubwGsunbWX3pQVjByG0h4qYGrEL3hYfs4C46vPu88xRK1DIr7upRxi-WzYGherWUhM4u0cVw8X9hTC8yBBuXIeXWgP6ir9jgHYxIhAvq4LUInCfZhhHIO/s1600/IMG_2221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJFkX4p3FJzi_szUubwGsunbWX3pQVjByG0h4qYGrEL3hYfs4C46vPu88xRK1DIr7upRxi-WzYGherWUhM4u0cVw8X9hTC8yBBuXIeXWgP6ir9jgHYxIhAvq4LUInCfZhhHIO/s320/IMG_2221.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAdQVBbUvvnPJfDsyuPFhBAF3BTrZ8fMPPMI3lSyATr3wPXO-LvTmOjlA9WVbQOmN9pcaDXB7uI8TR8-us4_rCcTvKyBkP6ZKQXL_uYiTATEtpjPln1Oa-nzqmerw54PJERtj/s1600/IMG_2222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAdQVBbUvvnPJfDsyuPFhBAF3BTrZ8fMPPMI3lSyATr3wPXO-LvTmOjlA9WVbQOmN9pcaDXB7uI8TR8-us4_rCcTvKyBkP6ZKQXL_uYiTATEtpjPln1Oa-nzqmerw54PJERtj/s320/IMG_2222.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We also took photos with Laynce Nix & Alex Cora, Tom Gorzelanny plus John Lannan and Chad Gaudin (who was quite funny and had a very nice brief chat with The African Queen).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lJK6dIr4pUCJx8ErDad3HUUn2QIBQy3ytagkXMFgfWPaRHGJURsheocpE4xY9a_gW4GJNu98We6VVs_gBYVzR9UFwdDkoowerHpaME6wXld-6EbrKrzvg1M5DCZ-XecpnbEW/s1600/IMG_2059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lJK6dIr4pUCJx8ErDad3HUUn2QIBQy3ytagkXMFgfWPaRHGJURsheocpE4xY9a_gW4GJNu98We6VVs_gBYVzR9UFwdDkoowerHpaME6wXld-6EbrKrzvg1M5DCZ-XecpnbEW/s320/IMG_2059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsi8bHejBDWWMmrY-q5nZYmnnLTXhTgdQQq0nXidrClTIf8rBZjc5DvUwYebzR-vOMFaXpO7ry8mYVpcaUrMaPsENz6n95aklpgrwuOpDsf2iDUshYBFs1zzohkPs3MMz8o2hU/s1600/IMG_2071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsi8bHejBDWWMmrY-q5nZYmnnLTXhTgdQQq0nXidrClTIf8rBZjc5DvUwYebzR-vOMFaXpO7ry8mYVpcaUrMaPsENz6n95aklpgrwuOpDsf2iDUshYBFs1zzohkPs3MMz8o2hU/s320/IMG_2071.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyt1_ZtjAztVpwwmJKnQYuFUGIOotzDodB1MbfUYhcvx0Ti0elN-BU1lGbvu35UZcD8cVA7dviih4MkE3eXKkKHguR3LWmaI3kRd6tBeqOmztMTNo6SyA5o3i9QOYQVmMIF_D/s1600/IMG_2073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyt1_ZtjAztVpwwmJKnQYuFUGIOotzDodB1MbfUYhcvx0Ti0elN-BU1lGbvu35UZcD8cVA7dviih4MkE3eXKkKHguR3LWmaI3kRd6tBeqOmztMTNo6SyA5o3i9QOYQVmMIF_D/s320/IMG_2073.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>NatsFest's first event of the day was a Season Ticket Holder exclusive Q & A with Our GM Mike Rizzo, Manager Jim Riggleman and players Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth and Adam LaRoche. Hosted by NBC's Meet The Press Moderator Dick Gregory--this PNC Diamond Club event was standing room only.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OmOFgjCg1PUGYM_a5Z0cT7AF0x85D3r16jjUIaD4rZXV1ra7UZAx4CGYJ9pK5NRcG_Nr0DeaSe1qxQaSmQeCUJlTOd5ECO9kWpcHefnpNECMdKAkEpYtzGcwpZDgfNff0-sU/s1600/IMG_2206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OmOFgjCg1PUGYM_a5Z0cT7AF0x85D3r16jjUIaD4rZXV1ra7UZAx4CGYJ9pK5NRcG_Nr0DeaSe1qxQaSmQeCUJlTOd5ECO9kWpcHefnpNECMdKAkEpYtzGcwpZDgfNff0-sU/s320/IMG_2206.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In fact, as the afternoon moved to early evening and normal weekday work hours ended--more and more fans seemed to show up at Nationals Park. We didn't attend the "Meet & Greets" set up along the 1st & 3rd Base concourse with the entire team, coaches and front office members--but we noticed the line snaking all the way to Center Field Plaza and into the cold and chilly rain.<br />
<br />
<b>Other highlights: </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2Fm0cWrHSDdtYkQT-T5uNgkHtXTWq-DW5SXQJibaS3w3a5CqjDEO47WGX87ODrPGwq3YZ4UQEYzP_Q9sc7T2KqMHSZsiNYkT6EXy8I1u03y20thZxAMmOaMa6ahlFG5wAwYL/s1600/IMG_2128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2Fm0cWrHSDdtYkQT-T5uNgkHtXTWq-DW5SXQJibaS3w3a5CqjDEO47WGX87ODrPGwq3YZ4UQEYzP_Q9sc7T2KqMHSZsiNYkT6EXy8I1u03y20thZxAMmOaMa6ahlFG5wAwYL/s320/IMG_2128.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Ryan Zimmerman's 2010 Silver Slugger Award.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQKOZLrXmnDmQmjg1dG2gwjG5K09LrFQsj-tN0zrIy9uwxuiGdHEJ4Fa9AuYH0t78Ut3YQRO4mf9RNwua9W37TkKx9oBOuoZuxPBpmSOJJpPPB-S2o0XOj4hyTphtKfYi6JNl/s1600/IMG_2159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQKOZLrXmnDmQmjg1dG2gwjG5K09LrFQsj-tN0zrIy9uwxuiGdHEJ4Fa9AuYH0t78Ut3YQRO4mf9RNwua9W37TkKx9oBOuoZuxPBpmSOJJpPPB-S2o0XOj4hyTphtKfYi6JNl/s320/IMG_2159.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8yjZ0HLI1jgHOEzd2YwaMtPo7_EFFiHIzCA_NEYcMumu71ZkvDyZQYVQ9aGsf4pvMrYnxahBS6-KpJZ-GSr8hbiIwn34eznZiyqlosi2JrrlsWXRLPg39iOu2LhG-KKm4wYA/s1600/IMG_2160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8yjZ0HLI1jgHOEzd2YwaMtPo7_EFFiHIzCA_NEYcMumu71ZkvDyZQYVQ9aGsf4pvMrYnxahBS6-KpJZ-GSr8hbiIwn34eznZiyqlosi2JrrlsWXRLPg39iOu2LhG-KKm4wYA/s320/IMG_2160.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Madame Tussauds Wax Museum put on display nice figures of Presidents George Washington and Richard Nixon. Museum officials were also handing out special buy one, get one free coupons to visit their 10th and F Street location.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND2QVPBTn9TRXWwxd1ZXWvWLYMsC2BF8eWgL2ZWl3vJJyDqnlBw9CWAi6wcbnPiGQCXMcsU36AXrfikucv9qFC-hVcuCvcIKjXKJ0yfhhSYelcvui-byLOgU4luZPel4i5NMM/s1600/IMG_2134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND2QVPBTn9TRXWwxd1ZXWvWLYMsC2BF8eWgL2ZWl3vJJyDqnlBw9CWAi6wcbnPiGQCXMcsU36AXrfikucv9qFC-hVcuCvcIKjXKJ0yfhhSYelcvui-byLOgU4luZPel4i5NMM/s320/IMG_2134.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXWFXE3VO2_F_4ZT0lNN-5lJA9EvUhRl0DDQAFohXmgkiIHjG6FIUNhJZipTfZLMKDWCkJQnQuItPoj2-LSd6aRUQZ2WLZ871BPAoAMyrYVQfoMtAoa41J3bSNMVItIrcoGjI/s1600/IMG_2138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXWFXE3VO2_F_4ZT0lNN-5lJA9EvUhRl0DDQAFohXmgkiIHjG6FIUNhJZipTfZLMKDWCkJQnQuItPoj2-LSd6aRUQZ2WLZ871BPAoAMyrYVQfoMtAoa41J3bSNMVItIrcoGjI/s320/IMG_2138.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Also on display in the Stars & Stripes Club was memorabilia from Our Washington Nationals--including the pitching plate from Stephen Strasburg's debut game and signed Montreal Expos Jersey's worn by Gary Carter and Andre Dawson last year when they were honored at Nationals Park for the Ring Of Fame and their inductions into the Baseball Hall Of Fame.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFB4GQWeP9osUeIno5jEdjfLpfcku8jnzebWQqHX_YCgKaejy5EKwDQ8YCIVmiCNsTXBrWvOssd2Z0U2Fl9-ePNrPM0ePU-qZVv6skuLAOWGhwuRXnXolskyA_VPavhp4dR3m-/s1600/IMG_2058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFB4GQWeP9osUeIno5jEdjfLpfcku8jnzebWQqHX_YCgKaejy5EKwDQ8YCIVmiCNsTXBrWvOssd2Z0U2Fl9-ePNrPM0ePU-qZVv6skuLAOWGhwuRXnXolskyA_VPavhp4dR3m-/s320/IMG_2058.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Levy Executive Chefs Phil Bucco and Terrence Louzan told us that the Stars & Stripes Club will feature a complete overhauled menu for 2011, more choices, more variety. And that Teddy's Barbecue is no longer. Apparently the new Union Square Hospitality Group that will run The Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk includes Blue Smoke pit barbecue and USHG wanted an exclusive offering at their locaton. Chef Bucco stating a "loaded" hot dog stand (10-different choices) will replace Teddy's Barbecue.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWfyaTQOytc9ac4wNdcbOWWqcwtv9RX4W0PlbPADDp_J6GmFSXED1HUFj5DPNLYbfg2Km0sDRyqjCrXvNwRkb05bsD-ewDbRH2CStv531sC5D-rBUbZJsY-wB6G4f2NC0FQuS/s1600/IMG_2165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWfyaTQOytc9ac4wNdcbOWWqcwtv9RX4W0PlbPADDp_J6GmFSXED1HUFj5DPNLYbfg2Km0sDRyqjCrXvNwRkb05bsD-ewDbRH2CStv531sC5D-rBUbZJsY-wB6G4f2NC0FQuS/s320/IMG_2165.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>And finally, the weather really wasn't the issue yesterday. Even if Natsfest was held in January (which we still prefer along with the Hot Stove Luncheon)--a cold, wet and dreary day could be expected. Natsfest 2011 needed more ways for fans to distribute their time. As the crowds became larger as the day wore on--many ended up attending the same events causing traffic jams.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8f589vqe1JBDLIHgu06OoMLcbE81IREhCoIjPE4h_jNbkeFswq3JRSrqUzE1UkxIMkYHS9AG6I0yBVmKtdFtwedEc1XivB3h6KVUg2a3oy2c-WaJIGEDm_IXLhWrjHjUMojX/s1600/IMG_2208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX8f589vqe1JBDLIHgu06OoMLcbE81IREhCoIjPE4h_jNbkeFswq3JRSrqUzE1UkxIMkYHS9AG6I0yBVmKtdFtwedEc1XivB3h6KVUg2a3oy2c-WaJIGEDm_IXLhWrjHjUMojX/s320/IMG_2208.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDAEBTu8DnUvAfg5F7AXabV-BqnCHAiuo48Oashyphenhyphen5OJPxudeokh-3qw4SUk6mk7uWh_rPS5ZreEbsi0OGBBfx3qE53EtfB9xgNPfV3m9267RQqLL0F31ws5eclTWBs41uw1Gx/s1600/IMG_2215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSDAEBTu8DnUvAfg5F7AXabV-BqnCHAiuo48Oashyphenhyphen5OJPxudeokh-3qw4SUk6mk7uWh_rPS5ZreEbsi0OGBBfx3qE53EtfB9xgNPfV3m9267RQqLL0F31ws5eclTWBs41uw1Gx/s320/IMG_2215.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4fpu7ucv-cspWGRZCETF0ScQ9jBSrv_tYnpMtobqLEYBaU6e4sNtHMqR4oW6E_g6T4d4yJOteHU40ChOdlsvdXn-Bj4wTWt2MeveyeHLpdBp7Oc26zyD3i0iOm7zDpGY1LPJ/s1600/IMG_2233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4fpu7ucv-cspWGRZCETF0ScQ9jBSrv_tYnpMtobqLEYBaU6e4sNtHMqR4oW6E_g6T4d4yJOteHU40ChOdlsvdXn-Bj4wTWt2MeveyeHLpdBp7Oc26zyD3i0iOm7zDpGY1LPJ/s320/IMG_2233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Sohna and I are not autographs fans, but we know many others are. If autograph sessions are set up to coincide with photo stations--that would split the crowd and allow more fans, more contact and a better opportunity to meet some of their favorite players.<br />
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<b>PS</b>: A few other photos from Natsfest 2011<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZcsofU0V5CvF_OSrDgg3P0BvBbct5q00ep_f-nW3J287XY5zlgcpO5vAZ8eOa2X7arKU9YBJKUa5qLsG_vhOHxKkdHfgNzksIs97DS8eBEZJY7gzSIl2tsTHVsQA0EJkETIV/s1600/IMG_2223.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZcsofU0V5CvF_OSrDgg3P0BvBbct5q00ep_f-nW3J287XY5zlgcpO5vAZ8eOa2X7arKU9YBJKUa5qLsG_vhOHxKkdHfgNzksIs97DS8eBEZJY7gzSIl2tsTHVsQA0EJkETIV/s320/IMG_2223.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-70459357244622197812011-03-30T12:30:00.022-04:002011-03-30T13:19:49.395-04:00Highlights From Our Behind The Scenes Tour Of The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CVdxBgmF7kBRIC_FMIaqQBolXjTEjbEi_pmeUpLEJU5Uh1hXEhiosRkztdkpJyu7olcpE8wcW6J_GmyzrE46OTjILuHThwwy6yUa6YpCYFbw198B2-kz8JASJz93FTfHSCtA/s1600/IMG_0721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CVdxBgmF7kBRIC_FMIaqQBolXjTEjbEi_pmeUpLEJU5Uh1hXEhiosRkztdkpJyu7olcpE8wcW6J_GmyzrE46OTjILuHThwwy6yUa6YpCYFbw198B2-kz8JASJz93FTfHSCtA/s320/IMG_0721.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2010/06/frenzy.html" target="_blank">the frenzy</a> of Stephen Strasburg's debut last June 8th at Nationals Park, The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum asked for a few items to commemorate <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2010/02/2010-first-full-squad-workout.html" target="_blank">The Pied Piper</a> Of Our <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2010/03/that-was-one-wicked-pitch.html" target="_blank">Washington Nationals</a> long to be remembered first Big League start. The museum was given Strasburg's game cap and the baseball lined to Washington shortstop Ian Desmond by The Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutheon for the first out of the evening.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaYbBg9702dEt58-xUZeWdnzLt-_He2PtMAx1oRwNIwBaztr9J0cduB65QnpI9kfBFOcrl7DLVG0iEqsFhxmFT-7-xIDQLih7ZY0tYsUj2wdp1Zh-ilY6Y2GwYK3YJGSdZrYt/s1600/IMG_0720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaYbBg9702dEt58-xUZeWdnzLt-_He2PtMAx1oRwNIwBaztr9J0cduB65QnpI9kfBFOcrl7DLVG0iEqsFhxmFT-7-xIDQLih7ZY0tYsUj2wdp1Zh-ilY6Y2GwYK3YJGSdZrYt/s320/IMG_0720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>"We got what we wanted and we are totally fine with that," stated John Odell, Curator at The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum in Cooperstown, New York. "We didn’t ask for his jersey and the reason is when we (the museum) want to tell the story of Stephen Strasburg—say 20 years down the road--we are going to be looking back at his entire career—not just this one game. We also don’t know whether he will have a long successful career or a brief one. It's great to have his cap. But by the time we want to tell his story, he’s going to have done, hopefully, many other wonderful things. And then we will want to have his jersey from, say, his 2<sup>nd</sup> Perfect Game. So, in this instance, we asked for what’s appropriate at this level as Strasburg begins in career. And that’s how we do things here. We tend to pick things up in parts."<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTr1WxtzwBS02h004dJGTSE2SHYRBogHbt_YWMSvvXWYawwA4-BB67JmBmiS9IEDN5lO3gy8SqZJEDoCjsXTUz6Pj76kVJqmUcbQpWigV140mchK1gaqOtIZBh_3tHagOxZOG/s1600/IMG_0723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTr1WxtzwBS02h004dJGTSE2SHYRBogHbt_YWMSvvXWYawwA4-BB67JmBmiS9IEDN5lO3gy8SqZJEDoCjsXTUz6Pj76kVJqmUcbQpWigV140mchK1gaqOtIZBh_3tHagOxZOG/s320/IMG_0723.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">Washington fans should also know that within the Memorabilia Vault in Cooperstown, space is dedicated to Our Washington Nationals for future use as items are collected or donated about D.C. Baseball. In the photo above, The African Queen is standing in front of Washington's Dedicated Baseball Cap Storage Rack--waiting to be filled.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwfhe0BJA6stdJCLoDWUKRfJdZEd7Lv9XdUP4I2l7hdtHwgIjx0w6IwgE-gPZ4yTW1k3x5OLXOuBETGAB33fPubdEPwv9yTboGcdgnISWC-pCzyOvIdu3vozYP2Ehj5YOHvjN/s1600/IMG_0685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwfhe0BJA6stdJCLoDWUKRfJdZEd7Lv9XdUP4I2l7hdtHwgIjx0w6IwgE-gPZ4yTW1k3x5OLXOuBETGAB33fPubdEPwv9yTboGcdgnISWC-pCzyOvIdu3vozYP2Ehj5YOHvjN/s320/IMG_0685.