My Trip to Watch our Boys in NY
I was fortunate enough to follow our boys out to NY to catch Tuesday night's game and Wednesday's day game at the new Yankee Stadium.
The trip started out a bit surreal. My flight was scheduled at about midnight out of SFO, so I decided to stop in at Kincaid's in Burlingame for a drink. Who just happened to be at the bar but Carney Lansford! Of course I did not have a ball with me, so I waited until he was done socializing and asked him for an autograph on one of their menus. I told him I was an A's fan, which seemed to make him smile, probably because on that side of the bay he gets recognized as the Giants batting coach. He was very nice and happily signed.
Walking into the new Yankee Stadium is an amazing moment. It is overwhelming. Cavernous, monstrous, rife with tradition at every turn. Hard Rock Cafe, sushi, banners and posters of Yankee's past....like making the trip to Mecca for baseball fans.
I had close to rail seats for both games. I caught a batting practice foul ball at the first game, and of course, as we all know, that was about the highlight of game one. The pen looked great though, and in batting practice Giambi was flat drilling it. The fans were very generous to Giambi.
I must make a note here about Swisher: He is now a God. I am serious, they worship him there already! Everyone around me was telling me how much he has energized the fans. They chant for him!
The second game, the rainy extra inning day game, was eventful. NY Yankees open their stadium 3 hours before game time and the place is packed! Fortunately, they are very strict about letting you down to the rail unless you have a low level ticket. I had access to all the A's pitchers!
Using my intimate knowledge of the team, I was able to coax over several players. Andrew Bailey was the first to come over and sign for me and chat briefly. What a great kid!
Next, I saw Dallas. I shouted "209" to him and he answered back "Holler", but kept walking. When the pitchers were heading in, Dallas was midfield when I shouted his name. He walked clear across the field, signed for me out of the whole crowd and walked away. Same thing happened with Santiago. Because I recognized him and called him by name when he came out, on the way back he came up to me, signed, and walked back to the dugout, signing for no one else.
Had a nice conversation with Dan Giese. What an affable guy. Too bad he has coughed up late inning homers of late :( We talked about how he was selling Hondas and how this was a much better gig. I really hope he can put it together, however, I fear he won't be here long.
The last autograph I got was Phil Coke of the Yankees. Now, I had no intention of "polluting" a perfectly good A's autograph ball, however, the guy is a class act. During batting practice, way up at the top rail, where many fans who did not have low level tickets congregated, was a boy of about 5 years. Phil walked up to the rail and asked if I would take the ball up to the kid. I thought that was real class. Later he came over to sign for fans and we had a nice chat. I asked him to sign despite the fact I love the A's. He laughed and signed. Good guy!
Wearing my colors into enemy territory, I expected to be derided and mocked. I must say however that I found Yankee fans to be very nice, extremely informed, not only about their team, but several fans I talked to knew about our farm system and players two levels down. I was locked and loaded and ready to fight, but I saw they save their venom for Red Sox fans. The few masochists who wore Red Sox garb were loudly derided.
All in all, a great trip despite the outcome of the games.
Autograph tally:
Carney Lansford, Dan Giese, Santiago Casilla, Andrew Bailey, Dallas Braden, Phil Coke...and one game ball!
Click on the photos to see a larger version....
Pretty cool to have a Hard Rock at the ball park!
Our boys warming up in the new park.
Sweeney is the first Oakland Athletic to step in at the new park.
The Babe and Lou welcome you to the new house.
There were a few of us at the park.
Carney made a point of signing over the steak.
The ball from the inaugural series. Nice collectible.
Bailey, Giese and Casilla.
Braden and Coke
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38 comments
Comments
I love
stadiums that open the gate early. Awesome post. Thanks.
"There's not a moment of peace and quiet in this damn clubhouse." ~~ Nick Swisher
by luvsthecurveball on Apr 23, 2009 1:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Really cool story!
Sounds like a fantastic trip! By the way, if you don’t mind, what was the face value of your tickets?
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
by alox on Apr 23, 2009 1:03 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
$125!!!!
And the Yankees will hopefully figure out that all the Legends seats, that were practically empty, will not be selling in this economy at $2500 per seat per game!
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by OptimistPrime on Apr 23, 2009 2:22 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That never ceases to amaze me.
Tickets to a ballgame at $2500. Wow. Just wow.
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
by alox on Apr 24, 2009 4:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah that makes little sense.
I wonder who thought that pricing up.
by OldhamA on Apr 24, 2009 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
In economics they call that a Veblen good
Or “austerity” good, one that people use to show off their consuming power. Definitely not a high-demand good in these times! $2500…crazy.
I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought: "What the hell good would that do?"
by Jackson23 on Apr 25, 2009 2:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Except for the outcome
of both games, I’d call that a perfect trip. Dig the Carney story, especially how you met him in a random place.
Outstanding post, OP.
I'm here to talk about the past.
by 67MARQUEZ on Apr 23, 2009 1:26 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks Mr. Marquez
I thought it was a storybook way to start the trip. Got to shake his hand and he was very nice to me. I thought it was funny….when he started to sign, I said I was a lifelong A’s fan. He stopped, looked at me and said “Oakland A’s?” lol
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by OptimistPrime on Apr 23, 2009 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good stuff!
Big fan of Carney.
P.S. No need for the “Mr.” :-)
I'm here to talk about the past.
by 67MARQUEZ on Apr 23, 2009 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
...but your name's not "Marquez"...
ooooh, better than last years. Yeah, that should be the standard that lineups are judged against. --xbhaskarx
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 23, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is that a "BART overpass" Hat on hotdog guy???
Sure does look like one!
by plrraz on Apr 23, 2009 1:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I love Bart Knock off hats!
