Mighty Casey - 1996

July 26, 2018 Somerset Patriots v Road Warriors

TD Bank Balpark, Bridgewater, NJ

25th Anniversary Celebration of "The Sandlot" with Tom Guiry aka Scotty Smalls

The Road Warriors defeated the Patriots 4-3 on a rainy night, that saw most of the 6,022 fans in attendance waiting in line, and out of the rain, waiting to see Guiry.

Spring Training Florida - 2018

Florida Statehood first day cover with Major League Baseball passport stamps from George Steinbrenner Field, Tampa and Spectrum Field, Clearwater for the 2018 season

Mailed through the Clearwater post office off Rt 19, after the Phillies game.

Inside the Park - Somerset Patriots

Another visit to the local Somerset Patriots:

 MLB passport cancel had not been updated from Jul 11.

Signed by pitcher Amalio Diaz #38, coach Marty Janzen #36 (Toronto Blue Jays)

pitcher Matt Soren #35

Jul 12, 2015 Somerset Patriots, Bridgewater, NJ

The Long Island Ducks defeated the Patriots 7-2

Inside the Park - Camden Riversharks

Rob Bryson (25), Eric Smith (18), unknown, Evan Crawford (52), Carlos Guzman (3), Sean Gleason (30), TJ Chism (19), Eric Frain (11), Mike Click (8), Matt Gorgen (23), Dan Blewett (13) MLB passport cancel

Wes Torrez (20), Ryan Kulik (34), Evan Englebrook (29), Daniel Rockett (1), Steve Garrison (7), Paddy Matera (0), Zach McPhee (47), Padro Swann, Brandon Chaves (9), Zach Braddock (26), Bill Murphy (14), Michael Rockett (2)

August 20, 2015 Camden Rivershark, Campbell Field, Camden, NJ

The Riversharks, having a rough season at 49-71, came back from a 4-2 deficit to force extra innings only to lose to the Sugar Land Skeeters, 5-4 in the 10th inning.

The Camden Riversharks were members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is an independent league, from 2001- 2015. The team relocated as the New Britain Bees, New Britain, Ct. for the 2016 season. Campbell Field is located at the base of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

View from 1st base, Ben Franklin Bridge and Philadelphia behind 3rd base and left field

portion of a mural located in the parking lot across from the main entrance

Inside the Park - Reading Fighting' Phils

 signed by Dave Wallace, manager of the visiting Akron Rubber Ducks (Cleveland Indians affiliate)

I brought the Sluggers first day cover featuring Hank Greenberg, since he was the general manager of the Wilkes Barre Indians when the move to Reading was made

 signed by Brodie Greene #8, Ben Lively #19, coach Mickey Morandini (Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, Toronto Blue Jays)

MLB passport cancel

Jul 14, 2015 Reading Fighting Phils, Reading, Pa

Rubber Ducks defeated the Phils 5-1 after 5 scoreless innings. Ryan Merritt earned the victory and Ben Lively took the loss

FirstEnergy Stadium, was built as Reading Municipal Memorial Stadium in 1947, with the first game being played April 15, 1951 home to the Reading Indians, until 1961. They changed affiliations to the Red Sox 1963-1964 and then to the Phillies 1967- present)

Inside the Park - Lakewood Blueclaws Beatles Night

Henri Lartigue (11), Luke Williams (12), Bailey Falter (9), Dave Martinelli (31)

Gustavo Armas (14), Ismael Cabrera (36), Luis Carrasco (32) Mauricio Llovera (26)

Tyler Hallead (17), Addison Russ (15), Casey Brown (5), Will Hibbs (54), Jake Kelzer (44)

Felix Paulino (24), Daniel Brito (21), Adonis Medina (16), Nick Fanti (20)

Bold= Majors

The Lakewood Blueclaws, affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, held their Extravaganza and Beatles Night on September 2. The gates opened at 3:30 with pre-game activities that included Hell on Wheels bicycle demo team, police and construction vehicles, free games and rides for kids, and 3 bands.

