I grew up in central Minnesota, and my first recollections of baseball came
through the Minnesota Twins of that era -- when Rod Carew was wowing the
world with his hitting achievements; when Bobby Darwin blazed through his
rookie season, launching home runs and looking like the Real Deal (as it
ends up, he wasn't); when Lyman Bostock effortlessly floated through center
field to snare a well-hit ball; and when Disco Danny Ford trotted backwards
across home plate. To me, the old Metropolitan Stadium was a world away, and
I could only imagine the plush grass surface and the smell of the hot dogs
as they were described in such vivid detail by Halsey Hall and Herb Carneal.
(Every time I pick up an onion I think of Hall; his delight for
onion sandwiches became imprinted in my consciousness.)
I didn't actually attend a game until my senior year of high school, when I
saw Roger Erickson shut down the Yankees from the distant left-field
bleachers. I was in heaven.
Maybe that's why I take such a delight in baseball --
when you delay gratification throughout your entire adolescence, you
appreciate it more when you reach adulthood.
This site began as a rather limited collection of
ballpark reviews, but it since has grown into something more vital
to the average baseball fan: a daily chronicle of the culture and
business of baseball. Professionals throughout the industry rely
on the daily news updates for important information, while
baseball fans use the reviews to plan their ballpark pilgrimages.
If you want to respond with corrections or comments, drop me
a line here. (Thanks to
those who have done so; it's gratifying to know that there are
loyal readers of this site!) If you find this site useful,
consider making a donation to cover the
costs of producing it.
And always remember: it's just a game.
--Kevin Reichard
Contact Information
Ballpark Digest / August Publications
527 Marquette Av., Suite 800
Minneapolis, MN 55402
General Office Number: 612/343-5207
Staff
Publisher/Editor: Kevin Reichard
Senior Editor: Jim Robins
Senior Editor: Dave Wright
Creative Director: Natalie Nowytski