Where did you see the USS Houston? The first one was sunk in WWII and they built a second one, but I can't find where it is, there is a USS Houston that is a Nuc Sub that must still be in commission, but that wouldn't likely be Green. BTW, offically both Houstons were Cruisers. Terry
I've been to Ebbets, The Polo Grounds, Wrigley, and Fenway and Cleveland Municipal Stadium. (Also have been to games at the King Dome, Candlestick Park and the Skydome.)
JO'Co, your list of stadiums visited and athletic "accomplishments" is indeed impressive. Talking about football, you said, ....with a cinch belt that would ride up as I ran, exposing my hips to helmet hits that caused hip pointers. Ouch! Remember them well. Gip, that's an impressive list of stadiums, especially Ebbets and the Polo Grounds. It prompted me to recall where I've been: Comiskey, Wrigley, Connie Mack in Philly (A's and Phils), Crosley, Riverfront, Great American Ballpark, Tiger Stadium, Yankee Stadium (to see an ND football game), new White Sox park, whatever the name is, Minute Maid (to tour but not to see a game).
Speaking of Tiger Stadium, what the heck are they going to do with the old gal? We still don't know what to do with the Dome, it sits there and just rusts.
Good question Terry. It's been sitting idle for quite a while but no one has come up with a plan to keep it from the wrecking ball. I think eventually, it will be taken down.
My Bad... It was actually the USS Texas, located near the battlefield of San Jacinto minutes from downtown Houston... I guess she actually is painted a "camaflage blue" but in my memory it was awful green. Color Picture Battleship Texas stu
:idea: re: sights, sounds, smells In my memory, ballparks always smelled like train stations: cigars and diesel fuel. There was also a slight haze of cigar smoke floating above the box seats. The men did indeed wear ties to the games and white shirts, which drove the outfielders crazy trying to locate flyballs. Everyone wore hats, but only the children wore team hats. The men wore their good hats and I remember very, very few women or girls at the games. The crowds were overwhelmingly male... In Los Angeles, most fans brought their transistor radios to the game so that they could listen to Vin Scully's poetry. Scully was pervasive. There were so many radios tuned in to him at the same time, that you could hear his voice in the parking lot, the restrooms, or anywhere near Dodger Stadium. You could even hear his voice on the freeway, if you were caught in a traffic jam, either before or after the game. He would tell his listeners to turn on their headlights as they were driving as a sign of support for the team and so many millions actually did it, that Scully himself had to admit that it frightened him... Somehow it seems that sports was a much more serious and personal experience in those days, especially for men, that modern showbiz spectaculars can't match... ................DD
JO'Co is on the money regarding transistor radios. A lot of people had them pressed to their ears. In Cincinnati the reason was Red's announcer Waite Hoyt who pitched for the '27 Yankees and is in the HOF. People would pray for rain just to hear Hoyt spins his stories of the old days in baseball during the delays. That's how good he was. He roomed with The Babe for a couple of years back in the day. When people would ask him what it was like to room with Ruth he would say " I actually only roomed with his suitcase". When the tarps would come out on the field he would exhort the listeners to open a Burger Beer and sit back and listen. Boy, those were the days.
OK you old FARTS...Anyone on this forum remember when they did TELEGRAPHIC RECREATIONS of baseball games? I remember, of course, listening to "live" broadcasts" of Red Sox and Boston Braves home games. When they were on the road, the play by play man was in the Boston studio and he picked up a telegraphic signal from the ball park and then he had to quickly "translate" it into words. You heard the tap tap tap of the code coming in followed by the recreation. This was in late 30s, and well into the 40s. jif
Wow! This is great stuff, JO'Co and Joel. You have painted wonderful pictures which have transported me back to my childhood memories. Thanks!