Spring Training Baseball - March 9-14, 2017

With a "Land Yacht" now at my disposal, adventures away from the water are more easily accessible.  The first CaptMurph land adventure was shared with Harry from Annapolis.  Although he's an accomplished sailor, Harry is also a rabid baseball fan.  We've shared a number of baseball games together over the years including trips to Pittsburgh and Boston.

Pittsburgh, May 22, 2014

Boston, September 9, 2014

Now based in Florida, it only made sense that we should begin our baseball season early with a round of Spring Training games.

March 9, 2017 - Karen joined us for the first game just a few hours after Harry's plane landed in Orlando.

Karen, Harry at Champion Stadium, NYY vs ATL

Harry let the world know what we were doing  .  .  .

Atlanta Saxophone Quartet by Harry Jones

Harry and I set up the RV in a pretty little site
across the river from Bradenton, FL in Palmetto, FL.

March 10, 2017, before the Pirates' ball game

The Bradenton Police all wear
Pittsburgh Pirates ball caps!

March 10th was the second day of our Spring Training extravaganza. The next five days were all Pirates' or Orioles' games, so it felt like we had some "skin" on these games, unlike the NYY vs ATL.  The kickoff for these "important" games began at the former McKechnie Field, now LECOM Park, Spring Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Harry & Murph at Lecom Park.

We met briefly with Carl, a sailing buddy who has one of the best retirement jobs . . . 

he is a professional cameraman (video and stills) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburgh Steelers!

Carl is using his video camera in the center of this photo

Of course the game was a great experience regardless of the outcome . . . AND the PIRATES WIN!  

Harry's facebook post says it all:

Dinner was at the Bridge Tender Inn, Bradenton Beach, on the ICW.

View from our al fresco table

The sign at the head is correct:  "Women are Always RIGHT!"

March 11 - Today was Pirates vs Orioles, the BIG GAME!

Harry & I resemble this poster!   :-)

Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota was the venue for this game and it proved to be a terrific game with both clubs in it until the O's wrapped it up with a walk-off home run!  Two games in a row ended the same way!

Harry truly enjoyed his team's BIG WIN!

Josef and Murph before the hockey
game.  by Harry Jones

Frank, Harry, Joseph and Murph at Amalie Area

There were numerous fights as the Bolts and Panthers are fierce rivals.

The home team won as the TB Lightning beat the Florida Panthers, 3 to 2.

March 12 - Back to baseball!  Harry and I returned to Bradenton and LECOM Park to watch the Pirates beat the Minnesota Twins, 4 to 3.

Pirates Score!

During our walk in downtown Bradenton before dinner, we saw these fish off the pier

March 13 - We followed the Twins to Ed Smith Stadium and the Orioles for our 5th baseball game in as many days.  The O's were successful, beating the Twins handily, 8 to 6.

The teams warm up in Ed Smith Stadium

Harry got this great pic of his O's banners at Ed Smith Stadium.  As a Pirates fan, I couldn't help but notice the AL Champs banner for 1979.  We all know the Pirates won the World Series in 1979, defeating the Baltimore Orioles!

O's Banners on Display at Ed Smith Stadium

March 14 - Our last day of Spring Training Baseball was celebrated at Ed Smith Stadium again, however, this time the O's succumbed to the Tampa Bay Rays, 6 - 9 in a sunny slugfest.  Great fun to watch, even though the Birds came up short.

Harry enjoying sun, beer and baseball

We got another fan to catch a final photo of our enjoyment of Spring baseball while our friends up north were digging out from the blizzard of 2017!

Our final appearance at Ed Smith Stadium!