#407 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Tuesday July 19)
Good morning,
Tonight is Baseball’s All Star Game. The best from the American and National Leagues will meet on the field at Dodger Stadium for the second time (third time in Los Angeles, with the first being at the Coliseum). It’s been at Angels Stadium three times. Los Angeles and Anaheim have hosted the game approximately every ten years (with a dry-spell between 1980 and 2010). It was held at the Coliseum in 1959, Angels Stadium in 1967, Dodger Stadium in 1980, and Angels Stadium in both 1989 and 2010.
MEMORIES OF THE FIRST GAME PLAYED AT ANGELS STADIUM
I was such a big fan when the All Star Game came to Anaheim the first time, in 1967. It was the longest game played to date, at 15 innings, with the National League beating the American League, 2-1. This was in the era of the 70s and 80s, when the superior talent of the National League bested the American League regularly. The first five innings were pitched by Angels Dean Chance and Jim McGlothlin, with Jim Fregosi coming in to pinch hit and play shortstop. For an 11 year old Angels fan, it was heaven. The stars in this game? Mickey Mantle pinch hit, as he neared the end of his career. Harmon Killebrew, Tony Oliva, Rod Carew, Brooks Robinson, Al Downing, Yaz, Don Drysdale, Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Ernie Banks, and Roberto Clemente were among the stars, always to remain youngsters in our minds’ eyes.
THE LAST ALL STAR GAME AT DODGER STADIUM
The last time the game was played in Los Angeles was in 1980. The list of players in the game is a snapshot of a by-gone era in baseball: Ken Griffey won the MVP in a game that included Bucky Dent, Rod Carew, Reggie Jackson, Fred Lynn, Bill Russell, Mike Schmidt, Steve Garvey, Carlton Fisk, Rod Carew, George Brett, Johnny Bench, Ricky Henderson, and Dave Parker.
LAUREN AND THE 2010 GAME
The last time the All Star Game was played in Southern California was when Angels Stadium hosted the 2010 All Star Game (which was the third time it was played at the Big A).
Not only were Jake, Lauren and I at this game, but we were part of a group invited down to the field to hang out in the dugouts and watch the players warming up. The only rule we were given was not to interrupt or interact with the players. After all, they were there to do a job.
It would strike no one that the only person to violate this clearly articulated rule was Lauren. I turned my head for a moment and heard Lauren’s voice, “Hey, Andre Ethier!” By the time I turned back around, I found her posing for a picture with Ethier. Classic Lauren. Just like when she talked the Angels First Base Coach into handing her a ball in the middle of a game.
BASEBALL MEMORIES
I am excited to watch this game, as I watch them all, with a sense of the consistency of ritual, remembrance of games past, and excitement about the outcome of the game. Much about the game of baseball is that changes only incrementally, an experience to be relished as much for the ambience and ritual, the announcers spinning yarns of little consequence, and the memories of games from years ago. The game is fundamentally the same as in the days of my youth and my father’s youth and my father’s father’s youth, with different stars who come and go. I’ll be watching it with memories of explaining the game to our three kids. And I’ll be watching the game imagining my father by my side, eating a hot dog (which he maintained was his favorite food), crunching peanuts, and yelling at the umpire. Back then, the players were Greek gods and my father stood 10 feet tall.
Some say the game tonight isn’t worth it because the result doesn’t matter—that nothing’s at stake. But that’s part of the charm—it’s fun precisely because it doesn’t matter. It’s just for the love of the game and the experience. That’s what makes it particularly special.
Play ball,
Glenn
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