The entrance to Fifth Third Ballpark. You enter the park on the concourse which is at the top of the seating area and then walk down toward the field inside. There are also luxury suites above. Fifth Third Ballpark has the look and feel of a Triple A ballpark. The people of Grand Rapids have a really ice ballpark and come out and support their team.
The view from the parking lot, where for the first time on the tour, I had to pay for parking. $4 to park right at the stadium. That's still not bad.
I got tickets to the Whitecaps game online the day before since we needed seven and I scored seats in the first row behind the visitor's dugout. Great weather, sunny and warm so close to the field, we were out of the wind. When we got to the game we found out the night before was a sellout and they had 11,000 there to see Jeremy Bonderman of the Tigers pitching a rehab start. Too bad we missed out on that, but our game was a much more relaxed atmosphere and a perfect Sunday afternoon.
The programs at Fifth Third are free, which I guess offsets the parking.
The home team takes the field with youngsters in tow, where they join the players during the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner.
A view of the outfield as one of the mascots takes the field and gets the crowd fired up for the start of the game.
A view of the field from behind home plate. Fifth Third Field holds 10,700 according to the books, but they announced 11,000 for the night before. Must have been standing room only for Bonderman's appearance.
The view from our seats, as we waited for the game to begin.
Highlighting the blue at the ballpark. Lots of blue, under the blue sky.
The visiting team, the Loons step to the plate and to the on deck circle. Gotta say, they Loons road gray uniforms are pretty sharp. Might have to pick up a Loons jersey before the summer is over.
The Whitecaps are another team that goes with the high cuff and stirrup look, team wide. Sporting the alternate home blue jerseys today.
Close up of a Whitecap at the plate.
Whitecaps get on the board first.
Franky the Swimming Pig and Crash, the team mascots. Crash is #99 and Franky is #8 oz. The mascots were pretty lively and made the rounds through the crowd and were very active in the mid inning promotions.
A staple of Minor League Baseball is the between inning entertainment and promotions. Franky and friends came out with the standard issue three person sling slot and proceeded to launch what I thought were t-shirts into the crowd. It took a few minutes to realize they were actually having the pig launch hot dogs into the crowd. That's the first time I have seen that.
The next promotion may have be the most ridiculous promotion to date. They brought two kids out with blindfolds on and a two person cow costume. The blindfolded kids had to listen to the ringing of a cowbell to find the cow and tip it over. A cow tipping contest and it wasn't even in Indiana. The best part may have been when the kid that tipped the cow over pulled off his blindfold and taunted the cow. Prima donna in the making.
While the Loons were at bat, a foul ball came back off the screen. I actually got one of the Loons players to toss me the ball which I gave to seven-year old Alex who came with us. His eyes got as big as saucers. First ball of the summer.
Crash, the primary mascot then jumped up on the visitors dugout and started dancing. This was a big hit with the kids with us and an even bigger hit when he came and sat down next to me.
And just when I thought it couldn't get any better for the kids, an enterprising young Alex even got Crash to sign the foul ball I gave him.
Fifth Third Ballpark has made a splash in the world of minor league concessions with the introduction this year of the Fifth Third Burger, anchored with an 8-inch bun and five 1/3 pound patties. As you can see in the picture, it is completely insane and I did not attempt it, to the chagrin of several of my co-workers who were hoping to get a first hand report. Over 4,800 calories in one sandwich. Price $20.
Instead, I opted for the traditional Swimming Pig. After all, this sandwich even has its own mascot. The Swimming Pig is an 8 oz pork chop sandwich with the pork chop cooked while "swimming" in barbecue sauce. I got it smothered with grilled onions and peppers. Solid sandwich.
The Whitecaps crowd, Justin Gatz, Alex Eldridge and myself in the front row and Tim Gatz, Noah Gatz, Pete Eldridge and Mitchell Eldridge in the back row. Thanks to the Eldridges and Gatzes for making the trek from Kalamazoo for the game.The Whitecaps held on to win the game 5-4 after a furious late inning rally by the Loons. The home teams are now 2-2 on the season during my trips.
Sadly the Whitecaps do not wear white caps. They opt for the navy blue cap with the wave logo. Another classic minor league logo.
As mentioned at stop #2 in Clinton, I also enjoy lighthouses and had the opportunity to stop at the lighthouse in St. Joseph, Michigan on the way home and took this picture at sunset of the inner pier head light.
4 comments:
Great report... Durham Bulls Athletic park used to launch hot dogs in the crowd a few years back out of those mascot bazookas, but now they only do t-shirts and other non-edible stuff due to local vegetarians complaining about pork/beef products being launched at them. I remember one time back when they launched the hot dogs that one particular dog wasn't wrapped well enough, and the flying meal proceeded to jettison in mid-air its wrapper and then the bun. Sort of reminiscent of the Space shuttle releasing it's extra side rockets and tanks. A gentlemen then caught the single wiener while the crowd around him shouted, "Throw it back! Throw it back!". awesome!
In your picture that highlights the "blue," I thought I was looking at the profile of Russ while wearing a hat (bottom left corner).
The Fifth / Third burger is amazing and the only thing that could make it more incredible is if they could fry it.
What could Buddha have said that required you to remove it?
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