skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Of course, I am biased…
I heartily recommend The Greatest Show on Dirt - a novel about the inner workings of the Durham Bulls in the early 1990s when the Atlanta Braves single-A franchise played at El Toro Stadium.
I trekked to Buffalo this week for the Triple-A All Star Game. It’s four hours each way, and I had plenty of time for reading.
The book (an easy read of 240 pages) was written by James Bailey, an NC State grad who worked three seasons at the old ballpark. He went on to cover MiLB for Baseball America.
Bailey is a sponge for front office and clubhouse drama (and humor) and he captures the frat house lifestyle with perfection. It’s a tapestry of friendships, family, romance, lots of beer, even a little criminal mystery…and a large serving of baseball. I hope he's working on the screenplay!?!
I referred to this photo in my last post, and I have since obtained permission to share it from Dr. Tom Wooters. His day job is technical/medical writing. Photography is a hobby, but I believe he has earned a Ph.D with his camera, too.
We had a tremendous crowd for baseball and fireworks on the Fourth of July. It was the third largest in Bulls’ history (paid attendance: 11,117) and we estimate another four thousand outside the ballpark – on the American Tobacco trail, along the Durham Freeway, on the DPAC lawn and atop the downtown parking garages. Big night! Great fireworks show!
Neil Offen of the Herald-Sun was in the crowd. Click here for his story in Thursday’s paper.
When the fireworks were moved to the outfield several years ago, we were concerned about the pyrotechnics' impact. Since 1995 they had been launched from the parking lot - above the ballpark - that became the Diamond View II office building. Now, the rockets red glare from centerfield, and we have tweaked and perfected the “up close” experience. Fans actually sit beneath an umbrella of fireworks. It’s very loud...and quite spectacular!
Click here for a very cool shot posted on Flickr.