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sohna About To Sign Her Life Away To Enter The Vaults</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKLlQhFLtTF4YyCrjdbe5VziLfgM5tO47hmDkf3aWawfBYW63DTcohBtmRw0B1VoQA2PzUyDuEYHVE3ghZ663N5KslN1EvkHM2eFxIrjMUmaYy9Z5-HIJBLdNJxxzK8e8E2Ln/s1600/IMG_0660.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKLlQhFLtTF4YyCrjdbe5VziLfgM5tO47hmDkf3aWawfBYW63DTcohBtmRw0B1VoQA2PzUyDuEYHVE3ghZ663N5KslN1EvkHM2eFxIrjMUmaYy9Z5-HIJBLdNJxxzK8e8E2Ln/s320/IMG_0660.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As we continued our behind the scenes tour of The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum, Mr. Odell touched on how important it is for the museum to be patient when asking for artifacts from players to add to their collection.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>John Odell:</b> "I was just talking to a colleague about similar circumstances last week. What are the significant milestones that batters and pitchers might reach this season (2011)? We know Derek Jeter is going to get 3000 hits. But there are other things he’s likely to accomplish too. You don’t want to go to the well too often. You want to go once for the exact thing you want. Mariano Rivera is going to get his 600<sup>th</sup> save this year for The New York Yankees, if he has a really good year. He has something like 555 saves now. Two saves after 600, he will break Trevor Hoffman’s record and become the All-Time Saves Leader. So do we go for the 600<sup>th</sup>? No. We go for the record breaker because he is going to get that a few games later."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAp1_1_RkO_sVFwQ17K56jQP62p9uWjG72_Xn797D68hxzlVfD7xwUZt2dLZTIbsTbAQbCiElLKons4T0IXeHnCNP8zh7I5gf_Ybm_8iDW50_WGQvNTI9FCIEfAL2BU58fFCh-/s1600/IMG_0776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAp1_1_RkO_sVFwQ17K56jQP62p9uWjG72_Xn797D68hxzlVfD7xwUZt2dLZTIbsTbAQbCiElLKons4T0IXeHnCNP8zh7I5gf_Ybm_8iDW50_WGQvNTI9FCIEfAL2BU58fFCh-/s320/IMG_0776.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">In 1920, Babe Ruth ordered from Hillerich & Bradsby (Louisville Slugger) the maximum regulation size baseball bat a player can use in a Major League Baseball game. This particular model weighed 50 oz--over three pounds. Years later, Hillerich & Bradsby reproduced that exact bat and The Hall Of Fame & Museum acquired it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEi7FtOBzu5AmXKpNeFp1Kb4TXaWeQXqpnKcILc30umUf5CYPths1AVR-yaNNpKGlDzLT3r3w4lGDYdXrdXpP9-U0VlVfN_L3OGI1ckxSVH_JGfvg2Q8Zts319uh6npHtk4f-/s1600/IMG_0773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuEi7FtOBzu5AmXKpNeFp1Kb4TXaWeQXqpnKcILc30umUf5CYPths1AVR-yaNNpKGlDzLT3r3w4lGDYdXrdXpP9-U0VlVfN_L3OGI1ckxSVH_JGfvg2Q8Zts319uh6npHtk4f-/s320/IMG_0773.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ge_yKYvcAMBTzNbt62qb6Kl3soqy0CUWR4mcyjN49fLeriNWz8J4-jExMif-_3IkPLYtv7xLEnOb9zjmJjDrJwiMbWFHrcRdyxiZpfUzPPj48oVeH7f2klww47VTbEzK_iGg/s1600/IMG_0774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ge_yKYvcAMBTzNbt62qb6Kl3soqy0CUWR4mcyjN49fLeriNWz8J4-jExMif-_3IkPLYtv7xLEnOb9zjmJjDrJwiMbWFHrcRdyxiZpfUzPPj48oVeH7f2klww47VTbEzK_iGg/s320/IMG_0774.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>John Odell: "</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">We don’t have any record of Ruth actually using the original during a game. But what I think we will find is that when someone has the chance to go through the 1920’s spring training newspapers—I am betting they are going to find that Babe Ruth used a bat like this to warmup. Instead of using three bats in the on deck circle, he was experimenting with this as his practice club. The one he swings around to get ready."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKkzQbgNiIG8B5seLwMzCQKltbuIaKR9ywfIIDH6DW_M6Uz0LPm8Unsq0GI6GntZ8IiaKzCrVZowkbCxj1I3PgcOkrdhFd3JPPxZDwF_Km0jsoEXU-WfTcEP07rXczi6bL1tk/s1600/IMG_0777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcKkzQbgNiIG8B5seLwMzCQKltbuIaKR9ywfIIDH6DW_M6Uz0LPm8Unsq0GI6GntZ8IiaKzCrVZowkbCxj1I3PgcOkrdhFd3JPPxZDwF_Km0jsoEXU-WfTcEP07rXczi6bL1tk/s320/IMG_0777.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">That bat so gigantic and heavy it even made me look smaller. How could anybody swing that thing and consistently make contact? Remarkable.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">Did you know? New York Yankee great Elston Howard invented the doughnut weight--which became a standard for all batters getting ready to hit in the late 1950's/early 1960's? True.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1ZnCxCyN-Tj6bs8TRK0ZecGVIk0fuT2wEQvIS9H9vRhENlD7ufoIJUh_PHf-XWuURZ8qu3z1EwzenbaYMIenO-Qp0W1IfFqDIYVcaRXAwf1KNswRPl441GwU-RxEqO97dYTJ/s1600/IMG_0666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1ZnCxCyN-Tj6bs8TRK0ZecGVIk0fuT2wEQvIS9H9vRhENlD7ufoIJUh_PHf-XWuURZ8qu3z1EwzenbaYMIenO-Qp0W1IfFqDIYVcaRXAwf1KNswRPl441GwU-RxEqO97dYTJ/s320/IMG_0666.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">During our tour, Mr. Odell happened to pass by the office of Mary Bellaw--Assistant Registrar of the Museum. The timing could not have been better as Ms. Bellaw was working on a very special project.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLb0aPKOlDhPcMqAGmfr9C6QHifMvd30FEq6vfCIHDR0rv-xfo8hiiBVqsU6i2bAr1WeMf-1hoXMY0SKtLq-ybTR-rfyk8JV9ECozdgv4_n3K6OBPiYDKrX61z9HD9WS9RlIyU/s1600/IMG_0667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLb0aPKOlDhPcMqAGmfr9C6QHifMvd30FEq6vfCIHDR0rv-xfo8hiiBVqsU6i2bAr1WeMf-1hoXMY0SKtLq-ybTR-rfyk8JV9ECozdgv4_n3K6OBPiYDKrX61z9HD9WS9RlIyU/s320/IMG_0667.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzsdX1aDwTmh5ynAVg1ECrCTZiTpp4qSc91Dd9AphXx9O7ppOa-K9kT0uoOmNf2-tTfIMUd_n_GECG0psxQEg58RQjY2HfGVlHS_dVBw7BKd2y1x596jXFD3P73tUcGsVGOi3/s1600/IMG_0668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzsdX1aDwTmh5ynAVg1ECrCTZiTpp4qSc91Dd9AphXx9O7ppOa-K9kT0uoOmNf2-tTfIMUd_n_GECG0psxQEg58RQjY2HfGVlHS_dVBw7BKd2y1x596jXFD3P73tUcGsVGOi3/s320/IMG_0668.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgOs7YF7fyJWaSDdn7IehMW-CoznPCi2wpv9Vd_Tg7EwvVCo1lNQwWoSYARn05r5wPevRsFmYH2TNUZ1rI5kwFOosEVnm6-rCAE6Ua-oa00b1qL3nDULwVvzMG0PBxQZIp5qE/s1600/IMG_0683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgOs7YF7fyJWaSDdn7IehMW-CoznPCi2wpv9Vd_Tg7EwvVCo1lNQwWoSYARn05r5wPevRsFmYH2TNUZ1rI5kwFOosEVnm6-rCAE6Ua-oa00b1qL3nDULwVvzMG0PBxQZIp5qE/s320/IMG_0683.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4QrW8ASzWTpR_RzYy9sqn21_OfYLCFFD-no9Moi_KFD8yjnk4rEbAiMWBm7RmNs0vlKvE-6QpYrDM0II-Q_KP5l1LkMJxXadi2Kn9gV6fgs7TgXEOBocT5oZ5nvP0Fs_8srA/s1600/IMG_0676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4QrW8ASzWTpR_RzYy9sqn21_OfYLCFFD-no9Moi_KFD8yjnk4rEbAiMWBm7RmNs0vlKvE-6QpYrDM0II-Q_KP5l1LkMJxXadi2Kn9gV6fgs7TgXEOBocT5oZ5nvP0Fs_8srA/s320/IMG_0676.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YnivDcbZQTZNSb-uVStFPbs35smgrfkOxScRCcqQnkurk2N7vhTQR0AZY7GqWiopMPM4OtZj7myv-eHNARQs1aWNLQzRsX_Uvhpc8Wa1EuECk-gpS-j3bdXUwtlLaaybpX5U/s1600/IMG_0671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YnivDcbZQTZNSb-uVStFPbs35smgrfkOxScRCcqQnkurk2N7vhTQR0AZY7GqWiopMPM4OtZj7myv-eHNARQs1aWNLQzRsX_Uvhpc8Wa1EuECk-gpS-j3bdXUwtlLaaybpX5U/s320/IMG_0671.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">In 1913, the Philadelphia Game Manufacturing Company (then located at 337 North 3rd Street) produced a home baseball game for fans and kids. All 16 Major League Teams from those days were included. The early version of <a href="http://www.strat-o-matic.com/products/baseball" target="_blank">Strat-O-Matic</a> not only featured a full color stadium, but scoreboard, lineup cards, wooden players--color coded to set on the field or on the bench--and even umpires. This particular game still had its patents pending. Later versions--according to Ms. Bellaw--did not include the game box graphics with professional players. Instead, the game was produced with generic baseball graphics so not to restrict the product to those players or those years. In fact, for 25 cents, new lineup cards could be purchased from the Philadelphia Game Manufacturing Company by filling out a mailer included with every game.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7qbqwxbAgzi7H4Gh4Ir1H6tJBmZgBszxUrWOvtXkNfHPRa4MOVEqv5j_MTeY8-XbboH0r9MV-sZtbIvQ8lSej_8jThvh-XEpzBsQkWQp6n75h9GNm_mLn7YUISXJfSD44J9_/s1600/IMG_0673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7qbqwxbAgzi7H4Gh4Ir1H6tJBmZgBszxUrWOvtXkNfHPRa4MOVEqv5j_MTeY8-XbboH0r9MV-sZtbIvQ8lSej_8jThvh-XEpzBsQkWQp6n75h9GNm_mLn7YUISXJfSD44J9_/s320/IMG_0673.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><b>John Odell: "</b>This is the early version of Strat-O-Matic where you spin the wheel. But Strat-O-Matic was unique in that it was created with a spinner unique for each player. So if someone was a home run hitter, he's more likely to hit a home run in Strat-O-Matic. But here, every player has the same chances in this game. But it's just a beautiful game."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">Which brings us to the rest of the story.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphRdATliHpKt0TE0_O_R7FlNzvtYffWMuAoMOjPKVBUHnqvxNScXaQX_cvyvVchpR1iMCfqgqeOxcZaa9jPunflipWA51G3vo5KHqvSbf1lx0G4YFeRLcc-IXYLp-X4pmr4lD/s1600/IMG_0663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiphRdATliHpKt0TE0_O_R7FlNzvtYffWMuAoMOjPKVBUHnqvxNScXaQX_cvyvVchpR1iMCfqgqeOxcZaa9jPunflipWA51G3vo5KHqvSbf1lx0G4YFeRLcc-IXYLp-X4pmr4lD/s320/IMG_0663.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><b>Mary Bellaw: "</b>We got an email from a Philadelphia area man. He used to play this game at his grandparents house. And he just inherited the board game but he doesn't have all the lineup cards. So he asked if we could make copies to send him so he can continue playing the game with his family. I just scanned these for him and we are going to send them along."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJMMj2BIRxHxe1O4yfvav4hi53xY9PzjNRcPSSseDXz-b5iVnCIX137gbeolIcnA7rLjEULUEWMwV9DiXmZZcFZiAAMLhB8BRz2XRRKmHoeq8ryrbkDZhWL5mr7mp3FViiEKE/s1600/IMG_0675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOJMMj2BIRxHxe1O4yfvav4hi53xY9PzjNRcPSSseDXz-b5iVnCIX137gbeolIcnA7rLjEULUEWMwV9DiXmZZcFZiAAMLhB8BRz2XRRKmHoeq8ryrbkDZhWL5mr7mp3FViiEKE/s320/IMG_0675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDwuiLzZNOXl9oLgdFrFZMEzaxuLUD95FmzGhPRYLe09-s3DYqjXUbgcTm8cEioAmdwzmXkncUwnFgrE8PWDHpp9Ig1mm-9KYYE1V77649i4JncZP2f3qXjV1VCb7gXpoZA-b/s1600/IMG_0679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDwuiLzZNOXl9oLgdFrFZMEzaxuLUD95FmzGhPRYLe09-s3DYqjXUbgcTm8cEioAmdwzmXkncUwnFgrE8PWDHpp9Ig1mm-9KYYE1V77649i4JncZP2f3qXjV1VCb7gXpoZA-b/s320/IMG_0679.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">How ironic that as we came across Ms. Bellaw and her work with this game in her office--she's working with the 1913 Washington Nationals featuring--Walter Johnson. Totally by chance.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNgmszhThsz_TBszKWGx6LQRzWqRherzY99BdpT2BJs9cxNGmJMFB21k4TbdyvtQVcZiJjxyMXv0n2QyccCgyLHOG1Tl-aclHoA98rJQQsS_IHXdQ8skf-1ou3n8wVi22uW70/s1600/IMG_0688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNgmszhThsz_TBszKWGx6LQRzWqRherzY99BdpT2BJs9cxNGmJMFB21k4TbdyvtQVcZiJjxyMXv0n2QyccCgyLHOG1Tl-aclHoA98rJQQsS_IHXdQ8skf-1ou3n8wVi22uW70/s320/IMG_0688.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPhpwmpWnzGtAHPTIxeQ0FWpt3V8lOLCm218JCdCj9J6Cdkw1kn0SC2Yv0Q5kh0mik-9IUwEPBvPiO4VNGPucP63QUGpkPN3CkPjFuhYI9db41WHa60oGJXbeaw9Hf7kFpH69/s1600/IMG_0689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPhpwmpWnzGtAHPTIxeQ0FWpt3V8lOLCm218JCdCj9J6Cdkw1kn0SC2Yv0Q5kh0mik-9IUwEPBvPiO4VNGPucP63QUGpkPN3CkPjFuhYI9db41WHa60oGJXbeaw9Hf7kFpH69/s320/IMG_0689.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincOYkFzhdUSxIl9TiI_aYD5MQWZQ0SQ0ouAuHg-nGbksqyyvZ56QwOvRviHZVxCzWscguVYjgaAPgglX75Rr5IQZM4Nf8xjXtuHPU0sG3v2zAaQwoaQGrxqfSpri3etFsyNB2/s1600/IMG_0701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincOYkFzhdUSxIl9TiI_aYD5MQWZQ0SQ0ouAuHg-nGbksqyyvZ56QwOvRviHZVxCzWscguVYjgaAPgglX75Rr5IQZM4Nf8xjXtuHPU0sG3v2zAaQwoaQGrxqfSpri3etFsyNB2/s320/IMG_0701.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">Inside the Memorabilia Vault, we found Museum Associate (Education Wing) Sara Degaetano returning items out for research, educational usage or photo shoots back to stock. Every single item must be accounted for at all times. And every single item must be handled while wearing white gloves to protect the integrity of the artifact.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8CaaLM3KxLEiRcWR3O-A7kBHUP-80ppGf253bdMigNnc4lAN-UO3ywNoqHvRhVlr8UsEUdNh0BkWjKudcholAMxb6kKifmCcE7M9QCr3gdRdX4kVcjvRGQWeFlgEY2KlwlB6/s1600/IMG_0780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8CaaLM3KxLEiRcWR3O-A7kBHUP-80ppGf253bdMigNnc4lAN-UO3ywNoqHvRhVlr8UsEUdNh0BkWjKudcholAMxb6kKifmCcE7M9QCr3gdRdX4kVcjvRGQWeFlgEY2KlwlB6/s320/IMG_0780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UKkz2SGDhW-GP-ZlV89YA7BlcOwDzzpG02sCnhV7imVy599HxG2q0A_cnp4PmYzkQNFcxjzQnLYmWbgTfVSGjevv0wj8jzwHJVr_Mae78QZeoCMGxt-mY8tK9Lx86LOFqNEI/s1600/IMG_0766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4UKkz2SGDhW-GP-ZlV89YA7BlcOwDzzpG02sCnhV7imVy599HxG2q0A_cnp4PmYzkQNFcxjzQnLYmWbgTfVSGjevv0wj8jzwHJVr_Mae78QZeoCMGxt-mY8tK9Lx86LOFqNEI/s320/IMG_0766.