Adieu

by J.D. on Mar 28, 2008 10:38 PM EDT

Although the Rays dropped Al Lang's final game 6-3, that wasn't really important to me. I was obviously there to see the game and root for the Rays, but like most people there, it was really just to see a game at Al Lang one last time.

I suppose the best thing you could call the game today is bittersweet, as it's great the Rays are expanding their fan base south and possibly building a beautiful waterfront park on Al Lang's current property, but it's just hard for me to imagine that they won't be playing baseball on First Street anymore come springtime.

The place was packed, 30 minute lines for beers and hardly a slice of grass available on the berms, it was electric and a great send off for old Al Lang Field, and I hope that all of you that wanted to go were able to. Hit the jump for a couple pictures of the post-game barbeque.

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Good Bye To Spring Training in Saint Petersburg

Today was the final game I attended at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. And for me, this is a very sad day. So many baseball memories I have are from that stadium. Before the Rays, before Tropicana Field, I remember the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets spring training games and for a short time the Orioles. I was and still am a huge Mets fan because I was just a kid my dad would take me not only to games downtown, but also to the complex behind Tyrone Mall. There was no hometown team so the Mets became my favorite team. One of my fondest memories was watching Mookie Wilson hit the Mahaffey Theater with a huge HR blast. I remember me chasing foul balls and my dad enjoying $0.50 draft night. I remember good ol' Tommy Walton singing "I've got the whole world in my hands" and saying catchy stuff like "Don't be a meenie buy your kid a weenie!". I remember all the great players, all the Hall of Famers, that ran onto that field. I remember watching Ozzie Smith do his flip at least a few dozen times. A part of me will miss this place dearly. Another part of me says it's time to start anew.

I think the only good from tearing down that stadium is to put another one up. So I am really hoping that the stadium deal gets passed because I would hate to see the place get turned into a parking lot.

by TheUltimateBucFan on Mar 28, 2008 11:19 PM EDT reply actions