Saturday In The Park

Left Field and the Grassy Knoll, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

Beyond the outfield, fans gather at the "Park at the Park", the grassy lawn area in the center of the image. Petco Park is regarded as one of the finest stadiums in Major League Baseball. Image by GaryPaulSmith, Saturday, July 13, 2013.

Exterior Reverse Scoreboard at Petco Park

Exterior Reverse Scoreboard at Petco Park, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

Two of the stadium's outfield entrance areas are located at K Street's intersections with 7th and 10th Avenues. Pre-game, July 12, 2013, Padres v Giants. Image by GaryPaulSmith. Also see www.flickr.com/photos/garypsmith

New Downtown San Diego Library From Petco Park

New Downtown Library, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

This image is of the New Central Library (the domed fan shaped dominating the background). Interior and exterior finishing work continues on all levels. The landscaping in the courtyard progresses. Work on the auditorium is underway. The
Project is over 90% complete. By GaryPaulSmith, July, 2013.

Long Live Western Metal Supply Company

Western Metal Supply Co & Scoreboard, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

The Western Metal Supply Co. building, a hundred-year old brick structure that had been scheduled for demolition to make way for Petco Park, was saved and incorporated into the design of the ballpark. The building was renovated and contains the team store, private suites, a restaurant and rooftop seating. Image by GaryPaulSmith, July, 2013.

Padre Greats

Retired Padre Numbers Atop Batters Eye, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

A lot going on here. The Padres retired numbers atop the Batters Eye. #6, Steve Garvey; #19, Tony Gwynn; #31, Dave Winfield; #35, Randy Jones; #42, Jackie Robinson; and #51, Trevor Hoffman. There's the center field bleacher and the Budweiser sign. Comerica Bank dominates the background while the grassy knoll is filling up with fans. The Giants starter is warming up (bottom of image), and Giants players can also be seen. The image is taken from the left field corner. GaryPaulSmith, July 13, 2013.

Panoramic View Of Petco Park

Panoramic From Upper Deck, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

Image from the upper most part of Petco Park in San Diego, California. A downtown San Diego view forms the background. Also, the "Smart Phone Cover" give-away is displayed on the scoreboard in left field. This would be the night of the Giant's Tim Lincecum's no-hitter against the Padres. Image by GaryPaulSmith, July 13, 2013.

Sponge Bob Square Pants at Petco Park

Sponge Bob With Patrick Star, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

Sponge Bob Square Pants and friends, including Patrick Star (to Bob's right), ham it up in pre-game festivities at Petco Park in San Diego. Image by GaryPaulSmith. July 13, 2013.

The Left Field Corner

Upper Deck From Left Field Corner, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

High atop the upper deck in left field at Petco Park in San Diego, the silhouette of the lighting frames the infield. Image by GaryPaulSmith, July 13, 2013.

Host Terry At Petco Park

Upper Deck Host Terry, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

While high atop Petco Park in San Diego, I stopped and visited with an upper deck host named Terry. We talked baseball, which is always fun when you find someone like yourself and embrace that common ground of America's past time. Terry told me that his favorite player was Nolan Ryan. Not a bad choice. Image by GaryPaulSmith, Petco Park, July, 2013.

Aroldis Chapman, Fastest Pitch Ever

Hometown Heros, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

Fastest Pitch Ever: April 18, 2011 Aroldis Chapman zipped a fastball past Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen that registered 106 mph on the Great American Ball Park scoreboard. However, MLB.com's Pitch/FX tracker clocked the throw at 105. Main concourse offerings on display, by GaryPaulSmith, May, 2013.

Big Boy At GABP

Big Boy Burgers at GABP, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

The iconic Frisch’s Big Boy #46 statue guards the front façade of the Big Boy Burger stand at Great American Ballpark. He is customized with a Reds ballcap and vintage 70′s uniform with the number 46, as in 1946, the year Frisch’s served up its first Big Boy Sandwich. Business was brisk. Image by GaryPaulSmith, May, 2013.

Game Day At Great American Ballpark

Build It And They'll Come, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

A sea of red gathers at Hall of Fame Plaza for a Saturday afternoon game between the Reds and the Cubs. The Reds Team Store and downtown Cincinnati are in the background. Image by GaryPaulSmith, May, 2013.

