A beautiful fireworks display towering above U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago

The history of fireworks in general is traced all the way back to China thousands of years ago, when bamboo was used as a “firecracker” when placed on flames. In later years, many countries adopted what the Chinese have pioneered and started making fireworks more and more elaborate as new materials were discovered; using the display to celebrate special occasions.  In America, fireworks were introduced by early settlers around the 1600s and were used in the very first Fourth of July celebration in 1777 in Philadelphia, where the pomp and circumstance of that event most resembles how America annually celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

Fireworks have long since been associated with American celebrations, so it was only a matter of time before the pyrotechnics would become part of America’s pastime.  Baseball adopted fireworks displays in 1909 when the Pittsburgh Pirates hosted a “Fireworks Night” following that day’s game at Forbes Field.  Although the Pirates are credited with incorporating the first fireworks night in Major League Baseball, eccentric baseball owner, Bill Veeck, took the light show to production-value proportions.  Soon after Veeck purchased the Chicago White Sox in 1959, he brought to Comiskey Park the first “Exploding Scoreboard” which would spout off fireworks, along with sound effects, every time a White Sox player would go yard.

Nowadays, fireworks at a baseball game are as commonplace as balls and strikes.  Typically teams will host a handful of fireworks nights a year, but more increasingly ball clubs are making the crowd-pleasing event a frequent staple of their promo calendar.  

Arizona Diamondbacks “Gila River Casinos Fireworks”
Atlanta Braves “Friday Night Fireworks”
Cincinnati Reds “Fireworks Friday”
Detroit Tigers “Friday Night Fireworks”
Houston Astros “Friday Night Fireworks”
Kansas City Royals “Fireworks Friday”
Los Angeles Angels “Big Bang Fridays”
Los Angeles Dodgers “Friday Night Fireworks”
San Diego Padres “Friday Friarworks”
Texas Rangers “Big Bang Friday Fireworks”
Washington Nationals “Bang, Zoom Go the Fireworks”

For those of you heading to the ballpark this weekend for a Fourth of July outing, below is a list of teams who will be lighting up the sky tomorrow:

Cleveland Indians - 7:05 PM
Colorado Rockies - 6:10 PM
Florida Marlins - 6:10 PM
Los Angeles Angels - 6:05 PM
Texas Rangers - 7:05 PM

The Jaunt wishes everyone a happy 4th!  Be safe out there while celebrating our freedom.  Also, if you snap any cool pics of fireworks at the ball game, send them along.

Source:
History of Fireworks [PyroUniverse.com]
Forbes Field is long gone, but fans mark its 100th birthday [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
Bill Veeck Wikipedia Entry
Photo by fotomattic

A beekeeper was summoned and five minutes after he arrived – to a standing ovation from the remnants of the crowd of 23,284 – the swarm was dispatched.

The game was halted at 3:09 p.m. with the Astros leading 6-1 and a runner on first and two out in the ninth. The game resumed at 4:01 and Houston added a final run to complete a 3-1 series victory over the Padres.

Beekeeper trying to rid PETCO Park of a swarm of bees, which delayed the game for 52 minutes.

Source:
Lost in the swarm [SignOnSanDiego.com]

Termed the “Ultimate Standings,” ESPN has compiled its 7th annual franchise rankings list based on several components such as Bang for the Buck, Stadium Experience and Fan Relations (go here for full methodology).  All 122 teams in the four major sports get analyzed by way of fan surveys and expert analysis of team operations.  This year, Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Angels have prevailed as the decisive champion of the fans. 

Fans love the experience of going to Angels games, in particular the friendliness that extends from ticket takers to food vendors to parking lot attendants (Fan Relations: No. 8; Stadium Experience: 16). Even more, they love the 75 promotions in 81 home dates this year, with giveaways ranging from Rally Monkey banks to nacho chip platters to Bobby Grich replica jerseys.

All of these, of course, are very crucial aspects of business in sport as our current state of economic turmoil dictates how we fans spend our money; although ESPN does remark that the “Halos” have had a great handle on the needs and wants of their fans even before the country’s money crises.  The Angels rank highest in the Title Track category, which measures a team’s penchant and/or potential for championship contention (tied with 2 other teams).

