Jacksonville Suns

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I had been to a baseball game in Jacksonville in the early 90s. I wasn’t sure it they still played in the worn but cozy ballpark I had seen them in before. When my GPS steered me to Bragan Field, it was obvious that the Suns have built new digs. The mostly red brick structure with dark green supporting steel framework is very reminiscent of the Ballpark in Arlington (now called Globe Life Ballpark). It sports a modest party deck area, a smallish grass berm GA seating area, some outfield bleachers and a concourse that seems a bit tight. One of its most unique features is the stairway leading up to the main concourse once you are in the main gate. It reminds me of a much older and less efficiently built ballpark until one clears this feature. The quaint interior belied the slick exterior. I had the feeling I was in a much older ballpark that had seen Joan Rivers’ plastic surgeon for a facelift.

In a trip that has been a collection of weird coincidences (of which will be chronicled in the book “Gone to the Dogs”) I received my first bobblehead giveaway, the night before I had visited the bobblehead museum inside the Miami Marlins ballpark.

Dog:

Bun-nice and fresh.

Taste-despite probably being the first name you think of when you think of hot dog wieners, this was the first ballpark that served Oscar Mayer franks. They were pretty good, and the slightly burned frank added to the texture and taste.

Toppings-a decent selection.

Price-$4 is a little pricey for a minor league hot dog.

Portability-nicely done in larger paper wrapper.

It Factor-JAX falls short here. You get the regular dog, or there is a brat to choose from.

Ballpark:

Location-near enough to downtown JAX to be considered a downtown park.

Access-walk, bike, drive, bus.

GA Ticket Price-the Suns could do better for a grass berm seat than $7.50.

Cleanliness-typically, most ballparks get an easy top score for this. The ballpark in Jacksonville, while by no means nasty, had more trash than any ballpark I had been to floating around. The restroom was also out of pump soap and paper towels, and I was there an hour BEFORE first pitch. I suppose I caught the Suns on a off day, but I call them as I see them.

Fans-large and engaged crowd.

Ambiance-overall Bragan Field had the feel of a real baseball park.

Dog		Ballpark		Total Dog/Game
Bun	5	Location	4.5
Taste	4.5	Access	4.5
Toppings	4.5	Cleanliness	3
Price	4	Ambiance	5
Portability	5	GA Ticket Price	4
It Factor	2	Fans	5
	25		26	51

I suffered the biggest quandary of my journey in Jacksonville. It was getting late and I had to be in Atlanta for a 1:30 pm Braves start to complete my final stop of MLB parks. It was a long 5 hour drive and I wanted to knock off a few hours before stopping for the night. I had to leave right after the game to do that. But the Suns had arranged for one of my favorite spectator sports to be conducted on the field right after the game...midget wrestling. Did you hear me MIDGET WRESTLING! Who doesn’t love that? I hadn’t see that since I was a kid, and then only on TV. In the end, I opted for the safe option and headed out of JAX as soon as the game was over, visions of elves, elves in tights doing the Atomic Elbow move,  dancing in my head during the drive to the Georgia state line.

Miami Marlins

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Yes, This Really is a Baseball Park

I just hit ballpark number 29….one more to go to complete all 30 MLB parks. And the one on Friday night was a interesting one. Marlins Park in Miami is a slick new park that has the most high-tech retractable roof in baseball. It is white and glass on the outside and looks strikingly like...an airport. The attached parking garages do not help, they look like attached parking garages and nobody wants to see that. It also restricts the view of the ballpark from many angles, and it is a lovely structure, it just doesn’t look like a ballpark. The low-flying aircraft, headed for the real airport a few miles away, add to the illusion. At the ticket window I didn’t know whether to ask for a general admission ticket or a round trip ticket to Las Vegas.