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Original Wooden Whiffle Ball Bat With Whiffle Ball In Original Packaging</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSr-ixmVuigcBUfhlsZH5V415TXX74zfbtCnv-e_MhxP_fty31mDVgjsO72p_ImG5l-ixXRhZB-kxZMzNrmFtqesVk1d3GyXMN8r76q125u5BSVw5FJKJ7sV1W7C5pDqIL4ki/s1600/IMG_0718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMSr-ixmVuigcBUfhlsZH5V415TXX74zfbtCnv-e_MhxP_fty31mDVgjsO72p_ImG5l-ixXRhZB-kxZMzNrmFtqesVk1d3GyXMN8r76q125u5BSVw5FJKJ7sV1W7C5pDqIL4ki/s320/IMG_0718.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Acid Free Storage Boxes With Acid Free Paper</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyZDKn6SefD_J_Ox3jEwYVcinFKjycclOvVpxFl-XaeXjYthgEfMmmslOfRMDJ-5HSvcqjKX9jPv9TssCEL_fANdLjXtqKBNd_MDckYeTz2EyCLl5FMpOwQxg_oQDSpy1Mujk/s1600/IMG_0756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEyZDKn6SefD_J_Ox3jEwYVcinFKjycclOvVpxFl-XaeXjYthgEfMmmslOfRMDJ-5HSvcqjKX9jPv9TssCEL_fANdLjXtqKBNd_MDckYeTz2EyCLl5FMpOwQxg_oQDSpy1Mujk/s320/IMG_0756.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><b>John Odell:</b> "For the most part, dirt stains from a uniform of Rickey Henderson sliding is integral to the story of that jersey. You want to be able to keep that. There is always a fine line of maintaing the history of the piece while also making sure the jersey will not self-destruct. But what we've found out is that if a uniform has champagne stains on it, over time, those stains will set in and change the color and material of the uniform. So in that case, we will clean that up--if the uniform is directly related to an historic moment from a game. But you want to make sure you don't wash out that moment."</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">"Perfect example: Before Mariano Rivera was Mariano Rivera, he was John Wetteland's setup man with The New York Yankees. If I remember rightly, John Wetteland was the first closer to save four World Series games in the same year--and we got his jersey (1996). Now it's all blotched. The champagne has set in. I don't know how long it took to get to that level of degradation, but it's a good example of the dilemma we sometimes face."</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAd4piePayCk-bsAn4_61jVCJRt8msAVoJ2RofWAZBNwBOZ5JnSyXpBcI1y9pPit14wIltu1uGsGuYbg6oq2u9uoPUYE2D-97gPnzyBR_bRwlCqXKE17TMTQBNRadqpHZQODr/s1600/IMG_0779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVAd4piePayCk-bsAn4_61jVCJRt8msAVoJ2RofWAZBNwBOZ5JnSyXpBcI1y9pPit14wIltu1uGsGuYbg6oq2u9uoPUYE2D-97gPnzyBR_bRwlCqXKE17TMTQBNRadqpHZQODr/s320/IMG_0779.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><i><b>Other highlights from our tour:</b></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZHKVBZfRK5J5kPV_uAIlx_Cjf5wadA7u1_G-RFtu3EtToEN_OYMkMGkNQkzzQWeyZ5LFyFLHqc4zb2MA-CITS8N8rSB0BlPyr6KTmWaNysWVRFR16QisBJcgPVT3PiXefrbZ/s1600/IMG_0736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZHKVBZfRK5J5kPV_uAIlx_Cjf5wadA7u1_G-RFtu3EtToEN_OYMkMGkNQkzzQWeyZ5LFyFLHqc4zb2MA-CITS8N8rSB0BlPyr6KTmWaNysWVRFR16QisBJcgPVT3PiXefrbZ/s320/IMG_0736.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq31I6Tng1gRl8VNuB6Ha6jm6gzOT4-OLHjqUs-nhmEnjVwjgjk_sMqmPET2nI-T-aaiohyT1L3e2jEoLN1zK8NiUZKhSnz3TIzdZkw8e0wsoG4LpV5cajUqvTMq3lZeeBgdu/s1600/IMG_0738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinq31I6Tng1gRl8VNuB6Ha6jm6gzOT4-OLHjqUs-nhmEnjVwjgjk_sMqmPET2nI-T-aaiohyT1L3e2jEoLN1zK8NiUZKhSnz3TIzdZkw8e0wsoG4LpV5cajUqvTMq3lZeeBgdu/s320/IMG_0738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW3cSrbdwIEkJfOycgezbtTFwjahWIY9wAzNt_RWpXNdTw-80DLPwlgIThihdJGlk6pBZnnfcxw0PxWLySiMY_jEFS7rKa0RjYTGJ931O9bvbUZOTJ7yUnAVcirzWrgi556AS/s1600/IMG_0742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVW3cSrbdwIEkJfOycgezbtTFwjahWIY9wAzNt_RWpXNdTw-80DLPwlgIThihdJGlk6pBZnnfcxw0PxWLySiMY_jEFS7rKa0RjYTGJ931O9bvbUZOTJ7yUnAVcirzWrgi556AS/s320/IMG_0742.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>John Odell</b>: "A guy called and said he made some models of ballparks. And sometimes we don’t know what we are truly getting. He says: 'They are in my house. I live in a trailer and they are taking up too much space. Would you like these models? I used photographs to kind of recreate them.' So he sends us these photographs of these things and this is a fireman who made these in his spare time." </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJxHUL5J0ZP7bdHWfpOkPrxKO41CSEWfJnU78oJ_qK2TLA0N3hsiV_x1QqdHI0HQHb6aZ60lWqpCxz_zDOFZUwEtwLZEq11M6bo4Jm7svXVZT3KLnABh4rrWBlvT48IVi7f0y/s1600/IMG_0743.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJxHUL5J0ZP7bdHWfpOkPrxKO41CSEWfJnU78oJ_qK2TLA0N3hsiV_x1QqdHI0HQHb6aZ60lWqpCxz_zDOFZUwEtwLZEq11M6bo4Jm7svXVZT3KLnABh4rrWBlvT48IVi7f0y/s320/IMG_0743.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cvsrjTs_2IdPHgRsC3lH5YrOO2Dx2Mp0UQNLWOG4ruKtuiXPj6t9OrttEH8z2KfQtnrGDLJBllZGsUPXA91MUlrCl1X7FEkDIy-rtQmZAaWDWDD7oMSnl660_bneNG7TziHg/s1600/IMG_1148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cvsrjTs_2IdPHgRsC3lH5YrOO2Dx2Mp0UQNLWOG4ruKtuiXPj6t9OrttEH8z2KfQtnrGDLJBllZGsUPXA91MUlrCl1X7FEkDIy-rtQmZAaWDWDD7oMSnl660_bneNG7TziHg/s320/IMG_1148.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">"They are beautiful. So every year we rotate them in and out of public display. Ebbets Field, Wrigley, Shibe Park, Polo Grounds, Yankee Stadium and Comiskey Park--with Index Cards noting history included. We hear from a lot of people who've made stuff. Baseball inspires a lot of passion. But passion and talent aren’t necessarily related to one another. This guy had both."</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">How to read an museum artifact's catalog number:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhqGg9AA9Je3AGD9nZ67bOCOUR3vrJw1tTjSymJPPex3PItvIZiel0m7vkftmbpUQNmriS4X8TzktKNNIgzQ4tHuQFQZ36Nrdh230-o_J8fRvnu9iPw5uijNrL0Ct57CDIBL9/s1600/IMG_0692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhqGg9AA9Je3AGD9nZ67bOCOUR3vrJw1tTjSymJPPex3PItvIZiel0m7vkftmbpUQNmriS4X8TzktKNNIgzQ4tHuQFQZ36Nrdh230-o_J8fRvnu9iPw5uijNrL0Ct57CDIBL9/s320/IMG_0692.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>In the baseball photo above--a 1910 World Series Ball.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHK4RIZTlA73Y3WoC3cVZvQrtVedkMnQFbRhswR2YZFggGmQVEL1lDFdWh0_rpfYDQ6fWZKogTxI7hIQa3TohIz-EWFqJfeoK8aDNZyiLEVR2MM6Z7EoNu1dBNOGHRssKjsHyq/s1600/IMG_0691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHK4RIZTlA73Y3WoC3cVZvQrtVedkMnQFbRhswR2YZFggGmQVEL1lDFdWh0_rpfYDQ6fWZKogTxI7hIQa3TohIz-EWFqJfeoK8aDNZyiLEVR2MM6Z7EoNu1dBNOGHRssKjsHyq/s320/IMG_0691.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">On the reverse side: "B" Baseball Museum, "429" the 429th item received in that year, "54" received in 1954.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQufEXJL4IoiImb9X4aHSTn2d9LpUSARvrDdqvC7Rb4BGvqSABRyaEo-_gf9933ph4YfDWMnuu3ZLaAUMYhGbL6RXdXZjIAT1QQXiWJQXNC1-YFu_utMHXlAnI8fZLRUsHAWq/s1600/IMG_0697.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQufEXJL4IoiImb9X4aHSTn2d9LpUSARvrDdqvC7Rb4BGvqSABRyaEo-_gf9933ph4YfDWMnuu3ZLaAUMYhGbL6RXdXZjIAT1QQXiWJQXNC1-YFu_utMHXlAnI8fZLRUsHAWq/s320/IMG_0697.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">2004 World Series Final Out caught by Doug Mankiewiez of The Boston Red Sox ending 86 years on no championships in Boston. The very same ball he originally put in a safe deposit box before handing it over to the team and eventually the museum.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjz79_b0nRot65ZcQjSnEP9B4ITH2MX1oETFI1MspkF7X-QnZJsPcRFRP5ZRfhhROesOIhN9CrqvqOUlQaE5VzsIgeyya-bCbg158YCFT6U8fSwyOCrEA6D_S_pnyhVkjl3HrU/s1600/IMG_0708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjz79_b0nRot65ZcQjSnEP9B4ITH2MX1oETFI1MspkF7X-QnZJsPcRFRP5ZRfhhROesOIhN9CrqvqOUlQaE5VzsIgeyya-bCbg158YCFT6U8fSwyOCrEA6D_S_pnyhVkjl3HrU/s320/IMG_0708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC9yDIJ2cUyp0OvasBeCumFvU_iTm9Tn0W4kSplponbuVyX8v2Yjg3iwg20SK27zsk_LqXz15eh1Ohr-9x3c7JOyBnTOcu7zQyYoUBY3kvh_mmc7JktR1sWqLdTjgEJPxGals/s1600/IMG_0709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC9yDIJ2cUyp0OvasBeCumFvU_iTm9Tn0W4kSplponbuVyX8v2Yjg3iwg20SK27zsk_LqXz15eh1Ohr-9x3c7JOyBnTOcu7zQyYoUBY3kvh_mmc7JktR1sWqLdTjgEJPxGals/s320/IMG_0709.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4SjbTnLNMZVxo1btNqTGot34tq6BDSqC3P_RHESglpyNfVBmQbFCLIidnHZbOilAS55eYdv5bK_JAghClOZtx7zcxEs3eMOUmdrfmV6agCG9nopW-YYNwKkp6kYOUsMOyYhy/s1600/IMG_0710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4SjbTnLNMZVxo1btNqTGot34tq6BDSqC3P_RHESglpyNfVBmQbFCLIidnHZbOilAS55eYdv5bK_JAghClOZtx7zcxEs3eMOUmdrfmV6agCG9nopW-YYNwKkp6kYOUsMOyYhy/s320/IMG_0710.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_%22Honey_Boy%22_Evans" target="_blank">Honeyboy Evans</a> Batting Championship Trophy given out for five years by the Broadway Singer of the same name who loved baseball in the early 1900's. Ty Cobb received four of them. Honus Wagner the other.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02BQuePcRmkmyqch2o7scWn-3a9xQgXaGWOb242gO3GdqC0DShM1RVZqPpsbbK-QE-kChumnQz61OI2tydCShtxmgzrUCUOlCzcAXU2lLxHm3H0o6bSrIiWvAcuZgLPy7Gp1B/s1600/IMG_0726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02BQuePcRmkmyqch2o7scWn-3a9xQgXaGWOb242gO3GdqC0DShM1RVZqPpsbbK-QE-kChumnQz61OI2tydCShtxmgzrUCUOlCzcAXU2lLxHm3H0o6bSrIiWvAcuZgLPy7Gp1B/s320/IMG_0726.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlAWi23BnveqbQ8rjcMx25mnuYdXFM_O4g2z38KDmQ_rwK9ERCzf3xDeS-P_PMU8VCqupXeKwW_unMZhg4accOu8uVhQV_P94Uam95xJ2BINOeqd5XVsN3GVbEN_AgJTVD4v_/s1600/IMG_0734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlAWi23BnveqbQ8rjcMx25mnuYdXFM_O4g2z38KDmQ_rwK9ERCzf3xDeS-P_PMU8VCqupXeKwW_unMZhg4accOu8uVhQV_P94Uam95xJ2BINOeqd5XVsN3GVbEN_AgJTVD4v_/s320/IMG_0734.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyxHYtpGNqEEbj_bAzS-0R4EOyx8LuX3bB5nyp6yo_MmQiCtks6U1rasQVHSMZZiWX4M4eeKEpzTnjNtmca3w6otIZVDlH3IrphxKmmUT7ZYn6jNeDIYWe9uiUbu2Zz_sEvG9/s1600/IMG_0732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyxHYtpGNqEEbj_bAzS-0R4EOyx8LuX3bB5nyp6yo_MmQiCtks6U1rasQVHSMZZiWX4M4eeKEpzTnjNtmca3w6otIZVDlH3IrphxKmmUT7ZYn6jNeDIYWe9uiUbu2Zz_sEvG9/s320/IMG_0732.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUp0gOlS8F_Ve1LfnYfsCGxPrd-2I-kqjl-2QzUDhbPDhl150DSHsLqGDTebTDHMjQic5U1JYo0A-bSyfW5Ab7wHzvKaoPi_DBoTL-08I7qu2bQo73JwkzNGdz4QPm40O40pZP/s1600/IMG_1123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUp0gOlS8F_Ve1LfnYfsCGxPrd-2I-kqjl-2QzUDhbPDhl150DSHsLqGDTebTDHMjQic5U1JYo0A-bSyfW5Ab7wHzvKaoPi_DBoTL-08I7qu2bQo73JwkzNGdz4QPm40O40pZP/s320/IMG_1123.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk85YSRin6KJyBIEHfcfqSyYvT2xGCz-xq_5J0vPO406Z00uPdKUJWloqG4ugfq7Bpygmx06JGo95BvbrsksFdjkRvMYUUb40UPwCvU7LQc4qc_gePJUkYE-LkYqpaMml-6Ji/s1600/IMG_0729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk85YSRin6KJyBIEHfcfqSyYvT2xGCz-xq_5J0vPO406Z00uPdKUJWloqG4ugfq7Bpygmx06JGo95BvbrsksFdjkRvMYUUb40UPwCvU7LQc4qc_gePJUkYE-LkYqpaMml-6Ji/s320/IMG_0729.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">Youpii!! Yes, it's Youpii The Montreal Expos famous mascot's original uniform now in the Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum--along with The San Diego Chicken, The Philly Phanatic & The Baltimore Oriole Bird.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDg5xmyZ2vfOXDH-ED7M_gS6FDRD6RudzT8VI8QzEWZwlDxIRCEwyGeWfJl3T-Ug9VfPPCJSfEJYwtTv7RwIgdGE48AHSt8ZkEjHLRtpy3TFNdLQKo7i5jbi6AgwkNO97axJU2/s1600/IMG_0748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDg5xmyZ2vfOXDH-ED7M_gS6FDRD6RudzT8VI8QzEWZwlDxIRCEwyGeWfJl3T-Ug9VfPPCJSfEJYwtTv7RwIgdGE48AHSt8ZkEjHLRtpy3TFNdLQKo7i5jbi6AgwkNO97axJU2/s320/IMG_0748.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzoH6upVyRD8GoGGaCapzwTG-5FU37lrjY_Gi7gzh3f0Rxp1cwzTUPi30ReujQxRyfXz1m0YE1XbFh28eAfUAD1f6W5O7r4uunwMHf9VQJ1SLllyAIHSLoRfswCnSRHRVB4a-/s1600/IMG_0750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzoH6upVyRD8GoGGaCapzwTG-5FU37lrjY_Gi7gzh3f0Rxp1cwzTUPi30ReujQxRyfXz1m0YE1XbFh28eAfUAD1f6W5O7r4uunwMHf9VQJ1SLllyAIHSLoRfswCnSRHRVB4a-/s320/IMG_0750.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKpF5YSyGO5C_QkyCXI0O3nJjc5Z-caHAiRMnaCIaUK_MvcXPGTtYdxBsW5N76F1fIj0uEL7PN6BmzE-PLMG-LOLYGimSNdtEQMXyNWjtEfwc8D3FKJdiIHBic5rCSX0Vak_D/s1600/IMG_0753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxKpF5YSyGO5C_QkyCXI0O3nJjc5Z-caHAiRMnaCIaUK_MvcXPGTtYdxBsW5N76F1fIj0uEL7PN6BmzE-PLMG-LOLYGimSNdtEQMXyNWjtEfwc8D3FKJdiIHBic5rCSX0Vak_D/s320/IMG_0753.jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">A Josh Thole (current Mets Player) bat probably has you wondering why it's in the museum collection? We did too. As it turns out, Rocket Bat makes a special "Ax" Handled Bat for Thole and a few other players. The belief is that the angled bat handle end allows for a better and more perfect grip on the bat. I have to say, it did feel solid--like your forearms were locked into the bat.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYc6QBlHexsIFwFayGSBoNUgn7SK4zQymosE1X5PVIPtPpVjVvWM3NRLqUmXKnjn5yk-Be6VhklapsmdbmBU1l_V8fhcuhmcri9VScnB5qfXc4xDR5oPmKVcVJuPeFRD6clOO/s1600/IMG_0747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnYc6QBlHexsIFwFayGSBoNUgn7SK4zQymosE1X5PVIPtPpVjVvWM3NRLqUmXKnjn5yk-Be6VhklapsmdbmBU1l_V8fhcuhmcri9VScnB5qfXc4xDR5oPmKVcVJuPeFRD6clOO/s320/IMG_0747.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4qRTHXIQ_rl2TwLwxD3L-VpSjaIjrg0x2SAArsdliku18LpogcW3Cwjog7eBkdPnOxq_iZOSKK8BpF0PZMJEIDtnUupYnzNGkabK0IfTbWA-Zkx6Sp6ygI-IZyVBhbXssmTS/s1600/IMG_0758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4qRTHXIQ_rl2TwLwxD3L-VpSjaIjrg0x2SAArsdliku18LpogcW3Cwjog7eBkdPnOxq_iZOSKK8BpF0PZMJEIDtnUupYnzNGkabK0IfTbWA-Zkx6Sp6ygI-IZyVBhbXssmTS/s320/IMG_0758.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHRgTpwyYx5wfAzntL8HScGhGmSFdPt8dSrv0RYHdRG9Sxj9-ecE7MoG0ylbM4KBUavTi2Co81nKjnV850AntgJIWHyxhDdqLOtVT_hOcabCdLYDirsSgoVeWzABSoamwZS6K/s1600/IMG_0752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHRgTpwyYx5wfAzntL8HScGhGmSFdPt8dSrv0RYHdRG9Sxj9-ecE7MoG0ylbM4KBUavTi2Co81nKjnV850AntgJIWHyxhDdqLOtVT_hOcabCdLYDirsSgoVeWzABSoamwZS6K/s320/IMG_0752.