Lots of Sports History

Introducing Mr. Tim Mara

2012-01-30T02:23:00.008-07:00

Today in the honor of the fact that the team that he founded is one of the two teams in the Super Bowl, we are looking at Tim Mara. The New York Giants were founded in 1925 when Timothy James Mara Mara purchased the team for $500. Mara had to quit school at the age of 13 to help his mother. He made his money as a bookie. He was approached by league president Joseph F Carr who needed a team in New York to help the league. Although the team did not do real well at first, it did catch a good following and fought its way into the hearts of local sports fans.

Mara went on to pass the club to his sons Jack and Wellington. Tim died in 1959 and was elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1963. Today his grandson John is part owner of the team. The team has seen 27 of its personel go on to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The team has won the Super Bowl three times and pre Super Bowl era league championships four times. Five times one of its players has won the leagues MVP award.

Todays trivia question is which of Tims sons is the father of John? The answer will be posted in the column of Thursday February 2, when we look at the New England Patriots.

The answer to Saturdays trivia question is the Continental Football League played its first season in 1965, the league opened with 10 clubs.

Florida Baseball

2012-01-28T05:41:00.000-07:00

   On January 26, 1936 the Florida State League was reorganized as a six club league after missing 8 seasons of play. Today we are looking at the leagues history. Although the league played very briefly in January of 1892, the league got its real start in 1919. In that season the league fielded six clubs, mostly in the central part of the state. The league lasted until the end of the 1928 season, when it suspended operations. During this period the league operated with between 4 and 8 clubs.

   With the exception of the 1943-45 period when World War II forced the league on the shelf, the league has operated continously since. Until 1963 the league was a Class "D" league. At that point in time the league was promoted to Class "A". The league reached its current designation in 1990 when it was named an advanced A league with the California and Carolina Leagues.

   For a period on time between 1940 and 1954 the league faced compatation for the fans dollar when a second league was launced in the state. That league was first called the Florida East Coast League when it was first formed. After the war it was called the Florida International League. The FIL struggled into the 1954 season during which it folded. The FSL gradually moved east into the territory formerly occupied by the FIL.

Today the FSL is a 12 club league whose teams play in the parks used by their parent clubs during spring training. Many of the clubs share facilities during the late June to end of August period with a team in the rookie level Gulf Coast League. During September these facilities are frequently used by teams in the Florida Instructional League, a league that first started in 1958. Although attendance in the league is not strong the league continues to send players to the Majors on a regular basis. It does appear that the league will be around for many more years.

      The answer to our last trivia question was in the fourth minute of the Kontinental Hockey League game on January 9, 2010 between Vityaz Chekhov and Avangard Omsk clubs saw a record 707 minutes of penalties handed out. When order was restored 33 players and both coaches had been ejected. Only four players remained in the game, which was then abandoned.

   Todays trivia question is in what year did the Continental Football League play its first season? The answer in our next blog on Monday, when our column will feature the first of a two part series on our annual look at the two teams in the Super Bowl from a historical perspective when we look at the New York Giants.

Hockey History part 3

2012-01-25T03:54:00.001-07:00

Today we will finish up on our three day look at Hockey History. We will start with a game played on January 25, 1910 in the National Hockey Association. The league was the direct forerunner of todays National Hockey League. The game we are looking out was played at Cobalt, Ontario between the Montreal Wanderers and the Cobalt Silver Kings. The visitors won this game by a score of 11-6. Exactly three years later in the same league, the Wanders beat the Quebec Bulldogs 10-6 in a game played at the Arena in Quebec City.

On January 25, 1942 The New York Rangers hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers won the game by a score of 11-2. It took another 28 years before the Hockey World would see another January 25 blowout. This one was played at the Rhode Island Auditorium in Providence. The Providence Reds of the American Hockey League took out the Springfield Kings by a score of 10-4.

The fans at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto were not happy on January 25, 1988 when the Calgary Flames went home with an 11-3 win over the Maple Leafs.

   Exactly a year ago today a Kontinental Hockey game saw the Barys Astana club take a 10-2 win from the Metallurg Novokuznetsk Club. We have not been able to detemine which club was the home team. If any of our Russian readers or even readers from Kazakhstan that might be fans of the Barys club can tell us which team was the home team, we would be very grateful.

Todays trivia question is how many penalty minutes were handed out in the first four minutes of the January 9, 2010 Kontinental Hockey League game between Vityaz Chekhov and the Avangard Omsk Clubs? The answer in Thursdays blog about the Florida State League.

   The answer to yesterdays trivia question is former Orlando Magic center/forward Pat Burke was born in Dublin, Ireland. Burke remains the leagues only Irish born player in its history.