I have all the colors….by the way, bart overpass hot dog guy is really OptimistPrime Philly Cheesesteak guy ;) Thanks for the rec’s guys!
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by OptimistPrime on Apr 23, 2009 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
(I think I have a mancrush on you)
Dude, where did you get that coat? It rocks!
And I also love how all the NYers in the background are like, “Hey, whatchu doin’ over deah? Ain’t chu never been to da ballpark befowah?”
(yes, I love writing in dialectics. So did Faulkner and Zora Neale Hurston…so there.)
ooooh, better than last years. Yeah, that should be the standard that lineups are judged against. --xbhaskarx
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 23, 2009 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL
Got the Brooks Bro. cashmere coat for $30 at Out of the Closet on 9th and Folsom in SF. Best thrift store on the planet!
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by OptimistPrime on Apr 23, 2009 3:10 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Again, not be a whore or anything,
but this is awesome OP. Thanks for sharing your photo journal with us!
I guess I’m gonna hafta do this in Tampa now, though I doubt it will look nearly as cool.
BTW, the place just reeks of class. That comes through in the pictures. That was Latin, darlin’. Now I’m sure I hate him.
ooooh, better than last years. Yeah, that should be the standard that lineups are judged against. --xbhaskarx
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 23, 2009 2:35 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
There must have been 200 staff members out front
holding up signs “How can I help you?” There was also about 400 flat screen tv’s thoughout the place. And all the seats were deep padded vinyl seat and back. Envious!
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by OptimistPrime on Apr 23, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
whoa, nice soft seats.
Nico would still have bring that inflatable doughnut to sit on though probably.
alaska A residing in colorado. (for now)
by ak_A on Apr 23, 2009 6:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Your experience with the
Yankees fans closely mirrors my own experiences at the Coliseum. They are generally speaking, more affable and quick to praise something done right than other fans. They don’t mind messing with you a little, but are quick to take it as well as they give it.
I’ve got to re-examine my hate list and re-evaluate things…
ooooh, better than last years. Yeah, that should be the standard that lineups are judged against. --xbhaskarx
by Leopold Bloom on Apr 23, 2009 3:09 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The ONLY grief I got...
and let me say that I was VERY vocal when our boys did anything, was from a group of 20 somethings toward the end of the first game. They said “Go back to San Francisco” with a gay lisp. I looked back and laughed, and reminded them that we are the OAKLAND A’s, not SF. That seemed to shut them up.
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by OptimistPrime on Apr 23, 2009 3:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are the Red Sox's still #1?
If so then the rest of the list is fine.
by OldhamA on Apr 24, 2009 10:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do they really sell hotdogs with little people in them at Yankee Stadium?
Or is that couple just a free condiment?
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
by Nick on Apr 23, 2009 4:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Very Nico-esque Nick, good laugh!
Why is it all my photos of late have some inadvertant funny in the background?
(my fan appreciation day post with section 235 in my head)
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by OptimistPrime on Apr 23, 2009 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice stuff
Good stories, too.
Last of the Ninth - Photography Site / jamesvenes.com - Blog
by Flashfire on Apr 23, 2009 5:32 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Awesome all around
Thanks for sharing!
"Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all games and holes are created equal." --George F. Will
by anomaly_kat on Apr 23, 2009 6:01 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Most excellent. Thanks!
alaska A residing in colorado. (for now)
by ak_A on Apr 23, 2009 6:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Excellent! Thank you for sharing!
As much as I hate seeing Swish with the Yankees, I’m glad he’s getting that kind of fan support.
I like important stuff just as much as the next guy, but please, for a little while, deliver us from meaning, baseball. That's your greatest glory, and we thank you for it very, very much. -- Craig Calcaterra
by JLeverenz on Apr 24, 2009 4:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Awesome post and great pics...
I had tickets to all 3 days, but was only able to make mondays game (obviously rained out so I didn’t make any…that was the first time in 6 years where I didn’t go to all the games when the A’s came to town…and I get married July 24, which is the weekend when A’s are back—-I’m trying to convince my lady to let me go to the saturday and sunday games since we leave for our honeymoon on monday)…
Was at the Stadium last thursday for the Yankee home opener…beautiful place (although the field is an exact replica with the exception of few things)…
Glad to hear Bailey is cool…the first basemen on my softball team played with Bailey at Wagner (Bailey was a year behind)…my buddy says that Bailey is the most down to earth, level headed person
by mills16 on Apr 24, 2009 7:29 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Swisher...
Just to add quickly…Swisher is beloved there…I wore my A’s Swisher jersey to the home opener and everyone loved it and him, where people had SWISHER = CY YOUNG signs and everyone high fiving me and everyone at the game talking about how much energy he brings to the fans (I love what he does during role call)…And then of course, the “We Want Swisher” chants when the bullpen implodes…
by mills16 on Apr 24, 2009 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay, I have to know.
What does Swish do during the roll call?
"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer
by alox on Apr 25, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
He turns, salutes in a very pronounced fashion.
If you did not love the guy, it would be annoying as hell, but since it’s Swish, it’s cute.
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by OptimistPrime on Apr 26, 2009 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow...sounds like a great trip.
The pics and descriptions are SO AWESOME!
Thanks for sharing!
"Bobby Crosby at third is a bit of an adventure. And not like, here’s some hidden treasure, what fun. More like, gah! poison ants!" --alea iacta est
by baseballgirl on Apr 24, 2009 9:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Thanks BBG!
High praise from the AN Goddess :)
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by OptimistPrime on Apr 24, 2009 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Very nice, thanks for sharing.
And may I add, DAMN there are a lot of corporate ads on the scoreboards!
I was going to buy a copy of The Power of Positive Thinking, and then I thought: "What the hell good would that do?"
by Jackson23 on Apr 25, 2009 2:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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