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTuz7Sh0hoAVErv4-eNXO8HrnaSHRqA2jKv9FtEbz6_HLvbJRpInP_qB4qAGQRZ1U3Q6Gw59yKW_Mz6Iw407egX7VJFOpRf23QiEmSp0gLRUNeUrDQTFB6Ez2VSlglzbM5tCB/s1600/IMG_0759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDTuz7Sh0hoAVErv4-eNXO8HrnaSHRqA2jKv9FtEbz6_HLvbJRpInP_qB4qAGQRZ1U3Q6Gw59yKW_Mz6Iw407egX7VJFOpRf23QiEmSp0gLRUNeUrDQTFB6Ez2VSlglzbM5tCB/s320/IMG_0759.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLaPPdNargL6XGM-9GtP5ayJ6wKW2wBjtr7OMOARmju8HzTPr2fkkH0-2M-TY33HudDWHKR2HwbDrT-c5EPiB8HOfEIoU8oMe837BZBTJ1tx-tnkIFYJ19OUc3krqTFaGZ599/s1600/IMG_0770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsLaPPdNargL6XGM-9GtP5ayJ6wKW2wBjtr7OMOARmju8HzTPr2fkkH0-2M-TY33HudDWHKR2HwbDrT-c5EPiB8HOfEIoU8oMe837BZBTJ1tx-tnkIFYJ19OUc3krqTFaGZ599/s320/IMG_0770.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rare Ball Balanced Bat From Louisville Slugger Made From 1905-1910</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwfp5-4j-QaThMdiSy_DQk0-wIscPdqSvSlf_Qk_pFDWmH84WG5pMR6DJAtpLO7tBco_UdBHEtRmE3Riq99ilFFG-S6flYuAjUPbeOgCHjOy_XofgwydApzeiyhltJB-2B4Oc/s1600/IMG_0769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzwfp5-4j-QaThMdiSy_DQk0-wIscPdqSvSlf_Qk_pFDWmH84WG5pMR6DJAtpLO7tBco_UdBHEtRmE3Riq99ilFFG-S6flYuAjUPbeOgCHjOy_XofgwydApzeiyhltJB-2B4Oc/s320/IMG_0769.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtHivVfiqUEN3WSP2Ne7ksgWtKqXMe3PKQrBoPCzYPZ9YvKUcCuIiApuVS09HqIEehy6s9-dErCvm1wc7IQAQjQOCV7NNOxOJI6OeZ6GujZu53z432YgdJSAUtIlPRZmVBqhW/s1600/IMG_0764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtHivVfiqUEN3WSP2Ne7ksgWtKqXMe3PKQrBoPCzYPZ9YvKUcCuIiApuVS09HqIEehy6s9-dErCvm1wc7IQAQjQOCV7NNOxOJI6OeZ6GujZu53z432YgdJSAUtIlPRZmVBqhW/s320/IMG_0764.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Sohna and I could spend time looking at the thousands of bats in the museum collection all day long--it's that impressive--which also includes baseball themed canes and walking sticks.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWpba23ihty1FjlPO7xKHeLEmPRHRGPXvfbFGgblmVxaTqKRt1in0aYlZdQU-XpzWmW0QkCbtS1nUQu94Lbx9Rj0tMXtuH98t3PMYKah9UgJYo0Rcn00UOzyJqq7uBuB-8MCj/s1600/IMG_0657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJWpba23ihty1FjlPO7xKHeLEmPRHRGPXvfbFGgblmVxaTqKRt1in0aYlZdQU-XpzWmW0QkCbtS1nUQu94Lbx9Rj0tMXtuH98t3PMYKah9UgJYo0Rcn00UOzyJqq7uBuB-8MCj/s320/IMG_0657.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6V5siPI7nfm6kTYwZS1NKCRTlwqfkFHDGx19ORpabZpXnlRbRsZNT6YXTa3ZhVv_B9-8G5rkZQUXnt6afWkeaqBKIAdpN50vX9CWZpH9ZM-gHsNmAxqYdwGmwFzwJWPLFpxd/s1600/IMG_0654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6V5siPI7nfm6kTYwZS1NKCRTlwqfkFHDGx19ORpabZpXnlRbRsZNT6YXTa3ZhVv_B9-8G5rkZQUXnt6afWkeaqBKIAdpN50vX9CWZpH9ZM-gHsNmAxqYdwGmwFzwJWPLFpxd/s320/IMG_0654.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8m-s7HQOHDVAdkaKhYdhdvMZuuXuvHWWntYeGMWLav47AoHvtwqwhTgvZS3B8d_6DJ4quBiUQUrgVTQo8Ung-ou5F0npCM-FUWwyEvts_xqN76zfswNCYImhvccucD3RqEXW/s1600/IMG_0630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8m-s7HQOHDVAdkaKhYdhdvMZuuXuvHWWntYeGMWLav47AoHvtwqwhTgvZS3B8d_6DJ4quBiUQUrgVTQo8Ung-ou5F0npCM-FUWwyEvts_xqN76zfswNCYImhvccucD3RqEXW/s320/IMG_0630.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EuOU407gKzg_463RmXZSgp9Gs6K8-9TH1QvLB3Wk7IVPlkVGE8nPzeCNAZ-WtEZGDt_iXZoX_hX1wuQGNK0ScUoaZ6bljP8YjXw0udFXevRdwb9I2Ts8NIgevCLVMLgxKYTE/s1600/IMG_0647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0EuOU407gKzg_463RmXZSgp9Gs6K8-9TH1QvLB3Wk7IVPlkVGE8nPzeCNAZ-WtEZGDt_iXZoX_hX1wuQGNK0ScUoaZ6bljP8YjXw0udFXevRdwb9I2Ts8NIgevCLVMLgxKYTE/s320/IMG_0647.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBLqTNYxLQ6ydeIxUANvrjnF_mSSEtfCcLnzZ612VdZ45fo6Ub2QXlcYrYEBahdDoTbxJCAfvOQP1K_eoqt2naPtxXlbr1K83YTerf7oy-kx8Pv3kqpDdAlGOXjb67EeJDZTr/s1600/IMG_0643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibBLqTNYxLQ6ydeIxUANvrjnF_mSSEtfCcLnzZ612VdZ45fo6Ub2QXlcYrYEBahdDoTbxJCAfvOQP1K_eoqt2naPtxXlbr1K83YTerf7oy-kx8Pv3kqpDdAlGOXjb67EeJDZTr/s320/IMG_0643.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">In the climate controlled and very chilly photo library, John pulled out a selection of archival prints which included shots of Fenway Park during the dead ball era. In this 1912 photo, there are approximately 10-12 rows of seats in front of the Green Monster. Filled with advertisements, there is no hand operated scoreboard on the left field wall during this time of the ballpark's early existence.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvgLx3FJu_16U8nujUrKMiSGz7OxOp0zAgdtPZGgoIsxFaazwkh0ICY5Tic_302BufMIogcAjH8K2m1YI7Zt8NhBrZn9Urs9YXj1eAk7jvDpOXpaVFgOJzRS4AXYKNph6Reht/s1600/IMG_0638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvgLx3FJu_16U8nujUrKMiSGz7OxOp0zAgdtPZGgoIsxFaazwkh0ICY5Tic_302BufMIogcAjH8K2m1YI7Zt8NhBrZn9Urs9YXj1eAk7jvDpOXpaVFgOJzRS4AXYKNph6Reht/s320/IMG_0638.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ndVfr267FHBPaIMMT49LUGH4rzEcTacWnSgSg2sIcy9HA2_a_SfjKmqanAoOPNCqD9PLWR8PSAoqwEalfgGgWDHXDPB2F2_ajK-gDKt542FLEEnp-f301FAC27ep8VXPN_Vj/s1600/IMG_0639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ndVfr267FHBPaIMMT49LUGH4rzEcTacWnSgSg2sIcy9HA2_a_SfjKmqanAoOPNCqD9PLWR8PSAoqwEalfgGgWDHXDPB2F2_ajK-gDKt542FLEEnp-f301FAC27ep8VXPN_Vj/s320/IMG_0639.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">Joe Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee which clearly shows the segregation of whites and black at baseball games well before the color barrier was broken in the game by Jackie Robinson in 1947.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrAtntlM4bnUxdlGJjmTloYUHi7Ee9PYqCrFk-ZNYetNaPUJDoaB2U-j0BWkWPXgaNOCIrjXb_aI22d3vDOeiGzBYUjEGyJA_GAex9pQcYNC2BCWS6MPYz8FaHVerVlpCllHW/s1600/IMG_0633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrAtntlM4bnUxdlGJjmTloYUHi7Ee9PYqCrFk-ZNYetNaPUJDoaB2U-j0BWkWPXgaNOCIrjXb_aI22d3vDOeiGzBYUjEGyJA_GAex9pQcYNC2BCWS6MPYz8FaHVerVlpCllHW/s320/IMG_0633.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">And this photo which includes <a href="http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/houghton.html" target="_blank">Edith Houghton</a> (wearing Number 5) playing for a women's professional barnstorming baseball team. Still alive today at 98 years young, Ms. Houghton became the first full time female scout for The Philadelphia Phillies after World War 2.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lY6sA2ILJo0_XwVgJXGZ49hjxI8uhNShZmCuFKMwsqdfEh2p9J2ry4PVSdc4_QZ86As97ppc4_SQVcN1Ih1RuFS2FUFYi8N2s7ZP7x2eaDQ1l_Dmzy6Kd3nOyl90qyUHwH6B/s1600/IMG_0621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lY6sA2ILJo0_XwVgJXGZ49hjxI8uhNShZmCuFKMwsqdfEh2p9J2ry4PVSdc4_QZ86As97ppc4_SQVcN1Ih1RuFS2FUFYi8N2s7ZP7x2eaDQ1l_Dmzy6Kd3nOyl90qyUHwH6B/s320/IMG_0621.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1eHL63S13_fydEaHCzLHD2n6yQXHcgcH8JIKRYkkIYK8J4SI-eQMcuDUfMHp0EmFyj75WkYbRtze_kSFrlETYP1aJLFpM46DORbFmKGf1oX_7dQEID5Z2Olcq3ew173QFAhS/s1600/IMG_0623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1eHL63S13_fydEaHCzLHD2n6yQXHcgcH8JIKRYkkIYK8J4SI-eQMcuDUfMHp0EmFyj75WkYbRtze_kSFrlETYP1aJLFpM46DORbFmKGf1oX_7dQEID5Z2Olcq3ew173QFAhS/s320/IMG_0623.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYQtMfmy7n7p6mfI6PZpUwA7X8dm3qJd2RT3WK1GnAv9EPwsE39hhbSdPmq1E0cXajMDZtirfPDwOG0mvZ71w5hdzS-8WffkYqK6kN8L2W04mUxsuA3wCwUVBfCFG7GiIuvWN/s1600/IMG_0625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYQtMfmy7n7p6mfI6PZpUwA7X8dm3qJd2RT3WK1GnAv9EPwsE39hhbSdPmq1E0cXajMDZtirfPDwOG0mvZ71w5hdzS-8WffkYqK6kN8L2W04mUxsuA3wCwUVBfCFG7GiIuvWN/s320/IMG_0625.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gxg0ZuLmTOnm1cEPLrPJYavlgZSf9UjRf5iQEW7ljf7sCkGL9TxZHVxkkA71VEAUcymjRQgyJWvB-DiCCaC9lC6mJp_3rA1-ruFzv49hapJiiiEoSbnN4RKpfYpHcd1ZdT0v/s1600/IMG_0626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gxg0ZuLmTOnm1cEPLrPJYavlgZSf9UjRf5iQEW7ljf7sCkGL9TxZHVxkkA71VEAUcymjRQgyJWvB-DiCCaC9lC6mJp_3rA1-ruFzv49hapJiiiEoSbnN4RKpfYpHcd1ZdT0v/s320/IMG_0626.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal">Finally, in the player file library John Odell pulled out this hand written book (of many) that lists what every single player did for every team, in every game, on the field during every single season--before computers. This was the official statistics and record book for Major League Baseball. This book, and others like it, is where all the original game stats are kept. How painstaking that must have been. Although Mr. Odell says that, at times, they do find discrepancies (with newspaper articles) that need to be cleared up.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-73426837483709567542011-03-29T22:15:00.002-04:002011-03-29T22:15:50.231-04:00Back At The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq79h8wKpgkRD8jN2xAAHYK8TAQgFb2SzTQd1ICHjvDontmg40V9V3xuSinX6Bg5NjInBbjxIJ2-XsKh7CGsWo_sDfITu3MvdXoR345OuB7XKyJPDl_x7pXYi4X04zRe50Okjt/s1600/IMG_0754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq79h8wKpgkRD8jN2xAAHYK8TAQgFb2SzTQd1ICHjvDontmg40V9V3xuSinX6Bg5NjInBbjxIJ2-XsKh7CGsWo_sDfITu3MvdXoR345OuB7XKyJPDl_x7pXYi4X04zRe50Okjt/s320/IMG_0754.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>"The total number of items we've collected depends on whether an item is counted individually or as a set (as in an umpire's uniform with equipment)," stated John Odell, Curator at The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum in Cooperstown, NY. "We have about 38,000 3-dimensional items, around 130,000 baseball cards, over 2-million documents in the library, 400,000 photos plus thousands of hours of audio, video and motion picture footage."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscIKADtLHybXC1mpSabA-Bzd1faly8pWGdIH3CtjrjYzwtWDsftUAz-h45piOS3BZRhMgM2DJ1o9N0QcGSQH4ACgYHN_66DOxecjWIKnw3MxP1_2QcVEGFwhusW6Y3mrXZLFa/s1600/IMG_0939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscIKADtLHybXC1mpSabA-Bzd1faly8pWGdIH3CtjrjYzwtWDsftUAz-h45piOS3BZRhMgM2DJ1o9N0QcGSQH4ACgYHN_66DOxecjWIKnw3MxP1_2QcVEGFwhusW6Y3mrXZLFa/s320/IMG_0939.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWNGW85vEm7GQhncffhCzdxe0_7HaKO_jKaCQyXCW-A0MukUgKRG1IwG7rPgc8V7nwnwT-nRyLBxoMFf8k7tMeuQ8-O0n7jGnGbTcO6BaGk-RUU3IwH21PyEPWgWUWvXYqnfI/s1600/IMG_1819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWNGW85vEm7GQhncffhCzdxe0_7HaKO_jKaCQyXCW-A0MukUgKRG1IwG7rPgc8V7nwnwT-nRyLBxoMFf8k7tMeuQ8-O0n7jGnGbTcO6BaGk-RUU3IwH21PyEPWgWUWvXYqnfI/s320/IMG_1819.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After non-stop work assignments with barely enough time even for spring training baseball with Our Washington Nationals this off-season, The African Queen and I needed a baseball fix leading up to Opening Day, 2011 at Nationals Park on March 31st. The National Baseball Hall Of Fame and Museum was our desired calling.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO6RNkcSex7Jck8AF0fDSG0DCDpLmyOA8L_wgYF3vMV0IevOSgfbWYtKLwWPdS8227WjgjTN5hv0YVXFbNzcidEZGJAIWZI8T6OHj9NSQX5xZ1cnTx6kRD2MptqC8X6bU-2Wk/s1600/IMG_2048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNO6RNkcSex7Jck8AF0fDSG0DCDpLmyOA8L_wgYF3vMV0IevOSgfbWYtKLwWPdS8227WjgjTN5hv0YVXFbNzcidEZGJAIWZI8T6OHj9NSQX5xZ1cnTx6kRD2MptqC8X6bU-2Wk/s320/IMG_2048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9FwQKA6-ZAADYCsqV1dqrcb5Kupm-Kjq3uQCO9YQ92EpucO7MzRsOtEpj3pCHcum8XOksbZDj9vGu_-8nlPC_vVBoK-7Xb2lXkNK0Nq3tm8t-AVd0Yf51hIGSTN5nLuWPuOs/s1600/IMG_1954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9FwQKA6-ZAADYCsqV1dqrcb5Kupm-Kjq3uQCO9YQ92EpucO7MzRsOtEpj3pCHcum8XOksbZDj9vGu_-8nlPC_vVBoK-7Xb2lXkNK0Nq3tm8t-AVd0Yf51hIGSTN5nLuWPuOs/s320/IMG_1954.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2008/01/inside-baseball-hall-of-fame-museum.html" target="_blank">Three years ago</a>, we <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2008/01/chatting-with-curator.html" target="_blank">last visited</a> baseball's shrine to<a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2008/02/chatting-with-curator-part-two.html" target="_blank"> the greatest game</a>. A trip that <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2008/02/final-words-with-hall-of-fame-curator.html" target="_blank">first introduced us</a> to the inner workings of this beloved museum. <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2008/02/national-baseball-hall-of-fame-photo.html" target="_blank">We wanted to</a> and <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2008/02/national-baseball-hall-of-fame-photo_04.html" target="_blank">needed to go back</a>. So last week, after returning from our latest assignments--off we drove the entire distance. The seven hour drive from Alexandria, Virginia to upper state New York. 61 degrees when we left the Washington, D.C. area--14 degrees and snowing our first night next to Ostego Lake. (And by way--we crossed through a 50-mile thick fog covering I-81 through the mountain before and after Hazelton, Pennsylvania that will not soon be forgotten. Every car and truck travelling the 60 MPH speed limit the entire way--despite the fact visibility was less than two car lengths. Truly, it doesn't get much scarier than that)<br />
<br />
But we digress.<br />
<br />
