I had a deposition in Denver last week and had a chance to take in a Sky Sox ballgame in Colorado Springs with my old chum Larry Larson on Monday night.  The ballpark in Colorado Springs, known as Security Service Field, is not the prettiest venue that I have ever visited, but there are worse places to watch a ballgame.   For 12 bucks apiece, we were able to sit in the second row just a few feet away from home plate, and the concession stand serving up frosty Alaskan ale was no further away from me than the pitcher’s mound.  Watching the Sky Sox against the Tacoma Rainiers, sipping on an Alaskan ale and munching on salted peanuts, and reliving 40-plus years of stories with Larry, well, it doesn’t get a whole lot better than that. 

I can’t believe how many current and former major league players were on the rosters of the Sky Sox and the Rainiers.   Dexter Fowler was starting in center field for the Sky Sox, down from the Rockies to regain his batting stroke.  Jack Wilson from the Mariners was the starting shortstop by the Tacoma Rainiers, evidently for the same reason.  A host of other known former major leaguers dotted the roster of each team, including the starting Sky Sox first baseman, Brad Eldred, who has to be leading the Pacific Coast League in home runs and runs batted in with 16 and 52, respectively.  If I’m not mistaken, this big fellow was playing either for the Phillies or for the Pirates when we made our Hot Stove League trip to Philly back in 2005 and was the buzz of the league because of his Frank Howard-like stature (6-foot-5, 290 lbs.) and his awesome power.  If the Rockies were in the American League, I have to think that this big lurp would be the starting DH for the club, but he apparently can’t beat out Todd Helton at first base.  Either that, or he can’t hit a major league curveball. 

Made it back to Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for a game on Friday night with the kids, when we were in town for Sam Krause’s wedding.  Even though we had seats in the upper deck, it was a great night at the ballpark, with Chase Utley going yard and Ryan Howard hitting two jacks, a triple and a double in a 9-5 win over the Twins.  I didn’t notice it before from our seats at the ballpark when we were in town in ought five for the league trip, but from the upper deck there is a fantastic view of the downtown Philadelphia skyline.  The boys, who have now made it to twelve or thirteen major league ballparks, both agreed that Citizens Bank Park is one of their favorites. 

My nephew Sam Krause’s wedding in Bryn Mawr was a fantastic affair, as in fantasy.  I’m not sure I’ve ever been to a wedding before where the bride and groom each had nine attendants, or where there was a string ensemble playing at the parson’s elbow.  Suspecting that it would be a tony affair, I bribed Joe and Will into wearing dress pants and polo shirts instead of gym shorts and shredded T-shirts, but even then they were the only males over 2 years of age not sporting cravats at the wedding. 

The reception was even more amazing, held at a country club in Bryn Mawr where Sam’s father-in-law was raised.  This joint made Bushwood look like the Ashland Country Club, set up high on a hill in a heavily-wooded area of suburban Philadelphia, with dozens of servants dishing out the fanciest of hors d'œuvres and drinks for their A-list guests and for the visiting bumpkins from Nebraska.  A terrific seven- or eight-piece band played great music for hours and hours, and a very good time was had by all.  In Scott’s words, his boy has definitely “married up.” 

Congrats to Big Guy on his new grandson, Charlie Nelson (after Charles Nelson Reilly?), and thanks to Rick for sharing a picture of Charlie and his dog Bauer in his recent edition of The Tiger’s Tale.  Thanks also for the great statistics.