The headline band was BritishMania, a Beatles tribute band, which played from 5-7pm. To further celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of the Beatles Sgt Pepper album, the Blueclaws were expected to wear a commemorative Sgt Pepper Jersey.

Unfortunately the rains generated by Hurricane Harvey hit New Jersey earlier than expected and the game was rained out. Due to the rain batting practice was canceled and members of the Kannapolis Intimidators were walking through the crowd to get to the indoor batting cages. They were very accommodating to the fans.

Starting at 6, the team held a signing in the batting cages located behind the concession stands. The team were wearing the special Sgt Pepper jersey. I created the "jersey" cachet to commemorate the event on a Beatles first day cover. As a fan of the Beatles I appreciated the event.

Other teams to wear Sgt Pepper jerseys this year included the Toledo Mud Hens (there was one person wearing the jersey in the crowd), Memphis Redbirds and the Fresno Grizzlies.

Feliz Paulino (Blueclaws Twitter) wearing the Sgt Pepper jersey on Sunday, after Saturday nights rainout.

Lancaster Barnstormers

May 11, 2005 Lancaster, Pa

Lancaster Barnstormers, independent professional team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, playing in the Freedom Division.

Since the 2005 season the Barnstormers have played their games at the Clipper Magazine Stadium. On May 11, the Barnstormers opened against the Atlantic City Surf, losing 4-3 in front of 7,300 fans. They would finish they first season at 64-76

Made a recent trip to the Cliiper Magazine Stadium, Lancaster for a day game

A very nice stadium, providing a pleasant atmosphere for a ball game

Inside the Park - New York Yankees

2017-Jul-30 Yankee Stadium, Bronx NY

 My wife, the boys and I had been to the new Yankee Stadium for Soccer matches and concerts, but had yet to go for a Yankee game. We finally made the plans and went to see the yankees play the Tampa Bay Rays. I brought along a Babe Ruth Celebrate the Century first day cover, place the passport stamp on the cover. I will attempt to get it signed by one of the Yankees at a later time.

The Rays defeated the Yankees 5-3, as Corey Dickerson of the Rays, drove in a pair of runs and the Rays bullpen held the Yankees scoreless in five innings to take the final game of a four-game series. The Yankees took the first three games.

Ronald Torreyes of the Yankees had the first 3-RBI game of his career, hitting a 2-run homer and a run scoring double.

Dennis the Menace - King Features Syndicate (2017.08.05)

FYI - The Yankees do not employ a T-shirt or hot dog cannon

Inside the Park - Hudson Valley Renegades

June 1994 Fishkill, NY

Inaugural game

The Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league team affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays, in the New York-Penn League, playing in Fishkill, NY

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Originally founded as the Erie Sailors a Texas Ranger affiliate, the team moved to Fishkill in 1994 becoming part of the Tampa Bay organization in 1996.

1992 Olympic Baseball first day cover signed by Isaac Bernard and Matt Eureste

Inside the Park: Hudson Valley, affiliate of Tampa Bay, faced the Vermont Lake Monsters, affiliate of Oakland As. The Renegades would win in the 10th inning when Vidal Brujan doubled to right, he would then score on 2 wild pitches by Josh Reagan. Reliever Hector Lopez picked up the win.

I had planned on attending a Monday day game, but decided not to take the 90 minute drive because of the weather. The skies cleared and the game was played, I was bummed about missing the opportunity to see the game. I then decided I would have to go on the weekend. I wear a Dodgers jersey, because of my Brooklyn roots. An older gentleman walks up to me and says he had a ticket to the final Dodger game in Brooklyn, but did not go because it was raining in Fishkill, NY. He thought he would use the ticket the following day for the make-up game. However it was not raining in Brooklyn and the Dodgers played the game. The world is a lot smaller than we realize...

