Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 15, 1995 TAG: 9504170075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Welcome to the second annual Last Opening Night Game at Salem's Municipal Field.
As Friday's sinking sun made the shadows run across the face of Twelve O'Clock Knob just beyond the right field wall, life blossomed again in the old ballpark.
Once again, fans flocked to Municipal Field, the site of many a tearful farewell last September. The field was scheduled to close following last season to make way for a sparkling new ballpark just a couple of Jose Canseco shots up Texas Street.
But the new stadium isn't finished. It may not open until June.
The Salem Avalanche had to play Friday's opener against the Prince William Cannons at Municipal Field.
Other than the folks who were stationed in the long lines at the concession stand - a Municipal Field staple - hardly anyone breathed a discouraging word about starting the season at the old place.
``I'm glad to come back to old Municipal Field,'' said Ron Gilley, who estimates he has seen 90 percent of the home games played in Salem since 1985. ``It gives me a second chance to say goodbye.''
It was supposed to have been a night for Salem fans to greet a new stadium and a new team. After an eight-year affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates - a relationship that provided mostly losing seasons - Salem now is a minor league farm club of the Colorado Rockies.
The game programs and pocket schedules feature an artist's rendition of the new ballpark - filled to capacity, no less - and are emblazoned with this year's theme: ``It's a Whole New Ball Game.''
The only thing new about Friday's game were the white uniforms with purple pinstripes and the players in them.
The fans behind the first-base line still harassed opposing players who struck out with a rendition of ``And it's one, two, three strikes you're out at the old ball game!'' They still responded to the lucky numbers with the requisite ``Yes, yes, yes, awwwwwww!''
It remains to be seen if those traditions get taken to the new yard. Whenever it opens.
``Obviously, we're not where we would liked to have been,'' said Sam Lazzaro, general manager of the Avalanche. ``But, judging by the number of people who have been calling this week for tickets, everyone is excited about playing [at Municipal Field]. A lot of people have told me they're happy to be back here.''
There were 2,728 fans on hand to watch the Avalanche defeat Prince William 8-4 Friday.
The opening of the new stadium has been pushed back a couple of times. It was supposed to open on Friday, then it got pushed back to May 22, now it looks like it will be June 20.
``People haven't seen baseball in a while" because of the Major League Baseball strike, Lazzaro said. ``They're excited.''
The Rockies, a third-year expansion franchise, are among Major League Baseball's leaders in merchandise sales. Many of the fans were lining up to purchase Avalanche memorabilia. As temperatures dipped into the 40s, sweat shirts became a hot-selling item.
``I had to buy a cap and a sweat shirt for my husband and daughter,'' said Marie Trenor, a Newport resident who has been coming to games with her husband since 1964. ``We'll be back in a couple of days. I'm sure we'll purchase more stuff.''
Even though some fans complained about the usual long lines and others sat half-parched in wait for the beer man, there were more than enough workers to attend to the crowd. In anticipation of the large throngs expected to crowd the new stadium, the ball club hired more than 100 new game-night employees ranging from ushers to vendors.
Since the first couple of months of the season will be played in the friendly confines of Municipal Field, many of the new employees won't be needed. They'll work on a rotating basis.
Fans will notice a few other changes. Since Salem dropped the nickname ``Buccaneers,'' the hostesses for the fans in the reserved seats are no longer called ``Lovely Lady Bucs.``
``We're the "Salem Avalanche Wait Staff,'' said Brenda Krueger, who's in her second year working for the club. ``I miss the nicknames, but I'm looking forward to the new field. I'm happy to be back [in Municipal Field], though. It's like my home.''
For most folks, the relationship with the Pirates went south once the club stopped pouring 32 ounces of beer into ``Buc barrels'' about four years ago.
``The best thing about the Pirates was that they got rid of so many good players, we saw our players [from Salem] get to the Major Leagues faster,'' said Jay Bain.
Bain's brother, Jimmy, lives just two blocks down the street from Municipal Field. His directions to his home: ``Go to center field and turn right.''
In the sixth inning, Anna Bain, Jimmy's wife, won a 16-piece bucket of chicken, two pounds of mustard, potato salad and a dozen dinner rolls from Kroger during a lucky number drawing.
``That makes it all worthwhile,'' said Jimmy Bain.
Keywords:
BASEBALL
by CNB