Yes, Old Man Winter might still be holding on for its last bated breaths, <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2008/02/national-baseball-hall-of-fame-photo_05.html" target="_blank">but baseball was still in the air</a>. The rites of spring were upon us. Sohna and I could not have been happier.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_w78WRAlVPv7NH9BMPXMr19OELOwoE1dX4BfBzuIZU68qwx8WjHSTqiV5drhMKEZXrmr28RVyYAfWoGvF6a7DF2Zzs1dmfEHNHMw4N4DiCTK7IXTJrmzLiFs20rP6xZumHXw/s1600/IMG_1990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_w78WRAlVPv7NH9BMPXMr19OELOwoE1dX4BfBzuIZU68qwx8WjHSTqiV5drhMKEZXrmr28RVyYAfWoGvF6a7DF2Zzs1dmfEHNHMw4N4DiCTK7IXTJrmzLiFs20rP6xZumHXw/s320/IMG_1990.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>John Odell, again graciously welcomed us back for our visit and kindly set up a special tour which included a private look inside the museum's photo, book and player file libraries--as well as--a return engagement inside the daunting and always impressive memorabilia vault. The main storage facility for most all 3-dimensional items donated to the museum.<br />
<br />
A thrill like no other for any baseball fan.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi2RqM8m5aRUqLtHsICE_XS6UXArC4a0C7UbxVoxwwP7Dl1maGgPVyUZgnY2MRjOl3WCIfyncB27TeNgWS7W9bZX1p7gTIoqMnFYGiSTgTBU0q97g8bRdsBKeGijegOvTNOPo/s1600/IMG_1945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi2RqM8m5aRUqLtHsICE_XS6UXArC4a0C7UbxVoxwwP7Dl1maGgPVyUZgnY2MRjOl3WCIfyncB27TeNgWS7W9bZX1p7gTIoqMnFYGiSTgTBU0q97g8bRdsBKeGijegOvTNOPo/s320/IMG_1945.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ia8i8cBmuwDDh3C-Xv-HC1yTvcksu1zL8isXUCr9c3-0Z0yXZPvhBSfTdlrfjfQYA1p9tPuXsm_da7mKrgk5YcZpye8UlY_vo_tEHEVh34pncXTjKPQcG18VLFTXmTG2_6KX/s1600/IMG_1928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ia8i8cBmuwDDh3C-Xv-HC1yTvcksu1zL8isXUCr9c3-0Z0yXZPvhBSfTdlrfjfQYA1p9tPuXsm_da7mKrgk5YcZpye8UlY_vo_tEHEVh34pncXTjKPQcG18VLFTXmTG2_6KX/s320/IMG_1928.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Later during our visit, we sat down with John Odell to followup on the ever changing exhibits now on display--including the very impressive Viva Baseball & Hank Aaron presentations. And continued our education of Cooperstown with a funny and informative sit down with Tim Wiles--The Director of Research at The Hall Of Fame. Finally, we finished off our week with a private tour of the famous Osetaga Hotel on Ostego Lake. The very resort that houses Hall Of Fame Induction Week every year and was once considered as the filming location for Jack Nicholson's blockbuster move--The Shining.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH_gPi2EYj5Uiz_ysI-foaq92dySIFinV_PKhJ2zU796BDzx5Eb40Sqk2IN9RPw4r95dTcmeIBxZdgcS5xRpz2GdvUow3TN-k0LY8Ij8lT6HABZqPbt5ZNIklvAr7XAG77O1B/s1600/IMG_1790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtH_gPi2EYj5Uiz_ysI-foaq92dySIFinV_PKhJ2zU796BDzx5Eb40Sqk2IN9RPw4r95dTcmeIBxZdgcS5xRpz2GdvUow3TN-k0LY8Ij8lT6HABZqPbt5ZNIklvAr7XAG77O1B/s320/IMG_1790.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>All of that coming up, but what we first learned during our stay is that The Baseball Hall Of Fame and Museum is still today getting a grip on everything that's its been given in trust to their custody--especially items from many years past. A register exists which documents what is in their possession. What the curators and museum associates are today realizing is that many times, artifacts on hand have an even greater history than was previously known.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXxS3lrxWhBIw2kP-kcH6fGSOoeJraAzZHVjkWsese0AP95_UJLjrjrKxOsWoPmM0uHDmgqt67_Ca0UThOP28jQpC3epuhHlwK1GQroQWc8brqLMARMS2wipkoyxFkaHViiKu/s1600/IMG_0624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXxS3lrxWhBIw2kP-kcH6fGSOoeJraAzZHVjkWsese0AP95_UJLjrjrKxOsWoPmM0uHDmgqt67_Ca0UThOP28jQpC3epuhHlwK1GQroQWc8brqLMARMS2wipkoyxFkaHViiKu/s320/IMG_0624.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>John Odell</b>: "Very, very often, there is much more information about a ball in our registrar. But what’s really amazing and what we are really excited about is the work of Ted Spencer—our retired Head Curator. He’s been made Curator Emeritus. He comes in twice a week and has been doing a lot of research, working through a lot of files—hundreds and hundreds of letters, that came with artifacts to the Hall Of Fame with the story of why they came here in the first place and why they are important. Unfortunately, the artifact got separated from the letter--say 50 years ago. And we didn’t know the rest of the story. All we had was the brief write up in the registrar: 'Ball from 1910 World Series.'"<br />
<br />
"But now we can go back, find that letter, and figure out it was thrown by this pitcher. It’s the last ball or the first ball or a ball that was just a foul ball that the donator caught at the World Series. What game. What date. This is how I got it. The entire provenance of these pieces are exploding for us. It’s getting incredibly richer. And it’s one of those thing where, thankfully, people weren’t throwing things away back in the olden days. They instead were throwing things in a shoe box and putting them in a closet."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5CqtC_eWk1QRJ6lpU7viCxwsmAuhb-a95J9H2sd2EgactkKjhA73f5jhvdy7llS09uG72zkza5p4DYUXyPOZCfvbZzXJOflcKcFUa-dBW7QkpC5uh9RQQxuHvY7bmwNVgSZc/s1600/IMG_0785.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC5CqtC_eWk1QRJ6lpU7viCxwsmAuhb-a95J9H2sd2EgactkKjhA73f5jhvdy7llS09uG72zkza5p4DYUXyPOZCfvbZzXJOflcKcFUa-dBW7QkpC5uh9RQQxuHvY7bmwNVgSZc/s320/IMG_0785.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>"Now, we have Ted Spencer, a man with years of experience (a quarter century of work with The Hall Of Fame & Museum). He knows the museum and can go through these files and say: 'Hey, this is important. This brings a better level of understanding about an artifact.' And one of my interns this summer will then take these pages, alphabetize them, cross check them by donor name and we will then be able to assign numbers back to them. So then when you go look for the 429th thing we acquired in 1954—there will be more complete information there." <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDOup8_cKRNLUgxaD2KrWc9KcSeAuBPd-Duz9-BxNVlNTvD7GBhRQlH1KKHJxdOfmaI5mkRpmDQgqJTQyxayYm-N722OIH2jf3W6VX3am-UtCnZyhoIgYEge0NHcbtGNRsBR4/s1600/IMG_0755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDOup8_cKRNLUgxaD2KrWc9KcSeAuBPd-Duz9-BxNVlNTvD7GBhRQlH1KKHJxdOfmaI5mkRpmDQgqJTQyxayYm-N722OIH2jf3W6VX3am-UtCnZyhoIgYEge0NHcbtGNRsBR4/s320/IMG_0755.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>"And many times, these are items that were just stuck in a dad’s drawer or a relatives drawer. And very often, it was donated to the museum years ago, maybe after the players passing--and the resonance of that piece might have been lost (before computers & scanning) over time. Example: We have a “Rabbit Maranville” model bat in our possession. Rabbit Maranville was a shortstop back in the 1910’s. This is a Maranville model bat that came here in the 1950’s—which incidentally coincides with his induction to the Hall Of Fame. But that’s all we had, information-wise on the bat. Ted Spencer just found the letter that came from Rabbitt Maranville’s wife, now widow's attorney, which states Mrs. Maranville has the bat Rabbitt Maranville used in the 1914 World Series when he was with The Boston Braves. The “Miracle” Braves of 1914 and glove he used during his career. And are these things (The Hall) would like to have?"<br />
<br />
"Okay. We now know this Spalding bat is from the 1914 World Series. Now, it’s not just a Maranville model bat, the style that he used during his playing time and maybe it’s got his name on it. And maybe not one he used. But now it’s a World Series used bat by a Hall Of Famer from a miracle comeback team that was in last place in August, came back to win The National League and, eventually, The World Series. There’s a history now that adds to the story. And that is because of Ted Spencer’s diligent work looking through all those letters separated from the thousands of donations a long, long time ago."<br />
<br />
"That's one story that I know of right now. But I’ve seen the stack he's working on and it’s getting bigger and bigger." <br />
<br />
But matching an artifact with a more complete history is not the only issue staff at The Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum is working through--funding the cost of operations is difficult as well. "That also puts us into a tough position since The Hall does not pay for memorabilia," says Mr. Odell. "So it's very difficult right now, but we have to make it work.”<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUl7f_7_UXi7KQxlOpgi02ifPh9iD2zO92KVS6o6GbGBdPrfDgFDzlCIv34yCjKGo_BmKInabsNwScnw0ZmUu-t2j86p8nj7Ytsc-rs5IlNHwWLMzBNNX_G6sHihdlHTeo99L/s1600/IMG_0702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUl7f_7_UXi7KQxlOpgi02ifPh9iD2zO92KVS6o6GbGBdPrfDgFDzlCIv34yCjKGo_BmKInabsNwScnw0ZmUu-t2j86p8nj7Ytsc-rs5IlNHwWLMzBNNX_G6sHihdlHTeo99L/s320/IMG_0702.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><b>John Odell</b>: "We don’t want ballplayers to think that by donating to the Hall Of Fame they are increasing their chances of getting into the Hall Of Fame. On the other hand, we are doing more with Hall Of Famers saying—here is what we do. If you buy into that (the player), we would love for you to donate. But for a long time, we’ve been reluctant to hit them up. We don’t want them to hear: 'Hi, welcome to our club, now we want some money!' That would be a little bit tacky. So as the economy has continued to go south and we have been continuing to work to improve our own financial position—we are coming to new ways to work with the ballplayers. We’ve found that if we are open to them—'Look here is what we are doing. Here is how much it costs to run the Hall Of Fame. If you would like to support that—we would love to have you do that.'" <br />
<br />
"Hank Aaron is doing that. A couple of other ballplayers have joined him as well. 'Yeah, I will do that.'—like Brooks Robinson.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWXZawl2R1nkEjS78vqdFR1TJp-5ssNQ0yhw7Fc_jwQOVwVH3xBUqFiuIet-QVq0QbHCGR4nXqZ0gAHYrQCOrdumBiB8fZzfeRjHOwLwbuH6UY1lHpk6Ky-3BWO5CE0dnRxnt/s1600/IMG_0778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWXZawl2R1nkEjS78vqdFR1TJp-5ssNQ0yhw7Fc_jwQOVwVH3xBUqFiuIet-QVq0QbHCGR4nXqZ0gAHYrQCOrdumBiB8fZzfeRjHOwLwbuH6UY1lHpk6Ky-3BWO5CE0dnRxnt/s320/IMG_0778.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>But despite those concerns, The Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum is very tight on storage space. So strained that on the first day of our visit--massive room was being cleared in the Memorabilia Vault and on the 3rd Floor of the museum to temporarily house a touring exhibit from England comparing the differences and similarities of baseball to cricket. A series of displays that showed up via 18-wheeler and will go on display in Cooperstown in just a few weeks time.<br />
<br />
<b>John Odell:</b> "There is an off-site storage area where we store long rows of seats from stadiums—for example. The very large items. We have an old (Iron Mike) pitching machine there too. The odd ball types of things that sometimes have been on exhibit, but when they come off—we don’t have anywhere to put them here (at the museum). So the next time we need it, we then go and bring it back for display.But we are always running out of space. Wherever we go, we are always running out of space."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhOiQQ1GfH8eaHjrkwjVvzT-ySmdCHZ5ato31XbN2DpnD6Gdyh5lbzUbQQdQ1yXM-XuqrEkmLOxk_zT4jh2DRq4dnPtBF_YbIC93gC3R9pncKtCWn4CIy3CyEaXfsws_Tp6et/s1600/IMG_0666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhOiQQ1GfH8eaHjrkwjVvzT-ySmdCHZ5ato31XbN2DpnD6Gdyh5lbzUbQQdQ1yXM-XuqrEkmLOxk_zT4jh2DRq4dnPtBF_YbIC93gC3R9pncKtCWn4CIy3CyEaXfsws_Tp6et/s320/IMG_0666.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Believe it or not, all those remarks barely touch the surface of our time behind the scenes at The National Baseball Hall Of Fame & Museum. Coming up next--what Mr. Odell showed us on our private tour--including this terrific baseball board game (patent pending) from 1913 which included Walter Johnson and The Washington Nationals.<br />
<br />
Cool Stuff--Coming.<br />
<br />
<i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-67156989047536336282011-03-08T10:15:00.024-05:002011-03-08T10:43:28.102-05:00Looking Back Over The First Three Weeks Of Spring Training 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xggb3J8u26KPLad6TduQgyJ3BqXCjehiBcmym38rveEwQvLDc2dtENIk7a605mcTfKh_VXDJ3IkW-A408Deef3DQCiO8yqHkv4mP5SKKJb6_ixhPPQ7fW_S_U7BXjhndxdQr/s1600/IMG_9463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-xggb3J8u26KPLad6TduQgyJ3BqXCjehiBcmym38rveEwQvLDc2dtENIk7a605mcTfKh_VXDJ3IkW-A408Deef3DQCiO8yqHkv4mP5SKKJb6_ixhPPQ7fW_S_U7BXjhndxdQr/s320/IMG_9463.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Looking back over the first three weeks of Spring Training 2011 for Our Washington Nationals, here are a few random thoughts with just over three weeks to go before Opening Day at Nationals Park scheduled for March 30th against The Atlanta Braves.<br />
<br />
In no particular order:<br />
<br />
Bryce Harper has swagger. There's a confidence to everything he states publicly and how the Number 1 Overall Pick in the 2010 draft handles himself on the field. It's not arrogance, but a true inner belief in how the 18-year old should carry himself and how he should be perceived. You got to love that especially since Harper also comes across as being a keen student of the game and baseball history. That being said, Bryce still needs more experience in the minors before making his first Big League roster.<br />
<br />
In loving way, Livan Hernandez can be Our Washington Nationals Class Clown, but he's also a very classy act. As much outward fun Ole Number 61 displays in practice and in games, The Big Cuban also understands his role on this team as leader and mentor. Perfect example, during spring training, Livo has taken fellow Cuban Yunesky Maya under his wings, worked out with Maya in the team's Space Coast Stadium fitness center before practice and been a solidifying force in Yunesky's continued comfort and acclimation to The United States of America.<br />