Their complete rankings break down like this:

Affordability: 5
Coaching: 5
Fan Relations: 8
Ownership: 11
Players: 14
Stadium Experience: 16
Bang for the Buck: 6

Congrats to the Halos for excelling in fan-friendly and wallet-pleasing entertainment.  For the complete list of rankings with sortable categories, visit Ultimate Standings 2009.

Source:
Ultimate Standings: Los Angeles Angels [ESPN.com]

Photo by Bama4

“I get more requests to make this burger. They are to-die-for-juicy, and the flavor can’t be beat. The onions cook on the inside of the burger. No need for toppings on these delicious burgers. I freeze extra single burgers in a sandwich bag for a quick week night meal. Enjoy the juiciness.”

Directions:

1. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil the grate.
2. Lightly mix together the ground sirloin, onion, ranch salad dressing mix, and blue cheese in a bowl. Form into 6 patties.
3. Grill the burgers for about 5 minutes per side on the prepared grill, until well done.

Source:
Red, White and Blue Burgers [Allrecipes]

The Jaunt considers the many promotions and giveaways at sporting events throughout the season, and hand-picks the best of the week.

MLB - Pittsburgh Pirates - PNC Park
Tuesday, June 30 vs Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

- Pup Night

Not to be confused with the gluttonous Dollar Dog promotions, the increasingly popular “Bring Your Dog to the Ballpark” promos are a chance for dog lovers to bond with their canine counterparts and socialize their pets in a setting that is sure to please both parties.  The Pirates will be hosting the third of their monthly 2009 ”Pup Nights” tomorrow evening, with a portion of the ticket sales benefiting local animal shelters.  Proof of vaccination must be presented upon entry.

If anyone will be attending this, or any other MLB dog event, please email photos of your pooch at the park to be featured on The Jaunt and on Twitter.  We love dogs, send some pics.

The Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum, part of the Senator John Heinz History Center, will be commemorating the 100th anniversary of Pittsburgh’s classic Forbes Field.  The stadium opened in 1909 with the Pirates taking the field, but also housed the Steelers and Homestead Greys (Negro Leagues) among others before closing in 1970.  “Forbes Field: A Century of Memories” opens this week and will run all summer long featuring authentic stadium artifacts and historic photos.

Fans of all ages will enjoy rare artifacts and unique memorabilia from local baseball history, including:

- Forbes Field construction photographs, along with a ticket and invitations from the first game in 1909

- Team owner Barney Dreyfuss’ personal day planners from the Pirates’ World Series championship years in 1909 and 1925

- 1910 baseball cards of Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb

- An original Homestead Grays uniform from the 1940s 

- A baseball signed by Babe Ruth on the day he hit three homeruns at Forbes Field in 1935

- An original Forbes Field window and signage, along with seats, and banners

- Dozens of never-before-seen photos of Forbes Field throughout the years

- Roberto Clemente’s game-used bat from 1966

- The pitching rubber from the 1960 World Series

- Scorecards, tickets, and game programs from throughout the iconic stadium’s history

Bill Mazeroski's famous trot after hitting walk-off homer vs New York Yankees in game 7 of 1960 World Series at Forbes Field

Source:
Heinz History Center - Forbes Field: A Century of Memories

The Jaunt considers the many promotions and giveaways at sporting events throughout the season, and hand-picks the best of the week.

MLB - Oakland Athletics - Oakland Coliseum
Saturday, June 27 vs Colorado Rockies, 4:05-6:05 p.m.

- 2009 Oakland A’s Beer Festival

Enjoy over 30 different breweries, live music from Wonderbread 5, and other festivities at the Oakland Coliseum. The Oakland A’s Beer Fest, presented by Bud Light, will take place on Saturday, June 27th from 4:05 p.m.-6:05 p.m. in the East Side Club. Special acrylic souvenir beer mugs and microbrew tastings will be available for purchase. $10 includes a souvenir beer mug and 2 tastings. Additional tasting will be available for purchase. Mugs and tasting sales end at 5:30 p.m., last pour is at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free with a game ticket. Must be 21 or older to purchase tastings. Some of the participating breweries include: 21st Amendment, Bear Republic, Budweiser and Bud Light, Deschutes Brewery, Firestone Walker Brewery, Mendocino Brewing Co, Mount St. Helena Brew Co, New Belgium, Lagunitas Brewing, Pabst Brew Co, Pacific Coast Brewery, Pizza Orgasmica & Brewing Company, Pyramid Brewery, and Trumer Pils. 