Announcement

2012-01-24T20:36:00.000-07:00

I have decided to cut the blog down to three times a week. I have way too many things going on to manage the blog on a daily basis. I will post on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I believe that you my readers will find the blog more interesting.
Thanks to all my readers,
Kevin

A little Hockey History- Day 2

2012-01-24T01:51:00.002-07:00

   If you thought that Hockey has the tendency to get wild on January 23, you haven't seen nothing yet. So hold on to your hats as we have some 13 games to look at, with a climax of 4 games on one day.

    We start on January 24, 1909 in a game played at Chamonix, France, the team from Great Britain defeated Bohemia by a score of 11-0.

    Two years later in a National Hockey Association game at the Arena at Ottawa, Ontario; the Ottawa HC whipped the famous Renfrew Creamery Kings by a score of 19-5. Exactly a year later, the Ottawa club traveled to the Montreal Arena and took on the Montreal Wanderers. The visitors won the game by a score of 10-6, hardly the same as the whipping placed on the Kings the year before.

On January 24, 1928 the National Hockey League joined the group, when it was the Chicago Blackhawks traveling to the Montreal Forum to receive a 10-0 beating at the hands of the Canadians.

   On January 24, 1930, the team from Czechoslovakia won a 12-0 game against the Japanese team in a game at Davos, Switzerland. Eighteen years later, the American Hockey League joined in when the New Haven Ramblers went to the Philadelphia Arena to take out the Philadelphia Rockets by a score of 11-2.
   On January 24, 1973 At the Cincinnati Gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio, the Cincinnati Swords of the American Hockey League beat the Springfield Kings by a score of 10-4. On January 24, 1997 at Peoria, Illinois the Peoria Rivermen of the East Coast Hockey League jumped the Wheeling Nailers by a score of 10-3.

   Ten years later the National Hockey League All-Star Game was played at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The Western Conference won the goalfest by a score of 12-9. over the Eastern Conference. Two years later, all hell seemed to break loose. The NHL All-Star game was played at Bell Centre in Montreal, where the Eastern Conference got their revenge with a 12-11 shootout win.

    Meanwhile in the minor leagues, three games reached the team goal level. The first at the McCann Ice Arena in Poughkeepsie, New York, the visiting Jersey Rockhoppers of the Eastern Professional Hockey League took a 10-2 game from the Hudson Valley Bears. Then at the L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, Michigan, the visiting Fort Wayne Komets of the International Hockey League helped themselves to 10-3 win over the Muskegon Lumberjacks. Finally, at the Swonder Ice Arena in Evansville, Indiana the home team won!! The Evansville Icemen of the All-American Hockey Association beat the Chicago Blaze by a score of 11-3.

   All this will seem pale next year when we take a look at the recent Federal Hockey League game where the 1000 Islands Privateers beat the Delaware Federals by a score of 21-0.

   Todays trivia question is on October 29, 2002 Pat Burke of the Orlando Magic made NBA history by becoming the first NBA player to have been born in Ireland. What city was Burke born in? The answer in tomorrows blog as we take a third look at Hockey History of the day.

The Answer to yesterdays trivia question is John Miszuk of the Detroit Red Wings became the first NHL player who was born in Poland.

A Little Hockey History-Day 1

2012-01-23T03:40:00.004-07:00

January 23 is a day that has given us more then its fair share of Hockey History. Today we will look at those events. We will start with a game in 1944 that was profiled by itself last year. It was the 15-0 beating the Detroit Red Wings gave to the New York Rangers.

   We move into the meat of todays discussion with a look at the Eastern Hockey Leagues Baltimore Clippers. On January 23, 1956 their home arena, Carlin's Iceland burned down. The team had to find a place to play their final home games. Several of these games were played in Charlotte, North Carolina, the team was well received and transferred there for the 1956-57 season.

We move ahead to 1970 when the Montreal Voyageurs of the American Hockey League beat the visiting Quebec Aces by a score of 10-1. The Voyageurs played at the Montreal Forum, when their parent club the Canadians were not playing a home game.

   Just one year later the Hershey Bears of the same league beat up the Rochester Americans by a score of 11-3 at HersheyPark Arena. The building is the same one that Basketball great Wilt Chamberlain scored his famous 100 point game in.

   On January 23, 1975 the Michigan Stags of Detroit moved to Baltimore, Maryland and became the Blades. The Stags had been a part of the World Hockey Association. As a result of this move the Baltimore Clippers of the American Hockey League withdrew from that league for the remainer of the season. The move left nine clubs to finish the AHL season. The Clippers returned the following season, the Blades did not.

     Exactly two years later it was a World Hockey Association game that made history. In a game played at the Winnipeg Arena, the visiting Calgary Cowboys were roughed up by the Jets by a score of 10-5.