<br />
Sometimes the lightbulb just comes on. Sometimes all the past injuries and transgressions simply go away. More experienced, mature, over his hip injury, no longer throwing across his body, instead with a more up & down motion--Ross Detwiler has found increased speed on his fastball. And a belief this lefty can again throw baseballs past good hitters. For the first time since being picked by Washington as the Number 1 Pick in the 2007 draft--Detwiler looks more like the real deal.<br />
<br />
A man of few words, Jordan Zimmermann just goes about his business. If he wasn't so talented, many would probably not take notice of this unassuming young man. When J-Z steps on the field to compete, he unleashes a completely different competitive animal. The exact traits you want to see in a top of the line starter. Playing baseball for an occupation sure is fun, but it's also a crafty business that Jordan Zimmermann understands fully needs to be mastered for continued success.<br />
<br />
Nary a word being spoken about Jason Marquis this spring, probably press Washington's 2010 big free agent signing is content with not hearing. Injured most all of last season, Jason never became the marquee name Nats Fans hoped when brought on board by Mike Rizzo. But you can expect Our GM is fully expecting a turnaround from this veteran starter in 2011.<br />
<br />
Cole Kimball throws heat. He's also a completely different pitcher than seen at Vermont, Hagerstown and Potomac from 2006 through 2009. His walks and hits allowed are down, the strikeouts up. Cole Kimball, a late bloomer, also finally figuring it out.<br />
<br />
Can Matt Stairs find a role that consists of being more than just the left-handed pinch hitter off the bench? Stairs might be able to jump out of bed in the dead of winter and sock the first pitch he's sees out of the park. But is that enough for Jim Riggleman to put him on the 25-man Opening Day Roster?<br />
<br />
When someone believes they've never been given a real opportunity to prove themselves in another system, gets traded and then opens baseball operation eye's as to their real capabilities in the new organization--you have feel happy for that guy. Michael Morse is the perfect example. Lost in Seattle, "Mikey Mo" has found a comfortable setting in the Nation's Capital. With Josh Willingham traded and the left field starting role open--Morse could be capable of a breakout year. There's no question he can hit. What everybody wants to know is whether Michael can do it, consistently, on a daily basis?<br />
<br />
The seriousness in Nyjer Morgan this spring is very noticeable. Looking to turnaround his career after a disappointing and erratic 2010 season, "Tony Plush" has gone by the wayside. He's far more humble and businesslike in 2011. Nyjer Morgan out to prove last season was a fluke.<br />
<br />
Roger Bernadina also pushing to become an everyday player in 2011. In shape, bulked up and speedy as ever--the Netherland Antillies Native may be the best all-around outfielder, defensively, on this roster. Bernadina plays an excellent left field. In center, Roger might be capable of being a gold glover.<br />
<br />
Jerry Hairston, Jr. is a professional player. He carries himself well and will be a big influence in Washington's clubhouse in this season. Classy.<br />
<br />
And finally, how different would 2011 Spring Training for Our Washington Nationals be if Stephen Strasburg was fully healthy? Would the prognosticators and pundits be taking this team more seriously as a potential contender?<br />
<br />
Just a few random thoughts, looking back over the first three weeks of spring training 2011.<br />
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<i>Photo Credit--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-8922207484528224822011-03-06T17:20:00.031-05:002011-03-06T18:57:31.261-05:00Port St. Lucie & Beautiful Jupiter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmKnduIBC6sUI27pNU2TKM7z6cvvjSEFuB89n_UNJ2fa_YilVAYyXXrPg3Ehs2xQRMQG6eYYH4j0drAxoVAjw-ryadA9PKtVYE-g30TL8yMTWrBlq68wtR0erAazfsHwF3jDC/s1600/IMG_0370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnmKnduIBC6sUI27pNU2TKM7z6cvvjSEFuB89n_UNJ2fa_YilVAYyXXrPg3Ehs2xQRMQG6eYYH4j0drAxoVAjw-ryadA9PKtVYE-g30TL8yMTWrBlq68wtR0erAazfsHwF3jDC/s320/IMG_0370.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>After <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/private-tour-of-historic-dodgertown_429.html" target="_blank">leaving Vero Beach and Dodgertown</a> the other day, The African Queen and I headed down the eastern Florida coastline toward Palm Beach--our final destination--the legendary <a href="http://www.thebreakers.com/" target="_blank">Breakers Hotel</a>. Still being in a baseball mood, we decided to briefly stop by the spring training homes of The New York Mets, Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxF6lZSBnjBns6EnVk_tl2T7vaknt6cSYMle20zu2yd88P-gWZB5WDAfH72v7lwpwMQsciOYD92yTUWTKFyoeYQZKfaxAmOSTO8bQOuiJNa1b__bKUqiVMvZh1uHUi4cw8sI5/s1600/IMG_0381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxF6lZSBnjBns6EnVk_tl2T7vaknt6cSYMle20zu2yd88P-gWZB5WDAfH72v7lwpwMQsciOYD92yTUWTKFyoeYQZKfaxAmOSTO8bQOuiJNa1b__bKUqiVMvZh1uHUi4cw8sI5/s320/IMG_0381.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wy1JGMUHBCw4z6ttWS82o1LagD8xXfftyhasVb-tUi7viwVB3xq_FSbGccYLpgaiHCzsdu6uymwaiiTX-IItSP9LhfUlCZg7VzQ0Ldfh4hVq9SS3MWjQ7HBXHiukGQ38XWZI/s1600/IMG_0390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wy1JGMUHBCw4z6ttWS82o1LagD8xXfftyhasVb-tUi7viwVB3xq_FSbGccYLpgaiHCzsdu6uymwaiiTX-IItSP9LhfUlCZg7VzQ0Ldfh4hVq9SS3MWjQ7HBXHiukGQ38XWZI/s320/IMG_0390.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>No games or practices were taking place at either facility so we roamed around the exteriors of the facilities taking in the sights.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0r87pvh02RWNReO8tH_vSN2_Gf8tTliJduFRgJhNbuzkxmLdX4Nzm2So-zMRgwSwZ5qhm9NL255Slj2EJ6FZV1F86tpqxVkt_gPQPQqmY6X1NoLOp6F-cGoBWx42ke6tfS9I/s1600/IMG_0387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0r87pvh02RWNReO8tH_vSN2_Gf8tTliJduFRgJhNbuzkxmLdX4Nzm2So-zMRgwSwZ5qhm9NL255Slj2EJ6FZV1F86tpqxVkt_gPQPQqmY6X1NoLOp6F-cGoBWx42ke6tfS9I/s320/IMG_0387.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGOkV3UsqBXbXlvmuGUCVEoFUA1z114GIgeekx4zrRSb-DVGWTnQD1LbwEGUuwbLLA4L8w77F-vLTz0Cymhs5x2pgKAVJwchX7Ndi3rCdPnzsbfL-1OT5YpZhIWOfYBsMSNu7/s1600/IMG_0385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGOkV3UsqBXbXlvmuGUCVEoFUA1z114GIgeekx4zrRSb-DVGWTnQD1LbwEGUuwbLLA4L8w77F-vLTz0Cymhs5x2pgKAVJwchX7Ndi3rCdPnzsbfL-1OT5YpZhIWOfYBsMSNu7/s320/IMG_0385.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Digital Domain Park in Port St.Lucie is located just off I-95 (50 minutes south of Viera) providing very easy access to The Mets Spring Home that up until this year was known as Tradition Field (The name of the development surrounding the grounds). The mostly brick ballpark with glass and steel is situated at the end of an industrial park less than 1/2 mile from an avenue lined with restaurants, stores and mini-malls. In fact, Port St.Lucie looked like a larger version of Viera, Florida. The same movie theatre, Carrabba's Restaurant, Books-A-Million, etc. Almost identical in every way to Washington's Spring Training Home--just a bit bigger.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvfjBbGUz51hhJ-cl0yBvzpHb-yOwIG5gm6IDDNLYhJvJGWbtXGGCsZIQDUvD7owX1RhHk6uUSkQ5tSQ-g1KvqRx7Ykg2zVyqAMc2Qnn4jInV8KZaccrqiQfLLzQZCfPWa1A9/s1600/IMG_0382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvfjBbGUz51hhJ-cl0yBvzpHb-yOwIG5gm6IDDNLYhJvJGWbtXGGCsZIQDUvD7owX1RhHk6uUSkQ5tSQ-g1KvqRx7Ykg2zVyqAMc2Qnn4jInV8KZaccrqiQfLLzQZCfPWa1A9/s320/IMG_0382.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXgFHcXIPoh5hVzC9e4SKs2gsuQHeY9JciZahdSKOocPxjlzk5pmbOxZRw5b_ktxg2lBv8YiKYv4TqZq-XQ27cKJRP59cm5UOw26IW_LKN7SoBz4AkDY-QGTCPeHGyPz26P6b/s1600/IMG_0383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXgFHcXIPoh5hVzC9e4SKs2gsuQHeY9JciZahdSKOocPxjlzk5pmbOxZRw5b_ktxg2lBv8YiKYv4TqZq-XQ27cKJRP59cm5UOw26IW_LKN7SoBz4AkDY-QGTCPeHGyPz26P6b/s320/IMG_0383.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Directly in front of the main entrance to Digital Domain Park is a monument dedicated to those lost on September 11, 2011 at The World Trade Center site in New York City. The structure consists of actual pieces of steel from the World Trade Center. A nice touch.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWI2EJtYWtW9L3DaL2C4g3x3rIecS9jJN_m-35cj7_U57y3X7TP8Z7LXZe_JCUIrhrIzvDHVgxBafBsCv_WZkJ99pcGkgmwg7SRYs8EepYtaLlo7l_CTvdqYespOOG-8CV_Zk/s1600/IMG_0384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtWI2EJtYWtW9L3DaL2C4g3x3rIecS9jJN_m-35cj7_U57y3X7TP8Z7LXZe_JCUIrhrIzvDHVgxBafBsCv_WZkJ99pcGkgmwg7SRYs8EepYtaLlo7l_CTvdqYespOOG-8CV_Zk/s320/IMG_0384.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We thought Digital Domain Park was OK, but we have to watch a game inside to offer a final conclusion.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1di_CYGNaG9jRJ2FZRJgrvaylplNlXuhkHAAbk4Sgbp43RliI4f52yf1TqxCXOQvpwZ6bFa8eBHBVJi9MSd8yOyhVwJhs6N1VXiwxltKTY73EUNka7mxL3G6VByTTWSh9QJD-/s1600/IMG_0400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1di_CYGNaG9jRJ2FZRJgrvaylplNlXuhkHAAbk4Sgbp43RliI4f52yf1TqxCXOQvpwZ6bFa8eBHBVJi9MSd8yOyhVwJhs6N1VXiwxltKTY73EUNka7mxL3G6VByTTWSh9QJD-/s320/IMG_0400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKMwLzKfbZXdGjw0RFkwYmvgd5NP3JX9oqLQq_3eZZduHU0Y7biyomSaOJ9v23Eb53uWd4nVY6vroEkN-GqXTdLGb6byXK0rpLOflEJOsXOe2VfvU9gldgUh41IVUiaCTLIEt/s1600/IMG_0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKMwLzKfbZXdGjw0RFkwYmvgd5NP3JX9oqLQq_3eZZduHU0Y7biyomSaOJ9v23Eb53uWd4nVY6vroEkN-GqXTdLGb6byXK0rpLOflEJOsXOe2VfvU9gldgUh41IVUiaCTLIEt/s320/IMG_0411.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A judgement which never wavered from the very second we drove up to Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. Located just a short drive east of I-95 (and 30 minutes south from Port St. Lucie, 80 minutes from Viera), directly across the street from the Florida Atlantic University and a residential neighborhood--the spring home of The Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals is GORGEOUS!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AD7dwGaKwlsEb_jxzMAqFZkesd5IMvwYjuu_kzxhpfllhwYTXyejqJf2GlOAdU8b-LLrGZrcYI2qilBwbSbPaLASgmO2bLvAWKpVeMY2y77T0wbtZvqAu-If7T_8OzroYexY/s1600/IMG_0416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4AD7dwGaKwlsEb_jxzMAqFZkesd5IMvwYjuu_kzxhpfllhwYTXyejqJf2GlOAdU8b-LLrGZrcYI2qilBwbSbPaLASgmO2bLvAWKpVeMY2y77T0wbtZvqAu-If7T_8OzroYexY/s320/IMG_0416.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Beautiful ballpark, lovely landscaping, first class clubhouses and practice fields (separate for each team). There was nothing not to like about Roger Dean Stadium and nearby Juno Beach. How upsetting to realize that The Montreal Expos and, in essence, Our Washington Nationals were removed from this incredible facility after the 2002 season to appease Jeffrey Loria's purchase of The Marlins, the sale of his Expos to MLB and the eventual debacle that ensued when Major League Baseball attempted to contract The Expos and Minnesota Twins. The Montreal Expos and The St. Louis Cardinals were the first two teams to share a spring facility. The Cards & Nats would still be together today if a more reasoned approach to the financial issues of The Expos and Twins had prevailed early in the 2000's. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Dr_7MQ-ew1hbWBU_e9YXWMlBO-qUd0cNTAB2A4xkvQteQOHo4xJnojVmuEcDjJ-C538SIcx0KJMC-mSIbVgTZ1QeD_wOPM663p96kanOZ0wQkFaE0WN_IuGA-LOSvYOBshxy/s1600/IMG_0395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Dr_7MQ-ew1hbWBU_e9YXWMlBO-qUd0cNTAB2A4xkvQteQOHo4xJnojVmuEcDjJ-C538SIcx0KJMC-mSIbVgTZ1QeD_wOPM663p96kanOZ0wQkFaE0WN_IuGA-LOSvYOBshxy/s320/IMG_0395.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit68Y_bFNS2L6b7IJwgJW_l6Ozii3-j4DAHaHhM0xN7Tzogj3zgsmwAvjiq7ilyeiJj08RHvOSANJE3d4HrawYx7ADeQKDlhLyUGvhVdNhepmD3RgXKtEhgYZYNP5GJOfxQU2l/s1600/IMG_0421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit68Y_bFNS2L6b7IJwgJW_l6Ozii3-j4DAHaHhM0xN7Tzogj3zgsmwAvjiq7ilyeiJj08RHvOSANJE3d4HrawYx7ADeQKDlhLyUGvhVdNhepmD3RgXKtEhgYZYNP5GJOfxQU2l/s320/IMG_0421.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We've only seen in person a handful of the spring training homes for Major League Teams--Viera (Nationals), Kissimmee (Astros), Lake Buena Vista (Braves), Port St. Lucie (Mets) and Jupiter (Marlins & Cardinals).<br />
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There is no question in our minds that Jupiter is the most beautiful of that group. Just stunning.<br />
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Of course, Historic Dodgertown is in a League Of Its Own.<br />
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<b>BTW</b>: If you are wondering, Roger Dean is a local Chevrolet Dealer that sponsors the naming rights to The Marlins & Cardinals Ballpark in Jupiter.<br />
