Brother X found a slide among our Dad’s stuff converted it into a Jpeg, and sent me a copy. My Dad took the picture after the very last game the Giants ever played at The Polo Grounds in 1957. The Dodgers and the Giants both moved to California the next year, and New York didn’t have a National League team until the Mets were born.
It was almost 60 years ago, but I still remember what it felt like going to ball games with my Dad and my Brother. We went to The Polo Grounds, Ebbets Field, and Yankee Stadium. My how time flies. None of those stadiums are still standing, except that the Yankees did build a replacement right across the street with the same name. The newcomer Mets even wore out a ballpark and no longer play at Shea Stadium. They’re across the street, too, at a place called Citifield.
Now I spend a lot of time watching the Minor League Lancaster Barnstormers play. They won the League Championship last year and first place in their division this year, so they’re a good team, even if they do sometimes resemble the early Mets. They’re currently struggling in the playoffs, though, and need to win the next two games to advance to the Championship series.
The Barnstormers are always running promotions to help boost the attendance. They have $1 hot dog night on Wednesdays. Buy one get one burgers on Thursdays, and $2 beers on Fridays. Plus, they bring in entertainment. Recently, they had an appearance by Cannonlady. She’s the daughter of the guy who was known as The Human Cannonball. She travels around the country with her husband in their cannonmobile and they probably stop at a lot of ballparks and state fairs along the way.
While watching Cannonlady perform, I was reminded of that old song about the daring young man on the flying trapeze. “He flies through the air, with the greatest of ease, the daring young man on the flying trapeze.”
Thinking about The Old Yankee Stadium, The Polo Grounds, Ebbets Field, and the Human Cannonball, and how they have all been replaced, I was reminded of someone else who notoriously flies through the air with the greatest of ease, Father Time. The stadiums and the players keep changing, but the game keeps going on. Such is life.
Go Stormers.
Go Mets.
Peace & Love, and all of the above,
Earl
earlthepearl137 