I got in a doubleheader Tuesday, combining a trip to the Ferndale Jubilee to start the evening, with the nightcap of coming home and watching most of baseball’s All-Star Game.
Along with two granddaughters and their father, I went to the Ferndale carnival shortly before 5 p.m. Tuesday evening. Weather was threatening; hot and humid. The crowd was small at first, unlike memories of years past when it was difficult to move around the grounds. We got the girls’ ride bracelets at $18 a pop rather quickly and, after about 15 minutes of them riding the rides, the power went out for 40 minutes or so. Not a good start.
The girls killed time with the huge burlap bag slide and the funhouse, both of which could operate without electricity.
But, the power came back on, the rain held off, and the girls were about exhausted from riding by 8 p.m., so it was time for a run to Sheetz for their equivalent of the 7-11 slurpee frozen drinks, and then home.
At one point, while the girls were waiting in line to access the Cobra ride in Ferndale, two young teen punks had sidled up to talk with the first two boys in line, then just decided to stay and cut the line.
This annoyed me, but uncharacteristially I decided to let it go. Surprisingly, and happily, the guy running the ride was paying attention. When he came back from seating some other riders, he told the two they weren’t there the last time he checked, so they could either leave or go to the back of the line.
The guy was firm, no-nonsense, and the two moved on to jump other lines without the usual smartmouth pushback one might expect from such.
It turns out that my son had chatted with the worker earlier. He’s from Moxham, but travels with the carnival in the summer. He’s no stranger to bad behavior, and knew how to deal with it.
A shoutout to him.
As for the All-Star Game, once it would have been a priority. Today, not so much. It was OK with me that, after showering, I tuned in during the second inning, with the NL already up 2-0.
One of my most vivid All-Star memories was the 1967 game. We were visting an uncle, aunt and cousin and watched the game at their place.
Back then, when the Pirates were a serious Major League franchise, there were three Pirates in the starting NL All-Star lineup – Gene Alley at shortstop, Bill Mazeroski at second base, and Roberto Clemente in right field.
The pitchers were dominant in this game, with the hurlers on both teams combining for 30 strikeouts.
Plans to leave were put on hold as the game ended nine innings tied at 1-1. My memory was of Tony Perez winning the game with a homer, which I confirmed. He hit a solo shot in the top of the 15th off Catfish Hunter, and the NL held on to win, 2-1.
Last night, the game ended nine innings tied, after the NL had coughed up a 6-0 lead.
But, no extra innings this time. Instead, there was a gimmicky, impromptu home-run derby with three hitters for each side to decide the thing. The NL won on the strength of Kyle Schwarber hitting three homers on his three allotted swings.
I think I’d have rather seen extra innings, but I’m a traditionalist. The fact baseball’s All-Star Game actually tends to mirror regular-season play is an attraction. Long ago the, the NFL, NHL and NBA turned their All-Star contests into a variety of displays only kind of looking like regular games.
Baseball has held true. But, it has tinkered with its extra-inning formula for regular-season games, so it would follow it would do similar with the All-Star Game. The result of this was better than that 7-7, 11-inning All-Star tie in 2002.
No need to stay up late this time. The game ended with me still nursing my extra large frozen cherry drink, the final punctuation on an enjoyable evening.
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