I’ve Got You, BayBears

As previously mentioned, I was in Mobile, Alabama last week in order to attend the gala opening of the Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum. Read up on it HERE, if you so desire (and HERE, while you’re at it).

Fortunately, I was able to document my experience in Mobile above and beyond Wednesday’s extravaganza. In addition to several abbreviated bouts of aimless wandering, I also attended Thursday’s Mobile BayBears game (a FAR more subdued atmosphere than the day before). Let’s go to the pictures!

The Hank Aaron Childhood Home and Museum:

Willie Mays Arrives at Wednesday’s Grand Opening: The “Say Hey Kid” disappeared shortly thereafter making his entrance here, leading to concerns that he was under the weather. But he participated in the pre-game on-field ceremony less than two hours later, telling a humorous anecdote about the difficulty of assembling National League All-Star line-ups in the 60s.

Hank at the Podium:

The Hall of Fame Crew:

Inside the Museum:

On Thursday, I was able to explore Hank Aaron Stadium as the BayBears took on fellow Alabamans and Southern League rivals the Birmingham Barons.

Stadium Exterior

Thirsty Thursday (Beer Through A Straw)

Frito Pie, the Perfect Complement to $1 Bud Products

The BayBears honor Mobile’s rich baseball history throughout the concourse.

A Nod to the Atlanta Braves:

Each of the team’s suites is named after a Mobilian Major Leaguer. I do have to take issue with this sign, however, as Satchel notched a LOT more than 288 strikeouts throughout his career. Major League Baseball was just slow to catch on to his talents. REAL slow.

Here’s another distinguished suite honoree –

The Wizard

Behind the Curtain

On-Field Action

Tropical Environs Down the Left Field Line

One the team’s most popular recurring in-game promotions is the Rally Rave. For 90 exhausting seconds, team employees dance to frenetic electronic music in the press box while throwing rally caps into the crowd. The official “Rally Rave” video can be viewed HERE, but I must say I was pleased with my own attempts to video the spectacle. I did NOT speed this up in any way:

And this is the cap being tossed into the crowd. It is naturally inside out, so if you turn it inside out it becomes outside in and if you are awake you start to dream and vice versa.

And, finally, I happened to film a most comical mascot race. The quality isn’t the best, but

And while I did not have as much time as I would have liked to explore Mobile, I must say I was quite smitten with Dauphin Street and Bienville Square. The slow, surreal, timeless quality of the area is a world away from the hostile hustle and bustle that I am used to here i the Northeast.

The Big Apple, Southern Style:

Kids Are Better Dressed Here, Too:

Bienville Square

Well, that’s gonna do it for me and Mobile. Apologies to all those who have sent me blog-worthy material over the past several days. I’ll get to it eventually, promise.

And, as I’ve surely mentioned before: I would like to visit YOUR hometown stadium. Invite me, please, and I’ll do my best to transcend my usual non-committal ways.

benjamin.hill@mlb.com
twitter.com/bensbiz