| « Previous | Home | Next » | Look at me, I can be Centerfield! Monday, February 27, 2006 |
 In the summer of 1989, a young baseball player named Bernie Williams stood at this spot and stared across a well groomed outfield, an immaculate infield, and stands filled with excited Yankees fans. From the mid 1980's until 1995, Heritage Park was home to a Minor League Farm team of the New York Yankees. I remember many a fine summer evening spent under the lights. We saw many players on their way up to the 'Show' and others, on their way back. I recall celebrating Derek Jeter's 19th or 20th birthday before he got the call to play shortstop in Yankee Stadium. But baseball, like so many other things in our lives, is a business. And the Yankees moved their team to Connecticut. An interim independent league team took up residence, but the writing was on the wall. A few years ago, another group of developers (in cahoots with local politicos), built a new stadium in another locale, and Heritage Park, only 20 years old, fell into disrepair. Last summer they held a sale and sold just about anything that was not permanently attached. Heritage Park holds many happy memories for me and it was disturbing to see it in such condition. The seats are all gone. The fence dismantled and strewn across the outfield, with even the advertisements having been sold to collectors. Light poles are gone. The ticket booth open and filled with dregs of late night parties. But even so, as I stood in Bernie William's position, I could still hear the crack of the bat, the buzz of the crowd, the voice of the announcer. I could still feel the old fashioned ballpark atmosphere; still see the kids running after foul balls and still sense the excitement of the young men on the field of dreams, looking for their chance to make the big time. And many of them did. | |
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Posted by forgingahead Archived under: Landscapes |
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