   Our final event is the 2003 Central Hockey League All Star Game. The game was played at Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The two teams scored a total of 16 goals with 10 of them being scored by the South team.

   Todays trivia question is who was the first Polish born NHL player? The answer in tomorrows blog as we continue our look at the World of Hockey.

   Finally the answer to yesterdays question is Joe Bryant played 8 seasons in the NBA. His son is Kobe. Have a great Week!!

A lot of Kobe

2012-01-22T04:51:00.002-07:00

    On January 22, 2006 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Lakers guard Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a 122-104 win over the Toronto Raptors. Bryant had an amazing game all around. He scored 55 of his points during the second half of the game. His teammates scored only 18 points in the half. Bryant in almost 42 minutes of play scored 18 of 20 from the free throw line, 28 of 46 on his two point field goals and 7 of 13 from the three point line. He still had enough on his game that he had 2 assists, 3 steals and 6 rebounds. Taken in context, for a 27 year old player in his 10th year in the league to have a game like this and to still be playing today in his 15th season with over 28,000 points scored in over 1100 games, this man is clearly on his way to the Hall of Fame.

   The answer to yesterdays trivia question is there were four teams in the Eastern Football League in 1938. All 4 teams were based in Pennsylvania, the Hazleton Redskins, the Reading Rams, the Scranton Miners and the Wilkes-Barre Panthers.

   Todays trivia question is how many seasons did Joe Bryant, Kobes father play in the NBA? The answer in tomorrows blog when we begin a three day look at the crazy world of Hockey.

A look South of the Border

2012-01-21T01:20:00.001-07:00

On January 21, 1955 the six club Mexican League was admitted into the National Association as a Class "AA" baseball league. Although the league had functioned since 1925 and had been a professional baseball league since 1937, it had not been recognized as such nor had until then did the league behave as a welcomed member of the baseball establishment.

   In the early part of its history the league was frequently used by Negro players as alternate places of employment. Many of these players starred in the league.

   After the end of World War 2 the league was taken over by the Pascual Brothers, who ran the league as an outlaw league. The league would offer contacts to any Major Leaguer or high minor leaguer that would listen to their offers. Several players jumped to the league. After being disappointed with conditions in Mexico, they returned to find that the had been banned for five years.

   The reached its current "AAA" level in 1967. The league and its 14 clubs currently have a close relationship with Major League Baseball and its 30 clubs. Its most recent champions are the Quintana Roo Tigers, who last summer beat the Mexico City Red Devils in a four game sweep. The Tigers are based in Cancun.

   The answer to yesterdays trivia question is the Sacramento Club that began play in 1909 are currently based in Round Rock, Texas, which is located just outside of Austin.

   Todays trivia question is how many teams played in the Eastern Football League in 1938? The answer in tomorrows blog on a big game by Kobe Bryant.

So where is the City of Vernon?

2012-01-20T02:21:00.001-07:00

    On January 20, 1909 the four club Pacific Coast League issued two expansion franchises for the coming season. One went to the City of Sacramento, California, the other went to a very small city just south of Los Angeles called Vernon. Tracing the history of the Vernon franchise, it plays in the City of Tacoma, Washington. The City of Vernon remains a sparsely populated industrial city.

The team played most of its games in the home park of the Los Angeles Angels. A morning game on Sunday would be played at Maier Park in Vernon by the Tigers or the Angels, which ever team played at home that week. In 1913 the team was transferred to the local beach side town of Venice, where its Sunday home games were played for the next 2 1/2 seasons before the team and the ballpark were transferred back to Vernon. Yes, the ballpark was actually dismantled and moved back to Vernon to be rebuilt there.

   The team played as the Vernon Tigers through the 1925 season, after which it was transferred to San Francisco and became the Mission Bells for two seasons and then the Mission Reds until after the 1937 season when it was transferred back to Los Angeles and became the Hollywood Stars.

When the Dodgers and Giants moved west; the Angels, the Seals and the Stars all had to find new homes. The Stars picked the City of Salt Lake City, Utah. The Utah city would enjoy the second of its 4 tours in the league until the team moved out following the 1965 season. If you can follow the bouncing teams. First on October 22, 1965 the Tacoma club returned to Phoenix, Arizona. The City of Tacoma not wanting to sit on the sidelines made their move on November 30, when the Salt Lake City club was moved to Tacoma. The club has remained in the league at Tacoma ever since.

   Todays trivia question is what happened to the franchise that was awarded to the City of Sacramento on this same date? The answer in tomorrows blog about the Mexican Baseball League.