Meet Punchy

Meet Punchy, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

Punchy was hanging out at Great American Ballpark out in center field before the Reds-Cubs game when he volunteered to pose as a boxer. I never really understood the point. Anyway, he was one of the best dressed Reds fans in the ballpark. Image by GaryPaulSmith, May, 2013.

More Circles

Circles, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

See previous post. Batter's Eye, right field bleachers, and scoreboard form the background. Image by GaryPSmith, May, 2013.

Circles

Circles, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

The design critics of Great American Ballpark point to the inconsistency and the lack of continuity throughout the structure. I found a series of "circles" in several places, not sure of the meaning or purpose. This cameo image features the massive toothbrush style lighting framed within one of the red circles. Image by GaryPaulSmith, May, 2013.

Panoramic Of Great American Ballpark

Pre Game at Great American Ballpark, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

Taken from the upper level behind home plate at Great American Ballpark on a Saturday afternoon in May, 2013. The shaded infield, the scoreboard, PNC Smokestacks, the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky provide the background. Image by GaryPaulSmith. See also Gary's Ballpark Blog on Flickr.

Meet Mr. Red

Mr. Red, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

Mr. Red is the first mascot of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. He is a humanoid figure dressed in a Reds uniform, with an oversized baseball for a head. I captured Red before the game as he entertained the fans. By Gary Paul Smith, May 25, 2013.

Beyond Right Field, The Ascent

Great American Ballpark Right Field and Ohio River, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

The Ohio River, which separates Ohio and Kentucky, dominates the background beyond the right field bleachers at Great American Ballpark. The Roeblings suspension bridge leads to The Ascent, a residential high rise in northern Kentucky. Image by GaryPaulSmith, May, 2013.

Red's Beer Girl

Red's Beer Girl, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

What used to be a men's club, beer sales at Great American Ballpark, and most everywhere, are open to all who apply. Who would object to this lovely lady popping your top? Image by GaryPaulSmith, May, 2013.

Great American Tower, Cincinnati

Great American Tower, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

The Great American Tower opened in 2010. It wasn't there on my first visit in 2004, but as Cincinnati's tallest skyscraper, it dominates the view behind third base. The Tower's majestic "tiara" tops off the 41st floor. Image by GaryPaulSmith, from right field at Great American Ballpark. May, 2013.

Great American Ballpark Revisited

Moon Over Cincy, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

The Cincinnati Bell Steam Boat at night.
Ranked #7 of 101 attractions in Cincinnati. The Bell had yet to be constructed when I first visited the ballpark in 2004. Image by GaryPaulSmith, May, 2013.

PNC Power Stacks

PNC Power Stacks, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

In right center field, two smokestacks, reminiscent of the steamboats that were common on the Ohio River in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, flash lights, emit flames and launch fireworks to incite or respond to the home team's efforts. It's more spectacular at night. Image by GaryPaulSmith at Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati. May, 2013.

Rosie Red Dazzles

Rosie Red Dazzles, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

Following in her grandmother's footsteps, Rosie went to CHEER (College for High Energy and Entertainment Routines). She's ready after several years of rigorous training to take the field with mascot veterans Gapper and Mr. Redlegs! Image by GaryPaulSmith, May 25, 2013 at Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati.

Minute Maid Park Opens It's Roof

Downtown Houston With Open Roof, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

I seldom if ever post images of the home team ballpark, but to attend a game at Minute Maid Park in Houston with the roof open is a rare spectacle. The roof remains closed the majority of the time because of the heat and humidity in Houston. This cool night in May offered a sensational view of downtown Houston. Image by GaryPaulSmith. May 7, 2013.

Rally Monkeys Invade Minute Maid Park

The Angel Rally Monkeys, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

At Angel home games, a video of a monkey comes on when the Angels are losing. It jumps up and down, wearing a tiny team uniform. Sometimes it holds a sign that says “Rally Time!” The fans go crazy for the rally monkey. Image by GaryPaulSmith, May 7, 2013.

Get Ready

Pre-Game Grounds Crew, originally uploaded by Gary Paul Smith.

This is the ground crew at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit, not the Temptations (1966) or Rare Earth (1970) who recorded this song. Image by Gary P Smith, September 2012. The Tigers would go on to swept by the Giants in the World Series.