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TEAM ::: LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM
LOCATION
::: ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
MY FIRST VISIT ::: AUGUST 11, 2007
OPPONENT ::: MINNESOTA TWINS
MLB STADIUM RANK ::: 21
OF 31
FORMERLY KNOWN AS :: ANAHEIM STADIUM
EDISON INTERNATIONAL FIELD
RATINGS
BALLFIELD ::: A+
SCOREBOARD ::: A+
FOOD ::: A
FACILITIES
::: A
MY TAKE ON THE PARK
CHANGE IS A BIG PART OF THE HISTORY OF THE ANGELS. THE NAME, THE UNIFORM,
AND THE NAME OF THE PARK HAVE ALL CHANGED NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF THE FRANCHISE.
SINCE 1966 THE ANGELS
HAVE
PLAYED AT THE PARK IN ANAHEIM, TO ME THE PARK FELT LIKE IT WAS BUILT TO BE LIKE THE MULTIPURPOSE CONCREATE PARKS OF
THE PAST.
ANGELS STADIUM IS LOCATED IN A VERY COVIENIENT LOCATION, FREEWAYS ALL
AROUND THE PARK OFFER GREAT ACCESS BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, A QUICK
EXIT.
UPON ENTERING THE PARKING LOT YOU ARE GREETED BY A FRIENDLY TICKET TAKER
IN AN OLD BOOTH, $8 WILL ALLOW ACCESS TO THE LOT. FANS HERE IN ANAHEIM
WILL TELL YOU THAT IS $7 LESS THAN WHAT THEY CHARGE
AT THAT OTHER LA BALLPARK.
THE ANGELS HAVE BEEN DRAWING PRETTY WELL LATELY AND EVEN WITH THE LARGE CROWD, THE LOT CAN HOLD
IT. I WONDER IF THE LOT WAS BUILT FOR THE
PREVIOUS CAPACITY. ASIDE FROM PARKING, THERE IS A TRAIN STOP AT THE PARK WHICH
OFFERS FANS IN LA AN OPTION NOT AVAILABLE WHEN THE PARK WAS BUILT.
LEAVING YOUR CAR, TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT THE BIG 'A' IN THE LOT. ONCE THE SCOREBOARD
FOR THE ANGELS IT HAS NOW BEEN PUT OUT TO PASTURE TO REST IN THE PARKING LOT.
THERE IS A LOT TO SEE, THE BIG 'A' AS WELL AS THE BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED EXTERIOR
OF
PARK. THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EXTERIOR IS AT THE HOME PLATE ENTRANCE, TWO GIANT ANGELS HATS RESTING BEHIND A DIAMOND IN
FRONT OF THE PARK.
I NOTICED SOMETHING BORROWED FROM ANOTHER BALLPARK, PHOTOS AROUND THE EXTERIOR OF
THE MAIN ENTRANCE. IT IS A NICE TOUCH.
UPON ENTERING THE STADIUM, EARLY 1970s CONCOURSE, A TIGHT CONCOURSE WHICH
SEEMS TO BE BURSTING AT THE SEAMS WITH THE POPULARITY OF THE ANGELS.
A LARGE GIFT SHOP OFFERS LITTLE ROOM TO SPREAD OUT, AGAIN DUE TO
THE
POPULARITY.
ONCE INTO THE SEATING BOWL, ANAHEIM STADIUM SHINES. A BEAUTIULLY MANICURED
FIELD SURROUNDED BY DARK GREEN SEATS GIVE THE RECENTLY
RENOVATED PARK A CLASSIC LOOK.
IN THE OUTFIELD IS THE FAMOUS ROCK PILE THAT DISNEY BUILT WHILE
OWNING THE TEAM. A PILE WHICH SPRAYS WATER AND FIRE WORKS DURING THE GAME, MAKING THE PILE A FUNCTIONAL ADDITION AND NOT MERELY
A DECORATION.
DURING THE GAME, THE SCOREBOARD WORKS HARD AND IS VERY INFORMATIVE.
PROBLEM
IS IT IS IN A DIRECT LINE OF THE SUN MAKING THE TWI LIGHT HOURS A LITTLE TOUGH FOR FANS TO SEE IT.
IT SEEMS THOUGH THAT
THE SEATING AREAS, MY ONLY EXPERIENCE BEING IN THE UPPER DECK, HAVE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE EARLY 70s. THIS MEANS
TIGHT SEATS WITH
LITTLE LEG ROOM ARE THE CHOICE HERE. SURPRISING TO ME IS I HAD JUST MADE A VISIT TO THE ANGELS'
'A' LEVEL TEAM, AND HAD ALL THE LEG ROOM I COULD ASK FOR. I DID MISS THAT EXTRA ROOM.
THE SEVENTH INNING STRETCH HERE IS THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE PARK
COME ALIVE. THE USHERS HERE HAVE THERE OWN DANCE, WITH ARM AND HAND MOVEMENTS ALL IN SYNC AND ALL AROUND THE PARK.
THE PARK CERTAINLY DOES COME ALIVE THOUGH WHEN THAT MONKEY GOES UP ON
THE SCOREBOARD.
I FELT LIKE I WAS IN TWO PARKS, A LIBRARY EARLY ON, A
ROCK CONCERT
LATER ON.
OF THE 31 BALLPARKS I HAVE VISITED, I RATE ANGEL STADIUM OF ANAHEIM 21ST
BEHIND MILLER PARK BUT AHEAD OF THE OLD ARLINGTON STADIUM. IF WE ONLY LOOK AT PRESENT DAY PARKS, IT WOULD BE AHEAD OF
FENWAY.
ANGEL STADIUM DID NOT HAVE THE ALL OF THE COMFORTS THAT ARE BEING
USED IN THE NEW PARKS TODAY, IF YOU ARE GOING TO LOOK NEW YOU HAVE TO FEEL NEW AND SPACIOUS ALL THE WAY AROUND. FOOD SELECTION HERE
IS PRETTY GOOD AND ON THE LOW END OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE PRICE SCALE.
THERE IS ROOM HOWEVER TO WALK AROUND AND ONE MODERN DAY CONVIENIECE IS
YOU CAN WALK ALL AROUND THE PARK FROM THE SECOND LEVEL. A BIG PLUS IN MAJOR AND MINOR LEAGUE PARKS.
LINE UPS
Minnesota Twins Manager
35 Ron Gardenhire
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Manager
14 Mike Scioscia
MINNESOTA TWINS
25 Alexi Casilla 2b
18 Jason Bartlett ss
7 Joe Mauer
c
33 Justin Morneau 1b
48 Torii Hunter cf
5 Michael Cuddyer rf
16 Jason Kubel dh
24 Rondell White lf
8 Nick
Punto 3b
52 Carlos Silva p
17 Pat Neshak LP
LOS ANGELES ANGELS of ANAHEIM
9 Chone Figgins 3b
18 Orlando Cabrera ss
27 Vladimir
Guerrero rf
16 Garret Anderson lf
24 Gary Matthews Jr dh
35 Casey Kotchman 1b
6 Maicer Izturis c
77 Reggie
Willits cf
41 John Lakey p / WP
57 Francisco Rodriguez S
TWINS 001
000 101 3 11 2
ANGELS 000 000 04x
4 4 1
TIME ::: 2:37
ATTENDANCE ::: 44,064
WEATHER :::
85 COOL SLIGHT BREEZE
SEND ME AN E-MAIL
UNCLEBOBSBALLPARKS@GMAIL.COM
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