   The answer to yesterdays trivia question is the three members of the Ontario Rugby Football Union for the 1954 season were the Kitchener-Waterloo Dutchmen, the Sarnia Imperials and the Toronto Balmy Beach.

A Look to the North

2012-01-19T01:13:00.004-07:00

      On January 19, 1958 the Canadian Football Council withdrew from the Canadian Rugby Union and renamed itself the Canadian Football League. The league hit the field in August as a nine club league. The league had functioned as two organizations the year before, the Western Interprovincial Football Union and the Interprovincial Football Union. The two organizations would met for the Grey Cup. The two organizations had ruled the Canadian Football game since 1955 when the Ontario Rugby Football Union folded the season before. The WIFU had played since 1936 and the IFU and played since 1930. The league continues to be a prosperous league and expects lots of growth in the coming years.

   Todays trivia question is name the three teams that played in the 1954 Ontario Rugby Football Union?
The answer will be posted in tomorrows post about the Vernon Tigers Baseball team.

   The answer to yesterdays trivia question is, on June 1, 1978 the Eastern Basketball Association changed its name to the Continental Basketball Association. The CBA played through the 2009 season.

An Early Basketball failure

2012-01-18T04:34:00.000-07:00

     On January 18, 1923 the four club Eastern Basketball League folded. The league had first played in the 1909-10 season with six clubs. The league had played from that season until taking a one season break for World War 1. The league had began play with 6 clubs during the 1922-23 seasons. The league ran into problems when the Atlantic City Celtics and the Reading Bears folded. The four remaining clubs (Camden Skeeters, Coatesville Coats, Philadelphia Jaspers and the Trenton Tigers gave the second half of the season a try. The attempt ended after only 6 league games were played. I have been unable to find the reasons why the league hit hard times at this point in its history. I do know that the league was reorganized in time for the 1925-26 season.


    The answer to yesterdays trivia question is the Bankers played the Portage Lakes club of Houghton, Michigan. That club was a member of the International Professional Hockey League.

    Todays trivia question is on June 1, 1978 the Eastern Basketball Association changed its name, what did the league change its name to?

    Tomorrow we will look at the Canadian Football League.

An Early Hockey League

2012-01-17T04:04:00.002-07:00

On January 17, 1904 the Pittsburgh Keystones of the Western Pennsylvania Hockey League folded, leaving three teams to finish the season. The league was the first Hockey League to be fully professional. I am surprised by this as Baseball had been professional for 30 seasons before the WPHL came along.

The league had began play as a professional league with the 1901-02 season as a three club league with all three teams based in Pittsburgh. The three teams were the Athletic Club, the Bankers and the Keystones. The leagues first season consisted of only 21 total league games. The Victorias club was added for the second season and the league played 27 games. With the loss of the Keystones, the league only played 24 games during the 1903-04 season. Thus the league in three seasons had only 72 games played.

The league then sat out the next three seasons before making a two season comeback before folding for good. Five players in the league made enough of an impact to get into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

The answer to yesterdays trivia question is the Cardinals quarterback in 1963 was Charley Johnson.

The trivia question for tomorrow is following the 1903-04 season, the league champion Bankers played what team for the Championship of the United States?

Please come back tomorrow when we look at an early basketball league.

Here come the Cardinals

2012-01-16T02:23:00.003-07:00

Today on the anniversary of the shift of the Cardinals football team from Saint Louis, we are looking at the teams long history. The franchise was formally transferred to Phoenix on January 16, 1988.

The Cardinals are the longest continuously operating football team having played every year since its founding in 1898. The team started out in Chicago and joined the NFL for its first season in 1920. They moved to Saint Louis Missouri for the 1960 season. The team has a franchise record of 496-699-39. They have won 2 league championships and went to the Super Bowl after the 2009 season. During their years in Chicago, the team played many years at Comiskey Park. Today they play at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona not far from the complex used by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox for spring training. The White Sox are the baseball team that allowed the Cardinals to use their home field as their own.

For more information on the Cardinals history see their website at http://www.azcardinals.com/history/franchise.html

The answer to yesterdays trivia question is the Houston, Texas based Texas Arrow Heads played the 2004 season in the Pro Cricket League, a league that lasted just the one season.

Tomorrows trivia question is who was the Cardinals starting quarterback in 1963?

Tomorrow we will at an early minor league hockey league.

A Texas Tradition

2012-01-15T02:27:00.002-07:00

     Many sports fans are well aware that sports fans in the State of Texas frequently live and die with the sport of Football. The fans in the Lone Star State take their football very seriously and for good reason.
There is another long standing tradition in Texas that dates back many years, that being Texas League Baseball.

    On January 15, 1888 the first version of the professional league was founded. The cities involved were Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Galveston, Houston and San Antonio. Although the first few seasons were a bit rocky the league did finally get on firm footing in 1902.

