Skip to main content

Durham Bulls Game - 05/08/2007

We're not always going to have roadtrips or transportation commentary here at the blog.

In May, a group of us from the office went over to the DBAP (formally known as the Durham Bulls Athletic Park) for a game between the Durham Bulls and the Tidewater Tides. The DBAP has been open for over ten years, and is one of the finest ballparks in the minor leagues. I've gone to a number of games in Durham when I lived in Raleigh a few years ago. This was my first game at the ballpark since 2004.

Now unfortunately, the day had threatened rain but it wasn't until the game started that a steady shower began. So the pictures aren't the greatest. But it was great to be back at the ballpark, and it was just another thing that makes me glad to be back in North Carolina.

This is looking back at the main grandstand from the leftfield corner. Most of the park is not under cover.



A number of views of the "Blue Monster" and a replica of the famous bull that was in the movie "Bull Durham." It reads, "Hit Bull - Win Steak. Hit Grass - Win Salad." When the Bulls' hit a home run, smoke rises from the bull's nostrils, its eyes turn red, and its tail wags. The Bull would be animated three times from Durham home runs that night. The Bull that was used in the movie hangs on the yard's wall out on the concourse.

The "Blue Monster" is a minor league replica of Fenway's Green Monster. The wall's height is 32 feet and the left field foul pole is 305' from home plate.

I'm really not sure what to think of the new building going up behind centerfield. Obviously, a steel framework is not going to fit in. So I'll wait until the building is completed to see how the ballpark's feel has changed. One thing, the new building will pretty much remove the Durham County Jail from the skyline view behind home plate.

The building behind the right field bleachers and center field lawn seats (not used this night because of the rain, but a popular and inexpensive ($2) spot to watch the game) is the home to Fox 50 and the sorely missed Fox 50 Cash Cow. (The Fox 50 Cash Cow has cultural icon status in Raleigh) Oh, and it seems that SunTrust now has offices there (or uses it for advertising space) since 2004.

The Bulls....

...and the Tides during pre-game warm-ups.

For some reason at minor league ball parks, I take a photo of the foul pole. I guess it's to show how close you can get to the field at these parks.

Of course, you can't forget a photo of WOOL E. BULL!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

US Route 62 and US Route 180 in the Guadalupe Mountains

US Route 62/US Route 180 between El Paso, Texas and Carlsbad, New Mexico passes through the Guadalupe Mountains.  The Guadalupe Mountains comprise the highest peaks of Texas which are largely protected as part Guadalupe Mountains National Park.  The automotive highway through the Guadalupe Mountains was constructed in the late 1920s as part of Texas State Road 54.  US Route 62 was extended from Carlsbad through the Guadalupe Mountains to El Paso during 1932.  US Route 62 was joined in the Guadalupe Mountains by US Route 180 in 1943.  The Guadalupe Mountains comprise a portion of the 130 mile "No Services" zone on US Route 62/US Route 180 between El Paso-Carlsbad. Part 1; the history of US Route 62 and US Route 180 in the Guadalupe Mountains The Guadalupe Mountains lie within the states of Texas and New Mexico.  The Guadalupe Mountains essentially is a southern extension of the larger Rocky Mountains.  The Guadalupe Mountains is the highest range in Texas with the peak elevati

Paper Highways; unbuilt California State Route 100 in Santa Cruz

This edition of Paper Highways examines the unbuilt California State Route 100 in Santa Cruz. The History of Unbuilt California State Route 100 The route that became CA 100 was added to the State Inventory in 1959 as part of the Freeway & Expressway System as Legislative Route 287 .  According to CAhighways.org the initial definition of LRN 287 had it begin at LRN 5 (CA 17) and was defined over the below alignment to LRN 56 (CA 1) through downtown Santa Cruz. -  Ocean Street -  2nd Street -  Chestnut Street For context the above alignment would required tearing down a large part of the densely populated Santa Cruz.  A modern Google imagine immediately reveals how crazy an alignment following Ocean Street, 2nd Street, and Chestnut Street would have been. LRN 287 first appears on the 1960 Division of Highways State Map . In 1961 the definition of LRN 287 was generalized to; from LRN 5 via the beach area in Santa Cruz to LRN 56 west of the San Lorenzo River. 

New Mexico State Road 7 (Carlsbad Caverns Highway)

New Mexico State Road 7 is approximately a seven-mile highway in the Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County. New Mexico State Road 7 connects US Route 62/US Route 180 at Whites City to the visitor center of Carlsbad Caverns National Park via Walnut Canyon. The so-called Carlsbad Caverns Highway to the National Park visitor center complex was constructed following the designation of the namesake National Monument in 1923. The current iteration of New Mexico State Road 7 was designated by the New Mexico State Highway Commission during June 1929. A proposal once was once floated to connect New Mexico State Road 7 to a cavern drive which would have been blasted into Big Room. Part 1; the history of New Mexico State Road 7 What are now Carlsbad Caverns was explored in the Guadalupe Mountains of Eddy County by local Jim White during 1898.  White explored the caverns via a homemade ladder and named several of the more notable rooms.  The name "Carlsbad Caverns" was derived from the