One Sunday afternoon at Ballpark at St. George
Minor league baseball. How often do you have a chance to see it? If you’re a family man, then, you might have been taken your family to a game or two, or numerous times just because major league baseball games are simply pricey. An acquaintance, a 27 year-old MBA graduate of sports management, got a job recently as a group sales manager for Staten Island Yankees. My purpose was to introduce a publisher of a free Japanese community paper to him. Today, Kevin Brown, a Major leaguer, was going to pitch for the S.I.Yanks as a final rehab assignment. It was great news for George. He was thrilled to see Brown pitch at a ballpark with a spectacular view of Manhattan skyline. On the way to Staten Island, he didn’t even put his camera down. He was busy taking pictures of Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and downtown NYC as if he never been a tourist like other Japanese. With a grim at his childlike excitement, I definitely had a feeling of going to a picnic.Historically we, Japanese love baseball. Since Hideo Nomo of LA Dodgers came across the Pacific in 1995, more than handful ball players dreamed to play at major league. Many attempted and returned to their homeland with broken promises. Yet, if they keep their passion, most of them are successful in Japanese baseball league with flair.Last year, Hideki Matsui joined New York Yankees, a local Japanese community became more enthusiastic about major league baseball. Following Godzilla’s footsteps, Kaz Matsui signed with New York Mets this year. Both Matsuis are doing very well to entertain American baseball fans as well. Yet, many Japanese still don’t know a minor league baseball. Staten Island Yankees is a young team among minor league, called NY Penn League (Single A short season). The owner/Chairman, Stan Getzler bought it in 1999 with his wife, Phyllis and his son, Josh. The Ballpark at St. George is the first name rights owned by Richmond County Bank. Under the regulation of minor league baseball, the players have to be under 23 years old and can’t stay there for more than 4 years. Most of them are still college students, hoping and dreaming that one day they’d be like Derek Jeter who started his career played for a minor league. However, those players looked like kindergarten pupils when 39-year-old Kevin Brown took a mound. He’s a main pitching force of New York Yankees. Even an opponent, Hudson Valley Renegades (a minor team for Tampa Bay) must have been so excited to stand a batter box. The eyes of coaches are very sharp so they run, throw, and catch with their best every moment. Their emotions are obvious like water in NY harbor. I was moved by their eagerness. However, this is not a team for staying. S.I. Yanks is the worst team among the Penn league and they lost 8-4. But fans at the ballpark seemed not care about winning. The game is for a family entertainment. A girl, who looks about 10 or 12, wearing her braces, sang national anthem. Between each innings, there are plenty to be entertained by team’s mascots and to participate a game such as Karaoke singing, running around bases, and throwing balls to get prizes. And at the end, any kids can go around the bases and are greeted by the owner/Chairman Stan Getzler and his son, Chief Operation Officer, Josh await to give them high fives. I thought I was at somewhere in the middle of America, hearing songs like Born in the USA. But I was in New York City. With a media pass, I attended a press conference after Kevin Brown pitched 80 throws. He didn’t look so happy because of 6 hits by an opponent. I just hoped he’d be fully recovered and ready to be back in the line up in Bronx. Coming home on a ferry ride, my eyes were glued at a Statue of Liberty and bridges and Manhattan skylines. Suddenly, I felt a sense of contentment and peacefulness. I put a big smile on my face, waving at Lady Liberty in my heart: “I had a great time Sunday afternoon at Ballpark at St. George!”I promised her to be back soon.