    Many greats have passed through the league during their careers. Many cities have held teams through the years. Among these players would be Frank Howard, Dizzy Dean, Hank Greenberg, Joe Morgan, Johnny Damon, Francisco Rodriguez, Dave Righetti and Bob Turley.

    Today the league is a very strong 8 club league with teams in Corpus Christi, TX (Hooks), Frisco, TX (RoughRiders), Little Rock, AR (Arkansas Travelers), Midland, TX (RockHounds), San Antonio, TX (Missions), Springdale, AR (Northwest Arkansas Naturals), Springfield, MO (Cardinals) and Tulsa, OK (Drillers). Some of the most exciting games in baseball history have been played by the league.

The big question now is will the Missions repeat as league champs in 2012?

For more on the Texas League please see their website at http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=l109
They have the best website in all of minor league baseball!!

The answer to the trivia question is the New York Gladiators played the 1961-62 season in the National Bowling League. The league only lasted the one season before folding.

The trivia question for tomorrow is in what league did the Texas Arrowheads play in during the 2004 season?

Tomorrow we will will be looking at the Cardinals football team.

Have a great day everyone, its great to be back!!!

More Details

2012-01-07T12:01:00.001-07:00

Next Sunday, this blog is scheduled to return with all new entries. On that date we will be looking at a great tradition in Texas. The trivia question for that date will be in what league did the New York Gladiators play in during the 1961-62 season? We will see you then!!

Returning Soon

2011-12-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

This blog has been scheduled to resume on January 15, 2012, more details will be posted soon

Lots Of Ballparks

2011-04-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

   Today we wrap up the Ballparks Opening Week with 8 ballpark openings being profiled, yes I do know that this edition is a day late.

   Today we start at April 14, 1904 with the opening of American League Park II in Washington, DC. In the opener, the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Senators in an 8 inning game 8-3. Moving ahead 5 years we find the Saint Louis Browns opening Sportsmans' Park III. The Cleveland Indians opened the park with a -2 win over the Browns. In 1920 the Cardinals moved in and would stay until 1966.

   Our next stop is 1953 and the opening of County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Braves slipped the winning run across in the 10th against the Saint Louis Cardinals for a 3-2 win. 1960 is our next stop as the Tacoma Giants of the Pacific Coast League opened Ben Cheney Stadium. The Portland Beavers spoiled the party with a 7-2 win.

Moving along we arrive for two stops in Montreal, first in 1969 when the Expos played their first franchise game. The game was played at Parc Jarry and was an 8-7 win over the Cardinals. Next we have the Shreveport Captains of the Texas League opening Fair Grounds Field in 1986. The Captains took a 5-4 win over the Jackson Mets.

   Two years later, the Buffalo Bisons of the American Association opened Pilot Field with a 1-0 win over the Denver Zephyers. Our final park today is Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. The Norfolk Tides of the International League opened the park with a 2-0 win over the Ottawa Lynx.

   The answer to Wednesdays trivia question is in its first two seasons, the san Diego Padres have had a 2-2 record at Citi Park in New York. There will not be a trivia question today as this will be my last daily blog for awhile, unless someone wants to pay my ISP bill for me. I need to send my time looking for full time employment and needs of my family :(. I would welcome any words of encouragement or even a Phoenix area job offer in my email sabrkev@gmail.com. I hope to resume soon.
Thanks to all my friends world wide,
Kevin Saldana
Mesa, AZ

Baltimore, DC and New York

2011-04-13T04:42:00.001-07:00

    Today Ballparks Opening Week continues. We jump right in with the April 13, 1891 opening of Boundary Field in Washington, DC. The park was home of the Washington Nationals of the American Association. The Boston Reds beat the Senators by a score of 6-0. At the end of the season, the Senators were one of four league teams to merge in with the established National League clubs. The Boston Reds were merged in with the Beaneaters. Boundary Field would be home to the Senators until they folded after the 1899 season. When the American League arrived in town for the 1901 season they had a stadium built for them.

   Our next park is Terrapin Park, the home of the Baltimore Terrapins of the Federal League. The Terrapins played the Buffalo Blues in the leagues first game as a major league on April 13, 1914. The Terrapins won the game 3-2 over the Buffalo Blues. The league lasted only two years, the ballpark was sold to the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. The Orioles used the park until July 4, 1944 when it burned down.

   Our final park today is Citi Field in New York. On April 13, 2009 the San Diego Padres stole the show in this opener, by taking a 6-5 win over the Mets.