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<i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-88849298502870341192011-03-04T20:57:00.005-05:002011-03-04T21:13:06.580-05:00Private Tour Of Historic Dodgertown--Holman Stadium (Part 4)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4KUMIRg4ReuymGGHlTFKbtOV9v-uvz46PYn-V2Xh-rHwLnbGZPUgEthN2Uk2uLZ37QbJ2s7hS9Pm1EaRlbRQlsl_s6bNkX8-eBwMPUg7dphja9FEFVdcVDSTLdr5rJQ-tTwc/s1600/IMG_0159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4KUMIRg4ReuymGGHlTFKbtOV9v-uvz46PYn-V2Xh-rHwLnbGZPUgEthN2Uk2uLZ37QbJ2s7hS9Pm1EaRlbRQlsl_s6bNkX8-eBwMPUg7dphja9FEFVdcVDSTLdr5rJQ-tTwc/s320/IMG_0159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFYbvDbNd_fFfhU_SxSVU_cHdhR0XAM5URP7CEsPUoqfFRJRPPKGYO94i5aCG8IalHOO0YfHOfdmMx1dVldqV-AtGz7dXNUA1H0IHa7eIENgmzolJGzx4YXNc5oA9l2IOfn7o/s1600/IMG_0155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFYbvDbNd_fFfhU_SxSVU_cHdhR0XAM5URP7CEsPUoqfFRJRPPKGYO94i5aCG8IalHOO0YfHOfdmMx1dVldqV-AtGz7dXNUA1H0IHa7eIENgmzolJGzx4YXNc5oA9l2IOfn7o/s320/IMG_0155.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAM9zHqA_-RwZGnIy1XWWi17tYgxe6lV2vmOpdHYuGO5Xh884jioVluukfeIJ84kG4WSWyVyIzcndaHI9DABCbccwThXHndrnH2-i9ZTuwKCf26HVMJICo3Dy23BKnKt5LqtqW/s1600/IMG_0156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAM9zHqA_-RwZGnIy1XWWi17tYgxe6lV2vmOpdHYuGO5Xh884jioVluukfeIJ84kG4WSWyVyIzcndaHI9DABCbccwThXHndrnH2-i9ZTuwKCf26HVMJICo3Dy23BKnKt5LqtqW/s320/IMG_0156.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>For the purist in baseball, few would dicker that Holman Stadium in Vero Beach, Florida was once one of the mecca's for Spring Training Baseball. This <a href="http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/spring/verobeach.html" target="_blank">particular story</a> really nails the atmosphere that was the Dodgertown Experience before Los Angeles pulled the plug and made Glendale, Arizona the Winter Home of The Los Angeles Dodgers.<br />
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One of the best write ups we've ever read about Dodgertown and the true fan experience that was apart of it. Please r<a href="http://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/spring/verobeach.html" target="_blank">ead it</a>. Clearly the thoughts comes from the author's heart.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOE3bVizIUgDbA9z90VLo7VjS4Gx89gjux9Aguzl-H-xx8WCx4QirOWB8dNrGzHfYPkhSEUx4qGUbd2dRriMAUucs1_4eXmGjC4GKtAJtpSrXGxus2-tjAFlIR8PM_0HEFZrs/s1600/IMG_0305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWOE3bVizIUgDbA9z90VLo7VjS4Gx89gjux9Aguzl-H-xx8WCx4QirOWB8dNrGzHfYPkhSEUx4qGUbd2dRriMAUucs1_4eXmGjC4GKtAJtpSrXGxus2-tjAFlIR8PM_0HEFZrs/s320/IMG_0305.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/private-tour-of-historic-dodgertown.html" target="_blank">Finishing off </a>our <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/private-tour-of-historic-dodgertown_04.html" target="_blank">four part series</a> on <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/private-tour-of-historic-dodgertown_7818." target="_blank">Dodgertown</a>--Holman Stadium seated 6,500 patrons. Unless you sat under one of the very large trees planted and grown within the seating bowl--you were out of luck in staying out of the sun. The same as the players for both teams that weathered open air seating areas--instead of dugouts.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tGK8YhsrAYADgF5bP029kJYeYEd5BYA4ZEW1DOfychFodDEM4zuXuDQIn6gcAth9ApmqcAfsHGPS_9IDIXKiNYUKmy6EdyyOmwKOTabviZE6fL2wjUl7vrGoHJk0o2NPtd3p/s1600/IMG_0330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tGK8YhsrAYADgF5bP029kJYeYEd5BYA4ZEW1DOfychFodDEM4zuXuDQIn6gcAth9ApmqcAfsHGPS_9IDIXKiNYUKmy6EdyyOmwKOTabviZE6fL2wjUl7vrGoHJk0o2NPtd3p/s320/IMG_0330.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCdUcm_P-bOfURGsOni2ZRU8OSW3aK3j22rws3uOuwDR5k12-wQ8wYBBZ5uZnPkcWF-hXeKj224VjHPzNhDX_V-n5Kh3HuM-Fy7c5QQ3Tc9kUYxGTkXW_O6y3gIjAUWxs0iui/s1600/IMG_0336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCdUcm_P-bOfURGsOni2ZRU8OSW3aK3j22rws3uOuwDR5k12-wQ8wYBBZ5uZnPkcWF-hXeKj224VjHPzNhDX_V-n5Kh3HuM-Fy7c5QQ3Tc9kUYxGTkXW_O6y3gIjAUWxs0iui/s320/IMG_0336.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Located on Duke Snider Drive with the car entrance from Tommy Lasorda Lane, Holman Stadium may well have been the most intimate baseball park in America. For spring training, there were no fences in the outfield. The trees that lined the outfield perimeters of the ballyard were painted with yellow markers to indicate to fielders there was an obstruction in the way. With the outfield treeline sitting on the same slope as fans, it's just remarkable to think that a family of four could be spread out on the grass only to be surprised by a player running over them chasing a ball.<br />
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That's about as intimate as it gets.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKkzCXwcClodBFpTawcmf3Kc9shRZtCTTKtx7oPUUfepU86WvdjzcNw6h4u5kiQqgugI3YXe7E3FqVCstNLnVeDJZgBAYFZqDxww6yOb4EjzfIu-jYNqONr48q8yhR4KBX2Pl/s1600/IMG_0297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvKkzCXwcClodBFpTawcmf3Kc9shRZtCTTKtx7oPUUfepU86WvdjzcNw6h4u5kiQqgugI3YXe7E3FqVCstNLnVeDJZgBAYFZqDxww6yOb4EjzfIu-jYNqONr48q8yhR4KBX2Pl/s320/IMG_0297.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dfAZXQJzvFyqNfJEF1-dIbCgGgikQj8BlgtXNuF9MXq5gW8Qq2NOr8GXlP7_L6pSoeSpx3eqWHbSDZZk_5cnDzeLuuZnOJsy1YIEllJtelUUp8ADA2ZRZBRLqCVHHq-9vxfF/s1600/IMG_0298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dfAZXQJzvFyqNfJEF1-dIbCgGgikQj8BlgtXNuF9MXq5gW8Qq2NOr8GXlP7_L6pSoeSpx3eqWHbSDZZk_5cnDzeLuuZnOJsy1YIEllJtelUUp8ADA2ZRZBRLqCVHHq-9vxfF/s320/IMG_0298.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Today, Holman Stadium looks pretty much like what it did for most of the 60 odd years The Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers called it their Spring Training Home. The Press Box is classic, so are the tiny metal hinged fiberglass seats that sit within the bowl. There is a tarp now placed over the dugouts. There is a full time home run fence in the outfield. Other that not--not much has changed.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpMPPq9oVCAu6uIdiV3P2jSfTeP9BDqdMAPMC3dJQmU6oPbe9VwsXvAv4ObSxARigh3xkY19J-fv1gs2QIV2dnxKI2blC3OpaNC0bHm0n8fsvAyv7L3dVVR62DuLYwIqAOon1/s1600/IMG_0277.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxpMPPq9oVCAu6uIdiV3P2jSfTeP9BDqdMAPMC3dJQmU6oPbe9VwsXvAv4ObSxARigh3xkY19J-fv1gs2QIV2dnxKI2blC3OpaNC0bHm0n8fsvAyv7L3dVVR62DuLYwIqAOon1/s320/IMG_0277.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYPO7bpYyrEc_86d2SZoF2pd1NyjvBLMzNg1ZPoDVyRcXUrmhNUBHTrqzldQhcju1eya5jgQkzPvJm1fg-sZrvxhjM1DzX1DTtAri2GJrlB76AqmKULiQfGGjx-ZtpS0wWSL5/s1600/IMG_0279.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYPO7bpYyrEc_86d2SZoF2pd1NyjvBLMzNg1ZPoDVyRcXUrmhNUBHTrqzldQhcju1eya5jgQkzPvJm1fg-sZrvxhjM1DzX1DTtAri2GJrlB76AqmKULiQfGGjx-ZtpS0wWSL5/s320/IMG_0279.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>There is a small concession stand behind the press box and home plate. As well as concessions located on the 1st and 3rd base sides--accessible by walking down steps from the seating bowl. Behind the 1st base concessions lies the original ticket windows and team gift shop.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGikD3vw9atnpCxdy9Z2XiIUuZCNbKKpLEz3FEOv1BUTo1l0FRQjQqDntUH3F41lbdvl1UyNa2rCBbtInpZBbCYPmDkZYmiK6o3i8b6GVYw17Sluf6dq2YmJWWN6_iZ1ZlM_y/s1600/IMG_0314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGikD3vw9atnpCxdy9Z2XiIUuZCNbKKpLEz3FEOv1BUTo1l0FRQjQqDntUH3F41lbdvl1UyNa2rCBbtInpZBbCYPmDkZYmiK6o3i8b6GVYw17Sluf6dq2YmJWWN6_iZ1ZlM_y/s320/IMG_0314.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyP8NwDkutWbSWbahFZCTgXli5yX-JR8Q0_rRgD4EVN0GTPOuPn-3ci-nV9-g4XLngRW6ohazEgU6SreTOcugRGYrPh1wmwKtk8qZD6aOJFVBuhKALjfQQEiTIZjgw7CtZ_eDn/s1600/IMG_0342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyP8NwDkutWbSWbahFZCTgXli5yX-JR8Q0_rRgD4EVN0GTPOuPn-3ci-nV9-g4XLngRW6ohazEgU6SreTOcugRGYrPh1wmwKtk8qZD6aOJFVBuhKALjfQQEiTIZjgw7CtZ_eDn/s320/IMG_0342.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEGnsY1VL8drwjxXrO0kYaaxBWuwl9OYFyg-Ms1BCJM4A47zYExt7lGbTRzeMtjKHL13a9FVZI4r4yGaUXhFh6oB682JgE09KYKcd4vnjbW6nArinAnAHx8sbCV9QSpSnibav/s1600/IMG_0343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEGnsY1VL8drwjxXrO0kYaaxBWuwl9OYFyg-Ms1BCJM4A47zYExt7lGbTRzeMtjKHL13a9FVZI4r4yGaUXhFh6oB682JgE09KYKcd4vnjbW6nArinAnAHx8sbCV9QSpSnibav/s320/IMG_0343.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cOVmZChbM1YYrW47vnb5FctEeyU_edZgJmZXVnhWog-hKHk9li4jcs4iu9jbV_ztLnRMeh1_07Sa7Yir-DRH6umguAarcsMaEg8PBnzfXodh1bH8BmqBwz6z_1kKP9ZZ4qrJ/s1600/IMG_0344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cOVmZChbM1YYrW47vnb5FctEeyU_edZgJmZXVnhWog-hKHk9li4jcs4iu9jbV_ztLnRMeh1_07Sa7Yir-DRH6umguAarcsMaEg8PBnzfXodh1bH8BmqBwz6z_1kKP9ZZ4qrJ/s320/IMG_0344.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The only modern structure is the very large building sitting over the right centerfield wall. Inside were housed The Dodgers Executive Offices and Clubhouses for both home and visiting teams. Just a few feet east of that facility lies the second Group Bullpen Mound and Batting Cages--used by both teams on game days.<br />
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Our pictures speak for themselves. But what really struck us visiting Holman Stadium were the three commemorative plaques which strongly suggest the history The Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers brought to Vero Beach and abandoned in 2008 for the desert of Arizona.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYM4kxaoukcBMifqEE_h5gSKwNIigVumisfcIQPLhU1s2Jn2NZaZ4l6lOk9ccvEzVEqUeLBCGouMv8udotW6IATWFcLA8fHFbtfXiyOGyrao_A8SzijJKmriRvhLqz4MevVtm/s1600/IMG_0316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYM4kxaoukcBMifqEE_h5gSKwNIigVumisfcIQPLhU1s2Jn2NZaZ4l6lOk9ccvEzVEqUeLBCGouMv8udotW6IATWFcLA8fHFbtfXiyOGyrao_A8SzijJKmriRvhLqz4MevVtm/s320/IMG_0316.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The first plaque honors <a href="http://www.walteromalley.com/hist_dtown_page2.php" target="_blank">Bud Holman--namesake on the ballpark</a>. The forward thinking Vero Beach resident that convinced Dodger's Owner Walter O'Malley that land abandoned by the Navy near the Vero Beach Airport after World War II was perfect for Dodgertown development in 1948.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3rVe8wHiZ-ODIWouTPUq6K9eqpayASF5JL_IP7zPkQt6Q8_XFKpDftYyHlbfy86YETKC1PBHMMcYBi0_NlOrrLwNXzuui7D9pww_mfMv2dMhh4S2UaPpGqMFvuWV9A31eGeb/s1600/IMG_0319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3rVe8wHiZ-ODIWouTPUq6K9eqpayASF5JL_IP7zPkQt6Q8_XFKpDftYyHlbfy86YETKC1PBHMMcYBi0_NlOrrLwNXzuui7D9pww_mfMv2dMhh4S2UaPpGqMFvuWV9A31eGeb/s320/IMG_0319.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNPTJ3VH6NdvoEKQjVv8Jm5_kGqLHuHWgp2N96sRLa1qUPlG3QjB9G_yQILdhMOc6dEh5xl2YRKsNJJ2QoJAkVUkOidMltR9pGh3QyfmVbnoHL-BOIDnFrkus__RwerO5HXE8/s1600/IMG_0320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNPTJ3VH6NdvoEKQjVv8Jm5_kGqLHuHWgp2N96sRLa1qUPlG3QjB9G_yQILdhMOc6dEh5xl2YRKsNJJ2QoJAkVUkOidMltR9pGh3QyfmVbnoHL-BOIDnFrkus__RwerO5HXE8/s320/IMG_0320.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IzC1GeeA1R6KVJauU8fzTwAQPAN6DzwOaEGO30U6m_Ii7fJmB0z0T8isyEfnbpd-s6qzxzfFFK0FOAtybjNRSjo03TL6IaoNuv3_1ebtub_j3KI3rGrwUJ5FOc_0Z4YTV_fh/s1600/IMG_0321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IzC1GeeA1R6KVJauU8fzTwAQPAN6DzwOaEGO30U6m_Ii7fJmB0z0T8isyEfnbpd-s6qzxzfFFK0FOAtybjNRSjo03TL6IaoNuv3_1ebtub_j3KI3rGrwUJ5FOc_0Z4YTV_fh/s320/IMG_0321.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The second plaque is unique. A commemorative to those lives lost in the bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. Signed by Walter O'Malley, then Manager & Hall Of Famer Walter Alston, Captain & Hall Of Famer Pee Wee Reeese, Bud Holman and front office employees of The Brooklyn Dodgers, this November 1st, 1956 plaque remembers The Brooklyn Dodgers visit to Japan was something we didn't expect to see during our visit to Dodgertown--but was striking to view in person.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JUgbBArgf6ACg6CVrTEQyekbh1mLGeyD5qIsMSjhYgF8vSlCkBjQevInXk1wHJfLwkEetECH0w4wnhDiCjiv4dXTdKInQ7imoUVUh4i2I8IVRQ8cicA7lUmzGLOsWivvYPfi/s1600/IMG_0318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JUgbBArgf6ACg6CVrTEQyekbh1mLGeyD5qIsMSjhYgF8vSlCkBjQevInXk1wHJfLwkEetECH0w4wnhDiCjiv4dXTdKInQ7imoUVUh4i2I8IVRQ8cicA7lUmzGLOsWivvYPfi/s320/IMG_0318.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8zdmp1-ajERrI7DuI3hvQUr56u60wFPAYfFIX8QAGwphzdB9K80MwR09isXygRLbVx1x3pXeD-vTMroMBhAuylNAraFO0uWmjsBOpEDiIisk4v5t156-FJSkyrwevigbwXOJ/s1600/IMG_0317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8zdmp1-ajERrI7DuI3hvQUr56u60wFPAYfFIX8QAGwphzdB9K80MwR09isXygRLbVx1x3pXeD-vTMroMBhAuylNAraFO0uWmjsBOpEDiIisk4v5t156-FJSkyrwevigbwXOJ/s320/IMG_0317.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And finally--the third plaque honoring the first professional game between South Korea and The Los Angeles Dodgers played at Holman Stadium on March 9, 1985.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMnacWYRaZEpkoYotYet04jxPfhkGjZ0mUto0XCDuiPBO4PG-IsPt6OPIaWraV3lzejkXGD0DEsLF15SAdvBgofueTnQ2SuTxQm8q0hJZTdUs03gY1Ur6KaQng_GxzuX9a_Lp/s1600/IMG_0161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimMnacWYRaZEpkoYotYet04jxPfhkGjZ0mUto0XCDuiPBO4PG-IsPt6OPIaWraV3lzejkXGD0DEsLF15SAdvBgofueTnQ2SuTxQm8q0hJZTdUs03gY1Ur6KaQng_GxzuX9a_Lp/s320/IMG_0161.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Leaving Historic Dodgertown after our visit on March 2nd, 2011, all The African Queen and I could think about was this thought: Retaining history and expanding on it are important--losing it is sad. Sadness is what we believe The Dodgers brought to baseball by leaving Vero Beach in 2008. Understanding the east coast/west coast dilemma The Los Angeles Dodgers struggled with--there comes a time when a business decision has to be about more than just money. Dodgertown was a unique case that should never have been abandoned.