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Miller Park
Experience
Milwaukee, WI -
5/25/2003
by: Anthony Lorenzo
After spending the
previous two days in Chicago, Mike and I where looking forward to
exploring a new city. Milwaukee Wisconsin, home of the Milwaukee
Brewers, is only 90 miles north of Chicago. Mike and I found a
Greyhound bus that arrived in Milwaukee before the 1:05 game, but we
had to leave our Chicago Travelodge at 6am. When we arrived in
Milwaukee it was only 9AM, we had over 3 hours to kill before the
game, so Mike and I took a walk through downtown Milwaukee.
To say that
downtown Milwaukee was dead at 9 on a Sunday morning would be an
understatement, but it was nice to see all the churchgoers walking
to their Sunday services. Mike and I ended up walking into a
firehouse to ask what we could experience while in Milwaukee. They
suggested taking a walk down to Lake Michigan. Once the
firefighters heard we where from New York they shared their sympathy
over what happened on September 11th and offered to drive
us to Miller Park, but Mike and I decided to continue our walk
through Milwaukee and take a few pictures. Mike and I ended up
stopping in Juneau Park, which on is Lake Michigan. It was nice to
see Lake Michigan from another perspective. After spending the past
two days in Chicago, it was nice to sit and relax. While at Juneau
Park, Mike and I read about a shuttle bus that traveled from
downtown Milwaukee to Miller Park. We where on our way! Mike and I
where on the first bus to the ballpark, arriving at Miller Park
before its’ gates even opened. Miller Park was built in 2001. It
was the primary factor to keep the Brewers in Milwaukee. Miller Park
had all the modern amenities that its’ predecessor County Stadium
did not. Wider concourses, improved site lines and a plethora of
fun family activities, but what makes Miller Park unique is its’
retractable roof, which is sectioned in half, on each side, and
meets in the middle. This “butterfly” approach gives Miller Park a
futuristic feel.
I was looking
forward to the game. The Brewers and Ben Sheets where getting ready
to face the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kevin Brown. At the time Ben
Sheets was an underrated ace, but since has dominated the National
League. The Dodgers came out ahead that afternoon 5-1 on the heels
of 8 strong innings from Kevin Brown and home runs by Fred McGriff
and Paul Lo Duca. Mike and I were part of the 22,354 who
experienced the game with the roof open and the sun shining.
Playing baseball indoors should be outlawed, but in climates like
Milwaukee, where there can be snow falling in April; a retractable
roof offers the best of both worlds. The grounds of Miller Park also
offer many memorable sites. Statues of Home Run King Henry Aaron
and Hall of Famer Robin Yount appear on Miller Park’s outside
concourse, but in my opinion what adds to Miller Park the most is
Helfaer Field. Helfaer Field is a youth baseball and softball
facility just outside Miller Park’s gates. It stands on the same
site as County Stadium, the former home of the Brewers, once did.
Baseball, unlike
other sports, is a kid’s game. In many families it is the first bond
that is shared between a father and a son. This idea can be best
summed up by former Brooklyn Dodger great Roy Campanella who once
said “Baseball is a man’s game, but you have to have a
lot of little boy in you too.” Having that feeling of a little boy,
as I travel throughout these great cities, seeing these great
ballparks for the first time, is worth all the time and resources
spent making this Ballpark Tour a reality. I only hope I can enjoy
the great game of Baseball with the same feelings of excitement and
awe as I grow older, but more importantly be fortunate enough to
share these memories and emotions with a little boy of my own.
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