Once inside the park has some of the widest concourses of any stadium. It could accommodate huge crowds, if that were an issue for the Marlins...which it isn’t. The concourses are pleasing to the eye, but once you set foot in the seating area your eyes are assaulted by a technicolor bomb. I get it, Miami is colorful and you want to pay tribute to your hometown. But the colors should be appealing, not make me nauseated, I have a hot dog to eat for cryin’ out loud. The centerpiece of the gaudiness that is Marlins Park is in the outfield. It is a sea-theme thingamajig that does some sort of spinning and/or jumping and/or lighting when the Marlins hit a homer. Franky, I am not sure what it is.

Baseball...and Culture

On the positive side there is some highbrow culture to be had in the stadium. Firstly, there is large print of “The Manager.” A baseball manager painting by my favorite American artist Roy Lichtenstein. And there is my favorite attraction in any of the ballparks: the bobblehead museum. Hundreds of oversized heads bobbing in unison as some sort of mechanism keeps the figurines in a near continuous shaking of the noggin. It is mesmerizing. And beyond the outfield wall is a huge glass window with a splendid view of the Miami skyline. With its futuristic style and explosion of clashing colors Marlins park can best be summed up by a mashup of two of my favorite TV shows as a kid: Lost in Space Meets Scooby Doo.

Oh, and they sell hot dogs too:

Dog:

Bun-fresh and slightly toasted on the inside. Nicely done.

Taste-the Kayem frank had a good solid taste.

Toppings-the Marlins excel here. Nice cart with a great selection.

Price-$6..say what? Does that include a wash and wax for my car?

Portability-a cardboard boat AND a paper wrapper. It does a great job but the boat isn’t really needed.

It Factory-surprisingly thin in a city known for food. There is the Spicy Island Dog, but other than that few other hot dog options.

Ballpark:

Location-downtown, butted right up against Little Havana

Access-walk, bus, bike drive, lots of options.

GA Ticket Price-$18 is pretty steep considering the location of the seats.

Cleanliness-one of the cleanest ballparks I have visited.

Fans-entire sections empty, and judging from the cheering, most of the fans were from San Francisco and rooting for the Giants.

Ambiance-I don’t want to demean the quality of the stadium. It is so gaudy that it is ugly and so ugly that it is beautiful. But it don’t look like no baseball park. I am thinking soccer when I see this place. Splendid venue, just not for hardball.

Dog		Ballpark		Total Dog/Game
Bun	5	Location	5
Taste	4.5	Access	5
Toppings	5	Cleanliness	5
Price	3.5	Ambiance	3
Portability	5	GA Ticket Price	3.5
It Factor	3.5	Fans	3
	26.5		24.5	51

All in all a Marlins game can be much like a visit to the airport. It’s hard to park and it is expensive, you have to wait in line to get a ticket, you have to pass through tough screening and a metal detector, the food inside is way overpriced, it’s crowded, announcements are made on the public address system that you cannot understand and its full of people who have come from all over. And when I left it took me half an hour to find the exit...I spent 30 minutes looking for baggage claim.

NEW FEATURE! I am experimenting adding videos. Do they add to the blog? Oh...don't hate me because I am beautiful.

Port St Lucie Mets

The book that will chronicle the fantastical road trip that this blog covers is now 40% funded via Kickstarter cloud funding. You can be part of history and help bring "Gone to the Dogs" to print by visiting my kickstarter page. At least watch the video and see how handsome I am.
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The second part of my fantabulous baseball day, in which I saw two games in different venues, took me to Tradition Field, home of the St. Lucie Mets. It screams Mets with its blue and orange trim. From the outside it looks slick and futuristic, complete with my favorite amenity...free parking. Why free parking? Average parking at a MiLB game is $5, MLB is about $15. There are 30 MLB games to eat a dog at and at least as many MiLB...you do the math. Free parking keeps me from being destitute, and when I am already semi-homeless that is really all I got going for me. Did I mention I was on a budget?