   The answer to yesterdays trivia question is the Milwaukee Badgers played their National Football League games in the 1920s at Athletic Park. Todays trivia question is during the first two seasons at Citi Field, what is the San Diego Padres record there? The answer in tommorrows daily blog as Ballpark Opening Week continues.

From Pennsylvania to Minnesota And Out To California

2011-04-12T10:20:00.000-07:00

   Today on our Ballpark Openers Week, we have 8 different ballparks to look at. For our first two April 12 ballparks, we go back over 100 years starting in the City of Brotherly Love in 1909.

Just two days ago we looked at the 1971 opening of Veterans Stadium. Today we will look at its predessor, but its sucessor as well. Shibe Park was built for the American League Athletics for a 1909 opening. The A's broke the park in with an 8-1 clubbering of the Boston Red Sox. In 1938, the Phillies moved and stayed until 1970, well after the A's left town. The Phillies moved into Veterans Stadium in 1971 and stayed through 2003. On April 12, 2004 the Phillies opened Citizens Bank Ballpark. The Phillies could not repeat the A's feat of winning the first game in their new park, when the took a 4-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

   The A's moved into Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri in 1955. The stadium which had opened originally in 1923 for the minor league Kansas City Blues, required extensive rework before the A's arrival. A 90 day around the clock schedule allowed the A's to face the Detroit Tigers ontime. The A's would take a 6-2 win from the Tigers.

   We are not done yet with the parks built 100 years ago. Today is the centennial of Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. The Senators took an 8-5 win from the Boston Red Sox.

  We now move ahead to April 12, 1960 and opening of Candlestick Park, San Francisco. The Giants took a 3-1 victory over the Saint Louis Cardinals. Few knew of the many windy surprises that were in store of the course of the next 4 decades. I myself saw a late June game there in 1998, I remember the hot chocolate all too well.

   Five years later Baseball hit a very big first with the opening of the Harris County Domed Stadium in Houston, Texas, AKA the AstroDome. The Phillies ruined the Astros party by taking a 2-0 victory from them.

   A few days later the Atlanta Crackers of the International League played their first game in Atlantas new park Atlanta Stadium. The park was built with the Braves arrival in mind. When the Braves arrival was delayed a year, the Crackers got to take the new park out for a spin. On April 12, 1966 the Braves got their turn in the new park. The Pittsburgh Pirates were the lucky team that night as the took a 3-2 win in 13 innings.

   Our final ballpark is marking its first anniversary this year. Target Field in Minneapolis first opened its doors to the Twins and the Boston Red Sox, with the Twinks taking a 5-2 win from the visitors. Are you glad I have not have the chance yet to document all the minor league park openings thoughout history? I do have a few coming in a day or two :).

   The answer to yesterdays trivia question is 16 times in National Football League history a game has ended with a score of 40-7. The first time that this happened was on November 22, 1925 when the Rock Island Independents beat the Milwaukee Badgers at Douglas Park in Rock Island. The most recent occasion was on December 17, 2006 when at Gillette Stadium the New England Patriots beat the Houston Texans.

   Todays trivia question is what was the name of the Milwaukee Badgers home park? The answer in tomorrows daily blog as Ballpark Opening Week continues.

Target field 2010

From Cincinnati To The Golden Gate

2011-04-11T03:14:00.001-07:00

   Ballpark Opening Week continues today with a look at 4 ballparks that opened on April 11 and one minor league park that got its promotion to the Majors. We start many years ago in the far away year of 1912. The Cincinnati Reds new park was called Redland Field and would serve as the Reds home park until 1970. In their first game at their new park the Reds defeated the Chicago Cubs by a score of 10-6.

   We now move ahead a number of years to 1969. The Seattle Pilots were playing their first home game after splitting their franchise opening series 1-1 in Anaheim against the California Angels. Sick's Stadium had opened in 1938 as the home park of Emil Sicks' Seattle Rainers and had served the Rainers needs very well for the last 30 years. The Pilots opened their one home season against the Chicago White Sox with a decisive 7-0 win over their visitors.

   One of the more simpliest names for a ballpark adored the new ballpark for the Texas Rangers in 1994. The name of the park when it opened was The Ballpark in Arlington. Since 2004 the park has been known as Ameriquest Field. The Rangers dropped their ballpark opener to the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 4-3.

   Six years later fans of two teams got to see their first look at their teams new park, when Comerica Park in Detroit and Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco opened on the same day. Comerica Park replaced the legendary Tiger Stadium, the Tigers home park for the preceding 78 seasons. The Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners by a score of 5-2. The Giants were not so lucky in their first game at the park that replaced Candlestick Park. The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the locals by a score of 6-5.

