by Ray Bergman Game 15 - Indians vs Rangers at Jacobs Field
August 20, 1996Before I get to the flattering remarks about Jacobs Field, let me pitch a few lines about getting to the field from Detroit. I drove the 175 miles from Flat Rock, MI to Cleveland, Ohio encountering much stop-and-go traffic around the Michigan/Ohio border. But once on the Ohio Turnpike, it was a snap. I arrived about 4:30 in the afternoon and spent some time shopping for essentials. The motel I stayed at was near the airport so I took the train (RTA) into downtown Cleveland and the Tower City Terminal. Wow! What a pleasant surprise. The station is beautiful. It leads to the tower city complex, which contains a georgous gallaria-type shopping mall and court. It is the most exquisite mall I have ever seen. Not because of the stores but because of the ambience.The mall/station is decorated with marble and brass with fountains that are synchronized to classical music that is piped in on a very high-tech audio system. If you are ever in Cleveland, this is a must see. Tower City has a gateway that leads to Gund arena (where the Caveliers play) and of course to the now-famous Jacobs Field. Let me warn you before hand. I fell in love with Jacobs Field and you will, too, if you ever visit this paradise called a field. This stadium was built to look old like the Ballpark in Arlington and Camden Yards in Baltimore. It is primarily a two-deck stadium, with three levels of suites, a private club pavilion and two restaurants. It has a left field pavilion and center field bleachers. This really is a dream. A dream in paradise that just happens to house a ballpark. My tickets were in the nose bleed section, as tickets were hard to come by. At least it was high enough that my allergies didn't act up from the real grass outfield below. This stadium has it all. Each seat is turned to face the action - a definite plus. By the way, there was a game and here's what happened: The starting pitchers were Bobby Witt for the Rangers, and Albe Lopez for the Tribe. The Rangers sent 8 players to the plate in the top of the first and scored 2 runs. We then had thunder and lightning, and finally, rain, which resulted in a one hour and twenty-three minute delay. When play resumed, Albert Belle made some thunder as he hit a triple, knocking in two to go with one scored earlier, and at the end of one, the Tribe led 3-2. In the fifth, both teams scored two runs on home run blasts by Juan Gonzalez for the visiting Rangers, and Jim Thomy of the Indians. At the end of five, 5-4 Indians. In the seventh, Manny Ramirez belted a grand slam and the Indians led 9-4. Albert Belle hit his 41st home run of the year and then Paul Assenmacher and Eric Plunk shut down the Rangers for a final score of Cleveland 10, Texas 4. Notes:
To Game Sixteen Help us provide a better web site by completing our feedback form Tickets to Cleveland Indians and NCAA Basketball Tournament provided by Ticket Triangle. © 1996 by Ray Bergman. Reproduction of all or any part of "My Baseball Dream" without the written permission of Ray Bergman is prohibited. BALLPARKS © 1996-2014 by Munsey & Suppes.
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