WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE FAMILY BALLPARK?

I think I've found the best family friendly ballpark out there, but let me back up and start at the beginning. Look, I’m no tight ass. I like the idea of attractive women at the ballpark, but I’ve noticed over the last 10 years that things have changed fan-wise…and maybe it’s because now my kids are with me to see what I see. Yes, the chanting of “A-hole” when an opposing fan walks down the aisle is the norm, and I can at least tell my kids not the repeat it, but what’s up with the attractive young woman with the low cut shirt showing off her “boys”? What’s going on with women fans holding signs that read “Jeter I want your baby.” My kids can read, and they have questions…. Are you going to answer them? If I knew I was going to teach Sex Ed at the ballpark, I would have brought my former gym teacher along. It’s a little over the top, that’s all.

Look, I’m not judging, I know I have a job to do as a parent. I can choose not the go or explain what true fans are and let them be exposed to all of it to get the “real feel”, pardon the pun. But it’s true, I am a traditionalist and while I love wearing a Posada jersey to the ballpark, I’m not sure seeing male fans rip their shirts off and chanting “RED SOX SUCK” as it’s written on their back really works for me. Yes, The Red Sox DO suck, but the last thing I want to see is my kid doing that at a town football game weeks later. I long for the day when people actually dressed up to go to a ballgame once in a while. Those Sunday matinees with men wearing hats and women wearing sundresses. Yeah, that’s right; I’m actually 102 years old. Look, I’m sounding extreme, and it’s all to make a point.

Whatever happened to the “family” ballpark? What ever happened to bringing the kids to a game at a reasonable price, parking for $6 bucks and having a few hot dogs and a brew totaling $45? At least then you can get a souvenir. But No...

Instead, lately it’s the price of a mini-vacation and my son's asking me “Why is that girl dancing with her bra showing in that man’s lap?” That’s tough to defend; I’m not going to lie. Plus I’d really like to see that, but not with the kids around, maybe on pay per view.

I have to say, Yankee Stadium is not a bad place to bring your kids at all. It’s pretty family friendly and if a fan is unruly, security usually takes care of business right away and kicks them out. But it’s expensive. So, I went for it; I took my kids to a truly family friendly ballpark… Riverfront Stadium in Newark New Jersey...the Home of the Newark Bears. Not sure if you know the history, but the Newark Bears was a farm club of the Yankees in 1937 with names like Joe Gordon and later, Yogi Berra. Later on it was rejuvenated by former Yankee Rick Cerone and they brought in former major league players like Jose Canseco, Rickey Henderson and they’ve had managers like former Pirate Bill Madlock and currently, former Yankee and Expo, Tim Raines. I'm actually very interested in interviewing Mr. Raines because he's had such an incredible baseball career and I hope to have that for my Bleeding Yankee Blue readers.

But back to my point; a Newark Bears game is inexpensive and you see some pretty competitive ball being played. My kid loves baseball as you know and since we’ve been there, we’re looking forward to going back. The park is about as family friendly as it gets and there is plenty to do. If the kids get bored, you can walk around, they have a kids section, the mascots are out meeting the fans and they have something going on almost every half inning games... activities and other fun stuff.

Look, I love being at a pro ballpark, but half naked people and visible tramp stamps are too much to explain to my kids. All I’m asking for is a little courtesy. That’s it. I’m a true fan, I get it, but as I get older I can’t defend you all the time. Hey, that’s sports I guess. It’s just my opinion. But here’s another opinion, for a cheaper cleaner afternoon, check out the Newark Bears next spring, it’s a lot of fun. You can sit back, relax with the kids and you don’t have to worry about boobs, “F” bombs and going broke on a Sunday afternoon.Check out the Newark Bears... That’s the right way to go. Click HERE to find out about ticket information. I'll re-post this closer to the Bears opening day in 2012.

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WHY I ROOT FOR THE ITALIANS

(in photo: Mike Pagliarulo)
I remember 1987 like it was yesterday. The Yankees weren’t too good finishing in 4th place in the American League, yet, as an Italian American kid who loved the Yankees, there was always a connection between me and the Italian Yankee ballplayers and this goes all the way back to my dad’s days in the Bronx and my grandfather before him.

Phil Rizzuto was huge to many of us in my family and before that, it was Tony Lazzeri. These 2 guys defined Italian. Joe DiMaggio was the the biggest guinea of them all and for good reason, he was a God and my grandfather loved that he represented Italians and played for the greatest baseball team in the world.Rick Cerone was around when I watched the Yankees play. I remember the old Yankee Stadium and Eddie Layton, the organist, playing his best Italian music as Cerone came up to the plate. You just got into it.

(in photo: Danny Pasqua)

Then came the mid 80's and 1987. That was when I became seriously attached to 2 other Yankee players, Danny Pasqua and Mike Pagliarulo. For 1, they could hit home runs, which was always a fan favorite, but besides that, they were Italian Americans playing in pinstripes and at the time, I didn't really have what my father and his father before him had, true legends. Instead, I had guys you hoped could be legends. Following and rooting for a 4th place Yankee team all season, you really wanted them to shine, it was really all you had.

As a kid in the 80’s, you couldn’t help but love these guys. Let’s not forget, the Yankees were about to take a dive to 7th place in the American League East. That happened in 1990, so we were on our way to empty stands and forgotten games. In 1987, you really felt bad for players like Don Mattingly, Dave Winfield and Ron Guidry. We had players like Bobby Meacham, and Joel Skinner and Lenn Sakata and we had no real decent pitching with guys like Steve Trout. We were going no where fast, but it didn’t matter, as a kid, I wanted my guys to do well; Danny Pasqua and Mike Pagliarulo. I remember lining my baseball cards up according to the order of the lineup and just crossing my fingers.

Danny Pasqua was a William Paterson University graduate and he was local and for us, he was a symbol of life in the Yankees lineup with 17 home runs that year. Yes, Mattingly was on this team and we all loved Donnie, but Danny was the new young stud with something to prove and you just wanted him to do well. I remember being at one batting practice at Yankee Stadium, standing with my family on the right field side and Danny Pasqua cranked one and it accidentally hit a poor woman in foul territory and she fell right to the ground in pain. It was devastating for me to see, but you just knew how much power was in that swing. Pasqua went to the White Sox after that season and then retired, but to this day, I still think of him and smile.

Mike Pagliarulo was destined to be the leader on the Yankees around that time, at least to me he was. A third baseman with great athleticism and great power. No, he wasn’t among home run leaders each year, but he hit them enough so people would take notice. Pags later moved on to the San Diego Padres in 1989, then the Twins and then he eventually vanished. But one thing's for sure, if you ever want to see the best shrine of Mike Pagliarulo in all of New Jersey, you need to go to Lina’s Restaurant in Bloomingdale, NJ. As you walk in the door, there are photos, and autograph’s with the former Yankee great there. It just goes to show the Italian roots run deep and Mike Pagliarulo is still remembered fondly.

Danny Pasqua and Mike Pagliarulo were stars for some of us Italian Americans in the 80’s, long retired but definitely not forgotten. A salute to Danny and Pags. You represented the pinstripes well guys, carry on.

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