He still has the unused ticket, a welcomed souvenir, but he would have preferred to be at the game

Inside the Park - Somerset Patriots Fan Fest

Cory Domel, Glen Barker, Brett Jodie, Jon Hutton, Scott Kelly, Aharon Eggleston, Adam Donachie, Carlos Guzman

2017-Apr-08 Somerset Patriots Fan Fest, TD Bank Ballpark, Bridgewater, NJ

Bold = Majors

The Fan Fest offered free admission to kick off the spring and the upcoming baseball season. The Fest included a chance for fans to meet the players and obtain autographs.

I brought along an Olympic Baseball first day cover to obtain a few autographs... It's always a nice day at the park...

1999-Jun-07 Bridgewater NJ

The Somerset Patriots were one of the founding members of the Atlantic League in 1998. However, the team spent its inaugural season as a road team while TD Bank Park was being constructed. In the 1999 season, the Patriots opened their ballpark, where they quickly became one of the most successful franchises of the league in both the win and attendance columns

Inside the Park - Trenton Thunder Fan Fest

Whenever I visit a ballpark I carry a few first day covers to obtain autographs or the MLB Ballpark passport rubber stamp, as a souvenir of my visit.

Bobby Mitchell, Jose Rosado, Billy Fleming, Caleb Smith, Matt Marsh, Zack Zenner, Devyn Tolansky,

  Chance Adams, Mike Ford

Dante Bichette Jr, Caleb Frare, Gleyber Torres, Travis Hissong

Domingo German, Francisco Diaz, Billy McKinney, JP Feyereisen, Justus Sheffield, Yefrey Ramirez, Rashad Crawford

Bold = Majors

2017-Apr-04 Arm & Hammer Park, Trenton, NJ

Trenton Thunder Open House

It was a rainy afternoon, but the plan was batting practice from 3-5, with a 1 hour autograph session to follow with the team. However fans starting lining up at Gleyber Torres table at 3:00 ignoring the limited batting practice. The talk for 2 hours was basically how many autographs could they get from Torres. The limit was 1. They all had their book of cards hoping to get as many as possible, I was just  looking for 1. I enjoy the fact that I can obtain several players at the same time on a single cover, which also always a spot for the MLB passport stamp, to commemorate my visit...

At 5:00 the players and coaches sat at 4 tables, with the only line being at Torres table. Regardless of the staff trying to persuade fans to line up at the other tables, few people moved. The lines moved fairly quickly and everything went smoothly...

Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields - 2001

The USPS issued a set of 10 stamps commemorating Baseball's Legendary Playing Fields on Jun 27, 2001. The stamps had their official issuance in New York, Detroit, Chicago and Boston. The stamps were designed by Phil Jordan. The Ballparks, also known as baseball's cathedrals are Ebbets Field (Brooklyn Dodgers) Tiger Stadium (Detroit Tigers), Crosley Field (Cincinnati Reds) Yankee Stadium (NY Yankees) Polo grounds (NY Giants, NY Mets) Forbes Field (Pittsburgh Pirates) Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox) Comiskey Park (Chicago White Sox) Shibe Park (Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia A's) Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs).  The banner portion across the top of the sheet features a scene from Sportsman's Park (St Louis Cardinals).  The back of each stamp provides details about the baseball fields.

 

Had the opportunity to go to a Pirates game at PNC Park. Brought a Forbes Field cover with a hand drawn cachet. Kent Tekulve was working the game for Root Sports, and he was generous in signing the cover. I then went to the clubhouse store to obtain the MLB passport stamp.

I have to have the ticket, no electronic entry...

Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies

Senior Stroll - My wife and I strolled the bases with the other senior citizens in attendance, there were quite a few. I stopped at short stop to obtain a smudge of dirt for the first day cover, along with the MLB passport

Shibe Park First day cover, former home of the Philadelphia Phillies

The Lakewood Blueclaws usually have a celebrity appearance during the season. 2015, the team had Ron Blomberg on Jewish Heritage Day. Bloomberg, playing for the New York Yankees, was the first designated hitter when he stepped to the plate  on April 6, 1973 in Fenway Park, Boston.

Artcraft cachet

The USPS issued a set of post cards along with the stamp issue.. Artcraft cachet added to the message area of the postcard

Armstrong Cachet

Edken cachet