   The answers to yesterdays trivia question are as follows the Milwaukee Braves followed the Cincinnati Reds on the Dodgers home schedule for Dodger Stadium in 1962, The Philaadelphia Phillies were the next home opponent for the Colts at Colts Stadium in 1962, the Pittsburgh Pirates followed the Montreal Expos on the Phillies home schedule for Veterans Stadium in 1971, the Oakland A's were the Royals next home opponent for the Royals at Royals Stadium in 1973, the Cincinnati Reds followed the Milwaukee brewers on the Saint Louis Cardinals home schedule for Busch Stadium III in 2006.

    Todays trivia question is National Football League games have ended in any one of 991 combinations of final scores, how many NFL games have ended with a final score of 40-7? The answer in tomorows daily blog as Ballpark Opening week continues.

From Los Angeles to Philadelphia

2011-04-10T09:47:00.000-07:00

     Today on our Ballpark Openings week we look at Major League Baseball parks with an opening date of April 10. We start with two parks on April 10, 1962. One park was built as a temporary stadium for three seasons of use, the other is still in use today. On this date the Los Angeles Dodgers invited the Cincinnati reds to town to help them open their new park Dodger Stadium. The Reds made themselves very comfortable in the Dodgers new stadium, handing the hometown club a 6-3 loss. The dodgers did however win their next four home games, including two from the Cincy club. On that same day, the Houston Colt .45s invited the Chicago Cubs to town for their Major League debut. The Cubs had nothing to teach the newbies who pouded out an 11-2 win over their visitors. The Colts went on to sweep the three game series.

    Moving ahead to 1971, we arrive in Philadelphia for the opening of Veterans Stadium. The Phillies invited the Montreal Expos to town for the opener. The Phillies and Future Hall of Famer Jim Bunning took command and a 4-1 win from the Expos. Two years later the Kansas City Royals got their opportunity to open a brand new ballpark as Royals Stadium was ready for them. They invited the Texas Rangers to town for the event. The Royals feasted on the Rangers pitching in taking a 12-1 victory in their opener. Before the Royals were able to get too cocky with their own ballpaark, the hosted the California Angels for a quick mid-May two game series. In the second game the Royals became the first of seven clubs that future Hall of famer Nolan Ryan pitched a no-hitter against, when Ryan spun a 3-0 gem over the Royals. The Royals did recover to have a 48-33 record at Royals Stadium for the season. For the 1993 season the park was renamed Kaufman Stadium, in honor of Ewing Kaufman, their founder.

    Our final ballpark today is Busch Stadium III in saint Louis, Missouri. The third version of Busch Stadium opened on April 10, 2006, when the Milwaukee Brewers arrived in town as the visitors. The Cardinals and Mark Mulder were able to hold off the Brew Crew for a 6-4 win over the Brewers. Three of our five April 10 ballpaks are still open today. Colts Stadium was only intended as a temporary park before it gave way to the Harris County Domed Stadium, better known as the AstroDome in 1965. The Astros themselves are now in their third home park. Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia served as the Home of the Phillies until giving way to Citizens Bank Park in 2004.

   The answer to yesterdays trivia question is Frank McNally, whose 1907 birth is only described as occuring in Nevada, became the first Silver State native to reach the National Football League as a player when he began a 4 career as the center for the Chicago Cardinals in 1931. The state would not send another player to the NFL until 1941 and would not obtain a long run in the league until 1968. That streak continues too this date.

   Todays trivia question is which teams served the opponents for the second series to be played at each of todays featured new stadiums? The answers in tomorrows daily blog as ballpark openings week continues.

And Flatbush Rejoiced

2011-04-09T08:52:00.000-07:00

    On Wednesday, April 9, 1913, the citizens of Brooklyn, New York got their first look at the latest offerings of Charles H Ebbetts, Sr. For not only was the day the season opener for their beloved baseball team the Superbas, it was the opening of his latest gift to the fans Ebbets Field.

     The Superbas were allowed to open one dazy earlier then the rest of Major League Baseball. This move allowed the locals to start in the hole one day earlier then the rest of the league, as the Philiadelphia Philles first inning run stood up as the only run of the day. The team would finish the season in 6th place with a record of 65-84-3 a full 34.5 games behind their crostown rivals the New York Giants. They would change their nickanme the following year to the Robins in honor of their manager and go on to their first World Series appearance in 1920. It would be 1932 before they would be called the Dodgers.

   Many other ballparks have been opened on April 9 among them are DC Stadium in Washington, DC (1962), PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (2001), Fifth Third Field in Toledo, Ohio (2002) and New Veterans Memorial Stadium in Cedar Rapids, Iowa (2002).

The answer to yesterdays trivia question is National Football League players who were born in the State of Nevada have played 1,965 games. The Silver State has sent 45 native born players to the NFL, only 6 are currently listed as active. Todays trivia question is who was the first player from the State of Nevada to reach the NFL? The answer in tomorrows daily blog as ballpark openers week continues.