 

A skyline view from Baltimore Orioles' new "Virtual Birdland" technology

“Virtual Birdland” is a new technology implemented by the Baltimore Orioles to give fans an all-encompassing look and feel of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, as well as surrounding areas of interest.  The new tech is referred to as virtual 3-D geospatial visualization brought about by Harris Corporation using 3-D flyover videos to capture the goings on at Camden Yards.

The videos provide visitors with realistic views of the ballpark and surrounding areas, which are visited annually by millions of fans. The 3-D videos allow anyone with a computer and Internet connection to ‘virtually’ fly over the park, adjacent parking lots, entrance roadways, and the nearby Inner Harbor. “Virtual Birdland provides Orioles fans with a clear view of what they will see prior to arriving at Oriole Park, and helps familiarize them with traffic patterns, ample parking options, and other area attractions surrounding the ballpark,” said Greg Bader, Orioles Director of Communications.

Follow this link to check out the new Camden-Cam — especially useful for first-time visitors to the beautiful park.

Source:
Baltimore Orioles Go 3-D; ‘Virtual Birdland’ Enables Fans to Virtually View Camden Yards and Surrounding Areas [PR Newswire]

Related:
Harris Corporation

Teddy’s Barbecue debuted during last night’s series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, and The Kosher Grill will begin operation during the series finale on Sunday.

Teddy’s Barbeque, operated by Levy Restaurants, will serve authentic Carolina-style barbeque including a beef brisket sandwich, BBQ pulled pork sandwich and pulled chicken sandwich. The stand will feature the newest signature item at Nationals Park, The Rough Rider Rib. The jumbo beef short rib is brined for 12 hours in true Carolina fashion, sealing in all the flavors of the meat. The dish is then slow-smoked for an additional 12 hours to further enhance its flavor.

The Kosher Grill, operated by local vendor Max’s Kosher Cafe in conjunction with Levy Restaurants. Located in Wheaton, Maryland, Max’s has been serving the Kosher community since 1994 and is a glatt kosher restaurant under the supervision of the Rabbinical Council of Greater Washington. The Kosher Grill will serve Kosher hot dogs, sausage, falafel, knishes and schawarma, Sundays through Thursdays at all Nationals home games.

It’s good to have options, but if I learned one thing from my visit to Nationals Park — other than visiting fans outnumber home fans — is that it’s also good to have a fat-ass wallet.  I dunno, in my opinion, ballpark product prices should mirror the product on the field; in the case of the Nationals we would be seeing several Dollar Kosher Dog nights.

Source:
Washington Nationals introduce new menu concepts at Nationals Park [MLB.com]

Related:
Levy Restaurants
Max’s Kosher Cafe

The current Coca-Cola bottle featured at Turner Field will be retired on July 2

The Atlanta Braves have announced they will do away with the current 42 foot tall Coca-Cola bottle above left field, in favor of a more high-tech version later this summer. 

The Coca-Cola bottle, made of over 11,000 pieces of authentic Atlanta Braves baseball equipment including 6,680 baseballs, 290 bats and 86 gloves, was built as Coca-Cola Sky Field’s main attraction. Four hundred and thirty-five feet from home plate and 80 feet above the field, the Coca-Cola bottle is positioned in Turner Field’s most unique vantage point and is the source of many lasting baseball memories.

Those memories will be spilled out on July 2, as the team will officially retire the iconic bottle of carbonation.  Fans can discuss their fondest memories, and share photos of the soon-to-be-defunct ballpark feature at the official Facebook page.

A sneak preview of the new bottle will be on display at an upcoming Braves game prior to its introduction later this season.

Source:
Iconic Turner Field Coca-Cola Bottle Bids Farewell [MLB.com]