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1t_at0alhAUrXzg5oyMX0nnPCQMSBZmhqVszVHw9yspqK1zVwHHUovbdVyT3HcbyzwBP2wWc1Jrbmp3Ym-mntuyOSUo4JE9-5hrZaFR4XYh_VsBO9gmPWsPxXZvUWd7tO21d/s1600/IMG_0357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1t_at0alhAUrXzg5oyMX0nnPCQMSBZmhqVszVHw9yspqK1zVwHHUovbdVyT3HcbyzwBP2wWc1Jrbmp3Ym-mntuyOSUo4JE9-5hrZaFR4XYh_VsBO9gmPWsPxXZvUWd7tO21d/s320/IMG_0357.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0H9Cw2lsZYDZ0rDvASxHceJKy1kcMYq3T9Y9vFX1dYe8iNNV1y8ZhVBfPX_XtGZbBmQRqBrIaUWzDUNbEOrmh0L7057irHKksMRPenUz2nNdtbMi9EM7NHm1hGYZuZznrPhlR/s1600/IMG_0358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0H9Cw2lsZYDZ0rDvASxHceJKy1kcMYq3T9Y9vFX1dYe8iNNV1y8ZhVBfPX_XtGZbBmQRqBrIaUWzDUNbEOrmh0L7057irHKksMRPenUz2nNdtbMi9EM7NHm1hGYZuZznrPhlR/s320/IMG_0358.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b>BTW:</b> The actual beach front property of Vero Beach is quite nice. We visited there after leaving Dodgertown and came away impressed with the high end communities along the shoreline, the fine landscaping and not crowded at all communities. No tee-shirt shops. No tourist traps. Just high quality homes and pristine beaches.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZS1Ip9TVIBxOaYRpQBpmQ7aGyhLivzoYVs6uZCqvlYfVNr35BVeGbGwtgB7zw1QuumqR-3oa5ouiclAZnm7n6B0XcpV3wgHgEwr4T_Rm2zSv8NyqKrfCG6OD_9maUlveRISjV/s1600/IMG_0360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZS1Ip9TVIBxOaYRpQBpmQ7aGyhLivzoYVs6uZCqvlYfVNr35BVeGbGwtgB7zw1QuumqR-3oa5ouiclAZnm7n6B0XcpV3wgHgEwr4T_Rm2zSv8NyqKrfCG6OD_9maUlveRISjV/s320/IMG_0360.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxnV7NQ7fqM-8r9AAaUTnvCU6S5javfZlmD7w2dygUEEWFgLAZmNicIb1DKjxjvtQc-zxfZK3w3qqj66a7E_35zdzYfvrkcEN0G3iylHMRCoAF6dMCxnlSNBSe2ygnwMVChII/s1600/IMG_0370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxnV7NQ7fqM-8r9AAaUTnvCU6S5javfZlmD7w2dygUEEWFgLAZmNicIb1DKjxjvtQc-zxfZK3w3qqj66a7E_35zdzYfvrkcEN0G3iylHMRCoAF6dMCxnlSNBSe2ygnwMVChII/s320/IMG_0370.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiuSOJaofpsWbNZRbxlCj880SmN43RFzflzPhP4h6YA_M4gWxYiHn4ZeAkFOpQiGQ00eTRfRZbyWstN_nzb4g3yJSGvKO3hqE3PW6d5BdTozPBInWkMMNTB-kpAF1viK-J7jb/s1600/IMG_0377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiuSOJaofpsWbNZRbxlCj880SmN43RFzflzPhP4h6YA_M4gWxYiHn4ZeAkFOpQiGQ00eTRfRZbyWstN_nzb4g3yJSGvKO3hqE3PW6d5BdTozPBInWkMMNTB-kpAF1viK-J7jb/s320/IMG_0377.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Priceless.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserve</i>dScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-45711410295157686402011-03-04T11:30:00.007-05:002011-03-04T12:18:17.529-05:00Private Tour Of Historic Dodgertown (Part 3)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEIRqfGTAAVxSReOIEt_sN5TVGcZmp2IjHcbarddi-sLy4ZSnFAKFJUaXr92rEEi2tkAlm-uLHNDz0TZgWT0dU03Lgu0-kt1DnlNoG-xd2xooPDHXfxnBJmr0p2v_DPcYKr5s/s1600/0101_Loc_Dodgertown_t607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEIRqfGTAAVxSReOIEt_sN5TVGcZmp2IjHcbarddi-sLy4ZSnFAKFJUaXr92rEEi2tkAlm-uLHNDz0TZgWT0dU03Lgu0-kt1DnlNoG-xd2xooPDHXfxnBJmr0p2v_DPcYKr5s/s320/0101_Loc_Dodgertown_t607.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy TCPalm.com</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Original Dodgertown was the innovative idea of Hall Of Fame Executive Branch Rickey. As General Manager of The Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940's, Rickey signed Jackie Robinson to an historic Major League Contract--breaking the color barrier. Then after local segregation laws in Florida wouldn't allow people of different races to mingle--he built Dodgertown as a full-service facility on an abandoned Air Naval Station in 1948. Under no segregation laws on Dodger owned private property, The Brooklyn and then Los Angeles Dodgers became a team both on and off the field of play. An advantage during the late 40's, 50's and early 60's when The United States Of America was still struggling with race relations.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjshSJWS75M1gtV0ei1AAF60DxLEsyT4w_y3l_bM8uCqGDtrgYhc96aR80sWBdT1ss9IOgtFPPrgQAkMbmtgYPfTjzeFmhZ2295_TgvEMwF2uvDKKdjK25sbYVUf0gXZrrpSaC/s1600/IMG_0263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjshSJWS75M1gtV0ei1AAF60DxLEsyT4w_y3l_bM8uCqGDtrgYhc96aR80sWBdT1ss9IOgtFPPrgQAkMbmtgYPfTjzeFmhZ2295_TgvEMwF2uvDKKdjK25sbYVUf0gXZrrpSaC/s320/IMG_0263.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>Continuing our <a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/private-tour-of-historic-dodgertown.html" target="_blank">Private Tour</a> Of Historic<a href="http://nats320.blogspot.com/2011/03/private-tour-of-historic-dodgertown_04.html" target="_blank"> Dodgertown</a>--Nats320 continues with a look at the practice fields and training facilities in Vero Beach, Florida.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvixtVkMKmSjI_aDHn8vWPmpsNw6AiNUfoR-7LhXxZIwZFVcDKfqbTVkfW2RKkky4s_kV4A32nCl8XOvC1F_L44Nf1l3TRtFwq51PUVINCPULIxJ2lykfBklm9hf5kui9DF05A/s1600/IMG_0230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvixtVkMKmSjI_aDHn8vWPmpsNw6AiNUfoR-7LhXxZIwZFVcDKfqbTVkfW2RKkky4s_kV4A32nCl8XOvC1F_L44Nf1l3TRtFwq51PUVINCPULIxJ2lykfBklm9hf5kui9DF05A/s320/IMG_0230.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJptbQ0KYbFooGU5ArS_aHKE46eqx__C5pOm8I42NwSVIT5Mx64NNZoRjRXkGR88mdFbtRQjwOqFftnDBcDukfPmGYprzH7N8Lw_zGkVNhEjD5jvrBLfvM0H0kpGVT9XvGLHg/s1600/IMG_0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJptbQ0KYbFooGU5ArS_aHKE46eqx__C5pOm8I42NwSVIT5Mx64NNZoRjRXkGR88mdFbtRQjwOqFftnDBcDukfPmGYprzH7N8Lw_zGkVNhEjD5jvrBLfvM0H0kpGVT9XvGLHg/s320/IMG_0231.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrqZ0uq-wSrBGTkW3i-jOrv8j36BCnuXz92KuMsYLi2hODixebSHVBiRP2OvYphc0WwDhM7fWivOdJ50rB_f6DfsZ_C1al7Je-1GIKs-LVQaXReZXBJ3QHtpZkdn4Jft7zop5/s1600/IMG_0232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzrqZ0uq-wSrBGTkW3i-jOrv8j36BCnuXz92KuMsYLi2hODixebSHVBiRP2OvYphc0WwDhM7fWivOdJ50rB_f6DfsZ_C1al7Je-1GIKs-LVQaXReZXBJ3QHtpZkdn4Jft7zop5/s320/IMG_0232.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>There are six fields surrounding the Dodgertown Campus. Four are full sized diamonds. The remaining two are short fields with infields only for drills. Field #1 and Field #3 (short field) are located on the southwest end of the complex between Pee Wee Reese Boulevard, Don Sutton Court and Holman Stadium. On Field Number 1 is a specially caged-in area directly behind home plate which allowed Team Officials to watch players perform up close and personal.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjFNJOBgnfDT4X0iCOBB9JHXsEKp5lCGKeocmFzdzx028b7X9Tg4Li931MM2qvJh6fZDNxfXKyXa74gzNortG0ol34vNye9w-TdbAJv9nMXNRM1glyxVLX6JQ-xk30FFToWvY/s1600/IMG_0235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjFNJOBgnfDT4X0iCOBB9JHXsEKp5lCGKeocmFzdzx028b7X9Tg4Li931MM2qvJh6fZDNxfXKyXa74gzNortG0ol34vNye9w-TdbAJv9nMXNRM1glyxVLX6JQ-xk30FFToWvY/s320/IMG_0235.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Just behind Field 1 & 3 and the Tennis Courts is located the first of two Bullpen Mound Warmup areas where six pitchers and catchers can throw to each other at the same time (the other group bullpen mound is located at Holman Stadium).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OVz-H-5vu7NPfh8HBqimJSVWzv3kpqPdlkkO5mEg8tDzgiEuD89A3IgOgqVvvZAl07ej9Q8IDz1u2UYOR7faFDh9CDtATcLs6gmb9z8omngEC2oXgGzdGwtKi2S2BeGxXaJm/s1600/IMG_0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3OVz-H-5vu7NPfh8HBqimJSVWzv3kpqPdlkkO5mEg8tDzgiEuD89A3IgOgqVvvZAl07ej9Q8IDz1u2UYOR7faFDh9CDtATcLs6gmb9z8omngEC2oXgGzdGwtKi2S2BeGxXaJm/s320/IMG_0212.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWu1ebjFnLg7OiNjC3Ng8MLZkCwypq9XkR64vwm44eM5IIvp7_Hza15lQBLRSZpcAGA-vroQE80r3uCgSDZeje18kn_PXVBlkDdaQNnFCizzi2JMP2u-uybRrr7TBdUa68ZX3k/s1600/IMG_0167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWu1ebjFnLg7OiNjC3Ng8MLZkCwypq9XkR64vwm44eM5IIvp7_Hza15lQBLRSZpcAGA-vroQE80r3uCgSDZeje18kn_PXVBlkDdaQNnFCizzi2JMP2u-uybRrr7TBdUa68ZX3k/s320/IMG_0167.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-K1oS3XOm60coO0lNvLgtbFkFMY4dHTuUTKUBmFDwqC4wwY5dzIl9REWNa7b2AuOidLJTb1Qg3vzevc8poz41vofuAVw-L3Z0Sro61LsmrA0nFOOVUoFBCrx9LfvW_-niDIJ/s1600/IMG_0168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-K1oS3XOm60coO0lNvLgtbFkFMY4dHTuUTKUBmFDwqC4wwY5dzIl9REWNa7b2AuOidLJTb1Qg3vzevc8poz41vofuAVw-L3Z0Sro61LsmrA0nFOOVUoFBCrx9LfvW_-niDIJ/s320/IMG_0168.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Located to the Northwest portion of Dodgertown is Field #2 & Field #4 (short field). Field #2 is situated at the corner of Don Drysdale Drive and Vin Scully Way. Field #4 between Roy Campanella Boulevard and Don Drysdale Way. Interestingly, Field Number 2 has picnic tables located behind the screened backstop. When Dodgertown was active for spring training, it is our understanding fans were pretty free to move about the various practice areas alongside Dodger players.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsfcu7OwzNnIK6EB-dI4POMcXbUEPl98SUdnq_opjCQ49qbTBwlcBkS7kx7YvyMRzikKQHoudVYKarG5YwN8tIfMkKXUAHq4f_PxyQtmzYUVAQyXNZyZN3fUQLD7w0fpnEPIt/s1600/IMG_0221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsfcu7OwzNnIK6EB-dI4POMcXbUEPl98SUdnq_opjCQ49qbTBwlcBkS7kx7YvyMRzikKQHoudVYKarG5YwN8tIfMkKXUAHq4f_PxyQtmzYUVAQyXNZyZN3fUQLD7w0fpnEPIt/s320/IMG_0221.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Just across Roy Campanella Boulevard to the south is located the first of two indoor batting cages (the other located at Holman Stadium). The fitness center and weight room is right next door.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-y88T4bqlpG_k8hk6KEzK_XibZGWebYdWYuBPGYV-An0bLElxtL-syQTM8aUaHIHkDxkhpf9xiKmgrPEHbcsQkz8F3ezc3pJK0lZRipN-R1eEKrlV3QfU6h3zUkBy5PARDflA/s1600/IMG_0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-y88T4bqlpG_k8hk6KEzK_XibZGWebYdWYuBPGYV-An0bLElxtL-syQTM8aUaHIHkDxkhpf9xiKmgrPEHbcsQkz8F3ezc3pJK0lZRipN-R1eEKrlV3QfU6h3zUkBy5PARDflA/s320/IMG_0256.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav1xAcpQpLTnfeUd7DhDrebGgRl6l3Ekoen3iWpCvpV6nO-GBbj8E1Y-XGz0Naxi1y-6_agwdwFQhVpGJmVs_tVMkJx1STf8kLbBJacme3TH6Olta36JEBD_bMWEmhh7Bxn7y/s1600/IMG_0253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgav1xAcpQpLTnfeUd7DhDrebGgRl6l3Ekoen3iWpCvpV6nO-GBbj8E1Y-XGz0Naxi1y-6_agwdwFQhVpGJmVs_tVMkJx1STf8kLbBJacme3TH6Olta36JEBD_bMWEmhh7Bxn7y/s320/IMG_0253.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGsfrtRhdCjNRN6qt3oAYD7k4JZT0J-Ry_WaEKiOeGVY8Cu2MLlmbykq87Tcme2D5DVZWUbZeHMuO5pWsHfwBeyrrlV_0AWJLMPkcXhFHUDxVlIiU-xDeJJ_nsEJAnn_OwT6E/s1600/IMG_0254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGsfrtRhdCjNRN6qt3oAYD7k4JZT0J-Ry_WaEKiOeGVY8Cu2MLlmbykq87Tcme2D5DVZWUbZeHMuO5pWsHfwBeyrrlV_0AWJLMPkcXhFHUDxVlIiU-xDeJJ_nsEJAnn_OwT6E/s320/IMG_0254.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Field #5 & Field #6 are the most distant playing surfaces on the property. They are both located east of the living complex behind Sandy Koufax Lane. Both are full size fields and both contain oddities that are noticeable right away. Between Field #5 & Field #6 is an Observation Tower that allowed team officials to take in a birdseye view of all the proceedings on both fields during practices and scrimmages.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYyfzRiiOTywm6AwF9bFMaSmNwRk4lJau_QwK6QW2cEBv2e2TyP695LWpH5bH1WiryKMJatvTAvvDmcw7e7-a_Ho0T2SD5lZS1F5luHK-DAiVe-DhDnQ71x7yMhpIS9YVAPtK/s1600/IMG_0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYyfzRiiOTywm6AwF9bFMaSmNwRk4lJau_QwK6QW2cEBv2e2TyP695LWpH5bH1WiryKMJatvTAvvDmcw7e7-a_Ho0T2SD5lZS1F5luHK-DAiVe-DhDnQ71x7yMhpIS9YVAPtK/s320/IMG_0252.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS6VIc6fUCVFvSyx2ClAAdc2gxpFEDHH5xRn9H99HsSwlQJhsVcy-DPGEjRu-KZUFYyOKrpuT-MONex8KHkCbTwXmnWkVLgXF58L69cS1hAyJ7Xr2UlryUHc7D8n1Kr8YM2JP/s1600/IMG_0251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDS6VIc6fUCVFvSyx2ClAAdc2gxpFEDHH5xRn9H99HsSwlQJhsVcy-DPGEjRu-KZUFYyOKrpuT-MONex8KHkCbTwXmnWkVLgXF58L69cS1hAyJ7Xr2UlryUHc7D8n1Kr8YM2JP/s320/IMG_0251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryiIWbi2keFI0BnlQWCNSRPPW8S7oIROWqDbHANUShLLBaesSO4lpRUy5inziZ9X9YKBI0vD_YTzMn_yzUe3ONw-jjqzFJfRzxLlPK3vCSMTAS44vU6GLNvMzRYTzaNI09XVb/s1600/IMG_0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryiIWbi2keFI0BnlQWCNSRPPW8S7oIROWqDbHANUShLLBaesSO4lpRUy5inziZ9X9YKBI0vD_YTzMn_yzUe3ONw-jjqzFJfRzxLlPK3vCSMTAS44vU6GLNvMzRYTzaNI09XVb/s320/IMG_0250.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Just over the right field fence on Field #6 is a gigantic rope climbing wall. The lower footholds were clearly removed years ago, but it's one of the best sights of the entire landscape. While looking at the "A" shaped wall, we could only wonder how many former players attempted to get over the top? And how many were the butt of jokes by fellow teammates for stumbling or failing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKeaQ8NKs3x-sDWqtiSqB4f-N4KQWtUkc_hyphenhyphenESCqx3iCCvXkY0tn6YeQFfxIb3A4JbpB3dQ4xv2IT50s4iY-sg9cGFhv2DNzsh_3Hy-AyuegA6DKkH861VWlMvQMRW6_Z-bVP/s1600/IMG_0299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuKeaQ8NKs3x-sDWqtiSqB4f-N4KQWtUkc_hyphenhyphenESCqx3iCCvXkY0tn6YeQFfxIb3A4JbpB3dQ4xv2IT50s4iY-sg9cGFhv2DNzsh_3Hy-AyuegA6DKkH861VWlMvQMRW6_Z-bVP/s320/IMG_0299.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Our final look at Dodgertown concludes this series and will come next: Holman Stadium, considered by many to be the perfect spring training ballpark.<br />
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<i>All Photos Copyrighted--Nats320--All Rights Reserved</i>Screech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.com0