Most impressive, is the huge concrete overhang that shields the lion’s share of the main grandstand from the rain, and it always rains in Florida at some time during the day. I kept looking at it thinking if it broke off a huge chunk of concrete would take out a good many fans. I didn’t sit underneath it. Just below it is the press box area and below that the luxury suites for fans who come to eat and drink in air conditioning at someone else’s expense (although, I’d be in there in a second if invited). But what really bugged me about this park, was the bugs. The tiny no-see-ums that I would gladly detonate a thermonuclear weapon to exterminate. You will be happy to know that although I used to work with nuclear weapons, I no longer have access to them. You can sleep easy.

The stadium interior was super clean and well-maintained. I liked it but it has a bit of a sterile feeling to it. The fence is too perfectly semicircular without any angles to it. The bus stop roof over the left field picnic area looks out of place, although I am sure it does a splendid job of keeping patrons dry. The scoreboard is a hi-def jumbotron that should make other clubs envious and the palm trees just outside the fence add a coastal aire to the place. All that blue and orange...it hurt my eyes. Tradition Field by the way has a super friendly and accommodating staff. They will make you trip to the ballpark a trip to remember.

Dog:

Bun-fresh and steamed, just like it oughta be.

Taste-Nathan’s usually has a great frank. This night it wasn’t up to its usual quality. It was dollar dog night so that might explain a lot.

Toppings-just a pepper selection short of a perfect score.

Price-$3.50 for the regular price is pretty darn good.

Portability-again with the heavy aluminum foil, and again my bun was smushed. Tom no likey smushed buns.

It factor-yawn.

Ballpark:

Location-seems to be a trend in Florida, not downtown and in a complex or some sort of shopping center.

Access-mostly a drive to park. Maybe that is why there is free parking.

GA Ticket Price-$6.50 for a good seat is a great price in a really good ballpark.

Cleanliness-nice job keeping the place clean.

Fans-really nice crowd, and most stayed for the second game of the double header.

Ambiance-not top score but still not bad for the spring training home of the New York Mets.

Dog		Ballpark		Total Dog/Game
Bun	5	Location	3.5
Taste	3.5	Access	3.5
Toppings	4.5	Cleanliness	5
Price	4.5	Ambiance	4
Portability	4.5	GA Ticket Price	5
It Factor	2.5	Fans	4
	24.5		25	49.5

What Can I Say? I'm a Dog Person

Combine a double header with dollar dog night and you have a winning combination. I was happier than a pitcher after an inning-ending triple play. I would absolutely recommend having a dog in this park, I would bet the dog is tastier on non-dollar dog night. You could get a hamburger instead, but then I would have to unfriend you on facebook.

Palm Beach Cardinals

I was supposed to see a game at Port Charlotte yesterday. If you remember I was boasting about soaking up the sun here in the Sunshine State. The Port Charlotte game was rained out. Karma is a bitch. I decided to make amends with the the Baseball Gods and the Deities of Dietary Decadence. I burned two cans of Spam and a Cal Ripken, Jr. baseball card on the pitcher’s mound of a local high school field while chanting “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in my best Gregorian Monk monotone voice.

It worked. Not only was I able to catch a game today, but it was a noon start and that allowed me to catch yet ANOTHER game the same day. Wait….it gets better. The second game is a DOUBLE HEADER. And, the first game I was let in for free because of my military service and at the second game I was gifted a ticket by a couple from Pennsylvania (love Pirates fans). WAIT! It’s not over yet. The second game is DOLLAR DOG NIGHT!!!! The Gods smile upon me once again.

The first game is reviewed here. Second game on a later post. I hit Roger Dean Stadium to see the Palm Beach Cardinals take on the Tampa Yankees. The ballpark really had an aura of South Beach about it. The two-toned pastel brown stucco looked really nice and had an inviting glow. Inside it was a pretty typical Single A park but it is really great when considering the use it gets. Roger Dean Stadium is the only ballpark to host two MLB teams for Spring Training (Cardinals and Marlins) and it pulls double duty as the home ballpark for the Palm Beach Cardinals and the Jupiter Hammerheads. That is a lot of baseball for one park and considering that it is rode hard and put away wet it is in fantastic shape. The concourses are just the right size and the grass is properly manicured. It isn’t as fab as the other teams spring training facilities, but not a bad venue. I was reminded to be humble. The Baseball Gods made my visit coincide with some sort of water festivities that was being put on for several summer camps, and attended by lots of kids….lots, and lots of screaming, running, less than 12 year-old kids. The seat that was given to me by the Cardinals was choice. Directly behind home plate and 3 rows back. But after a few innings with those kids just behind me the left field bleaches looked very inviting.

