Ron's View - Houston, Texas
Scott and I have visited Houston twice during our Baseball Trips. We visited the Astrodome in 1992 and Enron Field in 2000. I’ll start the review chronologically.
1992’s trip was one of those 11 day journeys that saw us only visit two ballparks – the Astrodome and Arlington Stadium. Being a baseball purist, both of these ballparks left much to be desired, but for many different reasons. While Arlington Stadium was a ramshackle converted Minor League yard, the Astrodome looked more like a giant warehouse in which Astroturf (YUCK!) was laid down and games were played in its cavernous bowels. True, the Astros were rarely contenders during their stay at the Astrodome, but even an exciting game enticing a vociferous crowd would barely raise the decibel level above that which occurs at your local library.
The Republican National Convention was held in the Astrodome during the two weeks prior to the game we attended. We found bits of confetti strewn in odd corners of the building, and the pieces looked as lost and forlorn as we did as we failed in our attempt to enjoy watching an Astros game in this God forsaken building. I can’t even recall a single moment from the game itself, even though we stayed relatively sober throughout the game.
Perhaps a small bit of this disappointment stemmed from the relative excitement we experienced in the 24 hours preceding the game. The previous day found us in the Crescent City, New Orleans, for an evening on Bourbon Street. Yes, we drank till we got our fill that evening. But, two memories remain razor sharp in my mind.
First, in preparation for our evening of bar hopping on Bourbon, we were in our hotel room relaxing. We found a Cubs game on the tube. Hall of Fame announcer Harry Caray (apparently a bit tight at the time) noticed a Budweiser blimp flying overhead. Trying in vain to find the proper words, he said “Steve, look at the Budweiser………………………….PLANE flying overhead!”
Later in the game, Cubs third baseman Steve Buechele was at the plate. The next pitch was a fastball that tailed in on him so fast that he couldn’t move in time. The ball ricocheted off of his protective cup, then careened into the crowd. While Buechele was writhing on the ground in pain and checking to see if everything was attached, Caray announced “Hey Steve, I think that the ball might have hit him in the RIBS!”. Color commentator Steve Stone replied ‘Well Harry, I think that the ball hit him just slightly below the ribs!”
Scott and I still laugh at these two exchanges every time they are brought up. Rest in peace, Harry!
After a night of partying on Bourbon, we noticed several of the businesses closing up and boarding up their windows. We found out that the same Hurricane Andrew that wreaked havoc in Florida was now bearing down on US!
There is nothing like an extreme force of nature such as a hurricane in your path to make one feel mortal.
Luckily we made it to Houston without problem, and the Hurricane downgraded itself to nothing more than a heavy rain producer.
For an account of our next visit to Houston, see here.
Scott and I have visited Houston twice during our Baseball Trips. We visited the Astrodome in 1992 and Enron Field in 2000. I’ll start the review chronologically.
1992’s trip was one of those 11 day journeys that saw us only visit two ballparks – the Astrodome and Arlington Stadium. Being a baseball purist, both of these ballparks left much to be desired, but for many different reasons. While Arlington Stadium was a ramshackle converted Minor League yard, the Astrodome looked more like a giant warehouse in which Astroturf (YUCK!) was laid down and games were played in its cavernous bowels. True, the Astros were rarely contenders during their stay at the Astrodome, but even an exciting game enticing a vociferous crowd would barely raise the decibel level above that which occurs at your local library.
The Republican National Convention was held in the Astrodome during the two weeks prior to the game we attended. We found bits of confetti strewn in odd corners of the building, and the pieces looked as lost and forlorn as we did as we failed in our attempt to enjoy watching an Astros game in this God forsaken building. I can’t even recall a single moment from the game itself, even though we stayed relatively sober throughout the game.
Perhaps a small bit of this disappointment stemmed from the relative excitement we experienced in the 24 hours preceding the game. The previous day found us in the Crescent City, New Orleans, for an evening on Bourbon Street. Yes, we drank till we got our fill that evening. But, two memories remain razor sharp in my mind.
First, in preparation for our evening of bar hopping on Bourbon, we were in our hotel room relaxing. We found a Cubs game on the tube. Hall of Fame announcer Harry Caray (apparently a bit tight at the time) noticed a Budweiser blimp flying overhead. Trying in vain to find the proper words, he said “Steve, look at the Budweiser………………………….PLANE flying overhead!”
Later in the game, Cubs third baseman Steve Buechele was at the plate. The next pitch was a fastball that tailed in on him so fast that he couldn’t move in time. The ball ricocheted off of his protective cup, then careened into the crowd. While Buechele was writhing on the ground in pain and checking to see if everything was attached, Caray announced “Hey Steve, I think that the ball might have hit him in the RIBS!”. Color commentator Steve Stone replied ‘Well Harry, I think that the ball hit him just slightly below the ribs!”
Scott and I still laugh at these two exchanges every time they are brought up. Rest in peace, Harry!
After a night of partying on Bourbon, we noticed several of the businesses closing up and boarding up their windows. We found out that the same Hurricane Andrew that wreaked havoc in Florida was now bearing down on US!
There is nothing like an extreme force of nature such as a hurricane in your path to make one feel mortal.
Luckily we made it to Houston without problem, and the Hurricane downgraded itself to nothing more than a heavy rain producer.
For an account of our next visit to Houston, see here.
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