Lets Go To Emeryville

2011-04-08T04:09:00.002-07:00

    On April 8, 1913 the Fans of the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League got their first opportunity to their beloved Oaks play in their new ballpark. The Oaks welcomed the Portland Beavers to town. Unfortunately for the Oaks the Beavers were the only ones scoring runs this day, taking a 5-0 win over the locals. Oaks Park was located just NNW of Oakland in the City of Emeryville. The park continued to be the Home of the Oaks until the franchise was moved to Vancouver, British Columbia after the 1955 season. At one point in time the Oaks had an infielder named Billy Martin. Martin as we all know went on to a fine career with the New York Yankees both as an infielder and in the dugout later as their manager. Martin was an Oakland native.

   The answer to yesterdays trivia question is Philadelphia Eagles halfback and NFL Hall of Famer Steve Van Buren scored 77 of the 78 touchdowns by a player born in Honduras. His career lasted from 1944-51. The one touchdown that not scored by Steve Van Buren that was scored by a player that was born in Honduras, was scored by his younger brother Ebert.

   Todays trivia question is how many NFL games have been played by players who were born in the State of Nevada? The answer in tomorrows daily blog as Ballpark Opening Week continues.

A Very Long Opener

2011-04-07T03:00:00.002-07:00

    April 7, 1995 was opening day in the Midwest League. The Fort Wayne Wizards were hosting the brand new Michigan Battle Cats at Memorial Stadium. The Battle Cats got alot more baseball then they were expecting. The two teams battled into the 18th inning. The Battle Cats took a 4-3 lead in the top half of the inning. The Wizards were not yet done. They posted two runs on board in their half of the 18th, to win the game by a score of 5-4. This game was not your ordinary way to welcome a new club into the league. The Wizards have since moved into a new stadium Parkview Field and changed their name to the Tincaps. The Battle Cats left the league after the 2006 season. The team was transferred to Midland, a town just West of the Bay City-Saginaw area.

   The answer to yesterdays trivia question is 8 all time National Football League players were born in Japan. All 8 players appear to have be military brats. Todays question how many touchdowns in NFL history were scored by players born in Honduras? The answer in tomorrows daily blog about another ballpark opening.

How Many Runs Can You Score

2011-04-06T03:57:00.001-07:00

   Today we going to look at April 6th baseball games where things got a little out of hand in the runs scored department. We begin on April 6, 1890 in the california League. The Sacramento Senators were hosting the Stocktons at Snowflake Park. Senators leadoff hitter and centerfielder William B. Goodenough would lead the way going 5 for 8 with 1 double and 6 runs scored in the senators 36-1 beating of the Stocktons in 7 innings. The Stocktons fielders did no better then their hitters by kicking in 16 errors.

   If you think that was alot of scoring for a baseball game, you have not seen anything yet!! We move ahead to 1932 and the Arizona-Texas League. The Albuquerque Dukes were playing their first game at Tingley Field. The field was named in honor of the Mayor Clyde W. Tingley. Tingley would go on to become the Governor of New Mexico. The local fans were a bit worried when the visiting El Paso Texans jumped off to a 7-0 lead before the Dukes had their first licks. However, the Dukes took an 8-7 lead in their half of the first and off they went. By the time everyrthing was said and done the Dukes won by a score of 43-15.

Just so that you, games like these were not restricted to a time many years ago, we arrive in 2003 and Tucson Electric Park. The Tucson Sidewinders of the Pacific Coast League beat the visiting Edmondton Trappers by a score of 25-11. Both clubs are now out of the league as the Sidewinders now reside in reno as the Aces and the Trappers now live in Round Rock, Texas outside of Austin as the Round Rock Express. The City of Tucson is now for the moment back in the Pacific Coast League with the Tucson Padres. The Padres will play their first home game a week from Friday against the Salt Lake City Bees.

     The answer to yesterdays trivia question is 88 no-hitters were pitched during the 1910 professional baseball season. Only five of the games were less then 9 innings; four of them were perfect games and 5 pof them went into extra innings. The first gem of the year was pitched on April 17th in the debut of the Central California League. A pitcher identified only as Yeazell pitched a 6-0 no-hitter for the Napa club over the team from Saint Helena. The last gem was pitched exactly six months later when Pacific Coast League pitcher Frank Arellanes of the Sacramento Senators pitched a no-hitter over the Vernon Tigers. Arellanes gave up 2 runs and lost the game in 8 innings.

   Todays trivia question is how many all-time National Football League players were born in Japan? The answer in tomorrows daily blog about a very long ballpark opening game.