Dog:

Bun-steamed and fresh.

Taste-a decent frank supplied by National Deli.

Toppings-a great selection. Only jalapenos keep it from getting top score.

Price-$3.00 for the size and toppings is nearly perfect.

Portability-you now know the hazards of a heavy gage aluminum foil. And it did smush my bun a bit. Think paper wrapper.

It Factor-I love the name of the “Dean Dog.” Unfortunately is only a footlong, nothing really special about it.

Ballpark:

Location-nice clean location, but not near downtown at all.

Access-mostly a drive to park.

GA Ticket Price-nice price for the GA option. Nearly perfect. Thanks again Cards for my comp ticket.

Cleanliness-they keep it clean in Palm Beach.

Fans-this one is hard. There was a decent sized crowd. But is was mainly kids. Screaming kids. And screaming kids don’t really pay attention to the game. I am splitting the difference here.

Ambiance-not bad, but the vibe wasn’t as strong there as in some parks. Can’t really put my finger on it. Probably because it is in the middle of some sort of Disneyland like development.

Dog		Ballpark		Total Dog/Game
Bun	5	Location	3.5
Taste	4.5	Access	3.5
Toppings	4.5	Cleanliness	5
Price	4.5	Ambiance	4.5
Portability	4.5	GA Ticket Price	4.5
It Factor	3	Fans	3.5
	26		24.5	50.5

The great thing about Roger Dean Stadium is that with two teams playing there, you can see a game nearly every night. The park was clean and the action fun. If you take out the kid factor it was nearly a perfect day game at the park (despite the sprinkles). Strongly recommended if in the area. If knocking out MLB ballparks, plan to come a day early and see a game in Palm Beach before the Marlins.

Off Day: Tommy Dog

A rare off day while on the quest for the perfect ballpark hot dog. Since I know you are reading this in  your cubicle instead of working like you oughta be let me say two things: first, thanks, second, I am in Florida soaking up the sun. Now, please get back to work.

I am also keeping the tradition of presenting to you, for your salivating pleasure, one of the non-baseball hot dog hot spots that you should know about. Why? Because they are damn delicious; and sometimes you need a dog but can’t get to the ballpark. Well, I can, but you….well, you have to work.

Tommy

If you are near the Catskills in New York, there is a spot worthy of a lunchtime diversion. Along the side of route 213 just south of Rosendale you find an old bread delivery truck with “Tommy Dogs” scrawled across the hood. I was staying with Linda, a friend I met while hiking the Camino de Santiago last fall (yes, the one in Spain). I stayed at her place and took the train to the Yankees game and the bus to the Mets game. I could have driven, but I would still be there, stuck in traffic and having racked up about $24,000 in tolls.

Picnic On a Bun

Just behind the van is a picnic table and standing guard in front is a five-foot tall “hot dog man” (FYI, it isn’t me). The van has been a fixture on 213 for years, serving up what owner Tommy calls a “picnic on a bun.” The picnic consists of a type of baked beans, coleslaw and mustard over a Sabrett’s frank between a soft bun. Tommy got the idea from a truck his dad used to sell food out of. They sold primarily to workers building the “Big Allis” power plant in the 1960s in Queens, NY. Tommy started out with his brother and planted his flag on the spot alone 213 in 1994. Twenty years later Tommy is still cranking out his delicious and affordable “picnic on a bun,” otherwise known as a “Tommy Dog.”

