The Oklahoma City RedHawks spoiled opening day at AutoZone Park, shutting out the Memphis Redbirds 7-0 before 10,717.
During the pregame ceremonies, the 2009 Pacific Coast League championship pennant was hoisted in centerfield and the players returning to this year’s club received their rings.
Despite the loss, AutoZone Park looked as spectacular on this opening day as it did when it was opened in 2000.
Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, AutoZone Park is nestled in the heart of downtown Memphis, just a stone’s throw from the famous Peabody Hotel and widely considered to be one of the best baseball parks in America.
With an official capacity of 14,320, AutoZone Park has several unique seating options for fans to watch the game, one of which is the Delta Dental Picnic Pavilion behind the right field wall.
It was there that I met Joe Robertson, an avid baseball fan from Ohio who was making his first visit to Memphis.
Robertson has visited 44 major league baseball parks, including all of the current big league parks. In total, he’s visited nearly 70 major and minor league baseball parks in America.
Having this past week off, Robertson was taking in eight games in eight different cities, beginning this past Sunday in Columbus, Ohio.
He was in attendance at the Cleveland Indians home opener on Monday and the next day was in Bowling Green, Kentucky to watch a minor league game.
Robertson was in Louisville on Wednesday and Jackson, Tennessee on Thursday before making the short drive along I-40 West to Memphis to watch the Redbirds play on Friday.
He’ll be in Nashville today and on Sunday Robertson will complete his trip with a visit to Lexington, Kentucky.
How many people do you know that spend a one-week vacation on a trek like that?
When I asked him to list his favorite parks among those he’s visited, Robertson’s answer didn’t come as a surprise.
“Wrigley Field and Fenway Park,” Robertson said.
And since AutoZone Park was designed with the features of Wrigley Field, Fenway Park and Camden Yards in mind, it’s no wonder Robertson discovered what Redbirds’ fans have known all along – it’s more than just a place to watch a baseball game.
Even though the Redbirds lost their home opener of the 2010 season, not all was lost.
AutoZone Park made an impression on Joe Robertson, and a lasting impression at that.
Great scribble!