This IS NOT a Self-Portrait

The drive from New York City north along the west side of the Hudson River is stunningly beautiful. And it is worth planning your trip through Rosendale and timing it so that lunchtime puts you at upstate New York’s most delicious dog spot...the renown “Tommy Dog.”

Ft Myers Miracle

Frolicking around the Florida State League while waiting for the majors to start back up has its advantages. First of all, it’s Florida, home of blue water, sunny skies and gray heads. And then the fact that most of the FSL teams play in MLB spring training facilities. The difference in a regular Single A ballpark and the MLB spring training parks is huge. You can’t, after all, have say Derek Jeter shagging balls while a freight train chugs by just beyond the outfield wall.

The Ft Myers Miracle play in Hammond Stadium, spring home of the Minnesota Twins. That ballpark is the first, and perhaps the only, with a space-age waterfall. The liquid marvel greets fans as they walk up the palm tree lined path from the parking lot to the front gate. The outside veneer has some of that Cape Cod style siding like they use at Dr. Pepper Park in Frisco, TX; only it works well for Hammond Stadium.

The ballpark is undergoing some renovations that will make it even more fabulous, including a walkway above the extended grandstands and replacing the bleacher sections with regular seats. And like many FSL parks, fans are often treated to a spectacular and colorful sky as the sun goes down. Unfortunately, great parks and radiant sunsets don’t pull in the fans. There is such a plethora of minor league baseball in Florida, and two MLB teams, that fans get spread thin among the competition. This night, in mourning for the loss of beloved Miami Heat player LeBron James to rival Cleveland, anyone wearing an LB James item was awarded free admission. Choice is good but attendance suffers. And sometimes...so does the dog.

Dog:

Bun-one of the stalest I have had. It is very hard to recover from a stale bun.  

Taste-the National Deli frank would probably been better had it not spent an obvious long time on the roller grill.

Toppings-not bad, but not enough for top score.

Price-$3.50 isn’t bad for a dog, but again, not good enough for top score

Portability-the dog was wrapped, but with heavier gage aluminum foil, which could smash the bun...if fresh.

It Factor-not bad for a Single A club. Several versions of the regular dog and a few specialty dogs.

Ballpark:

Location-not too far from downtown Ft. Myers, but still not downtown.

Access-I am sure there is a shuttle and/or bus but it is still a mainly a drive-to park.

GA Ticket Price-$8 for a top of the line park and a seat is not too bad, but it is still Single A and therefore a tad too expensive. However, as a military person I was granted free entry. Thank you Ft Myers Miracle.

Cleanliness-no complaints.

Fans-it was about 15% full. I explained above the issue with FSL attendance, but the stands still looked empty. They were engaged though and The Miracle gave them something to cheer about.

Ambiance-a good baseball vibe but not enough or top score. Could have been the exterior facade.

Dog		Ballpark		Total Dog/Game
Bun	2.5	Location	3
Taste	4.5	Access	3
Toppings	4	Cleanliness	5
Price	4.5	Ambiance	4
Portability	4.5	GA Ticket Price	4.5
It Factor	4	Fans	3
	24		22.5	46.5

The Lohr Boys at the Ballpark

This was a special game for me since I got to attend with my brother, who lives about an hour north. I even got him to try a dog, although he nearly chipped a tooth on that bun. Despite not having perfect ballpark ambiance, the stadium is still quite nice and not to be missed if in the area. The dog is an easy fix. A fresh bun and properly cooked frank and you have a winner. Switch over to a Hebrew National frank and you flirt with top score. I’d like to revisit the Miracle when their renovations are complete. Now I have an excuse to come back….to Florida.

The book that will chronicle the fantastical road trip that this blog covers is now 40% funded via Kickstarter cloud funding. You can be part of history and help bring "Gone to the Dogs" to print by visiting my kickstarter page. At least watch the video and see how handsome I am.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/859640299/gone-to-the-dogs-book-about-the-search-for-the-bes?ref=email