BRADENTON -- Is this heaven? No, it's McKechnie Field. The southern base of the Pittsburgh Pirates is a step back into the yesteryear of spring baseball.
This was my first trip to this venue -- amazing enough since I've been going to spring games regularly for the last 10 years. The stadium is about 30 minutes south of St. Petersburg and easy to find, even for first-time visitors.
The facility appears straight from the set of a oldtime Hollywood baseball flick. I half expected Roy Hobbs to bring Wonderboy to the plate at one point. The feeling carries over to the crowd as well. During Monday's Pirates-Reds game, an old-timer in a straw hat a few rows ahead of me bellows "Good hustle, Barry" when Barry Larkin strides toward first base after an infield flyball.
Unlike some of its glitzier counterparts, McKechnie is filled with character as well as characters. Beer vendor Kevin Beauregard jars the silence early in the game. "Hey, time to wake up!" he booms to the crowd. A popular figure here, Beauregard lets his fans take his photo, launches bags of peanut with precision and climbs through the seats to deliver his brews.
The Sarasota resident has been working the park for seven years, taking days off from his regular job as a painter. "I have a lot more fun doing this," he says.
Indeed, it looks like everyone at McKechnie is having more fun. Rather than chasing me from an aisle, an usher actually makes way for me so I can get some closer photos of the field. A vendor points out some good coupons in the program. Questionable calls by the ump this day are greeted with disappointed sighs rather than boos or barbs.
By the time the seventh-inning stretch ends, I reluctantly agree it's time to head north again. But I'll be back before the spring is over. At this park, spring training is still a ball.
Today's scorecard:
Today's victim: Mike Shoemaker, my uncle and a human encyclopedia of baseball knowledge and history, drove us south for the game. A season ticketholder for the Devil Rays, he can be counted on to give the background of just about any player on the field. When Pirates outfielder Raul Mondesi steps to the plate, he leans over: "This is the guy who ticked off Joe Torre and the Yankees." (Good ole Raul.) When a fresh-faced Pirate with a high jersey number -- players with limited chance of making the roster are issued the more unpopular numbers -- whacks a two-out RBI in the second, Mike offers "That'll get you a chance at a number lower than 79."
First beer: Not until 2 p.m. today. We got a late start leaving for the game, and so my daily intake of carbs and artificial fillers was delayed.
Pregame activities: Just finding the stadium is an activity in itself. McKechnie Field is about 30 minutes or so due south from downtown St. Petersburg. The team had a Josh Gibson bobble-head giveaway for Monday's game, and plenty were still left by the time we walked through the gate.
The food: I'm still drooling. Hotdogs here are huge -- footlong and only $4.50. Hamburger fans will find sliced tomatoes and lettuce on the condiment cart. Pizza, greek salads, Subway sandwiches, fruit smoothies and even ice cream sundaes can be found for sale. The beer selection at first seems fairly routine until I discover a stand selling Mexican delights such as Pacifico and Negro Modelo.
Parking: Not bad. We arrived moments before the game started but still got a space a block away for $5. You can find cheaper spots if you arrive a little earlier.
Admission: I paid $11 each for great seats behind home plate. The Pirates have the most affordable tickets amoung the five local parks -- from $6 bleacher seats to $11 for a shaded box seat. The park was half-filled for this weekday game.
Seats: The three grandstands behind home plate are completely shaded and offer great views of the field. This is a small park with just more than 6,000 seats.
Tanning factor: The best of both worlds here. If you want to stay clear of the sun, grab a seat in Box 2, which is completely shaded. If you want to work on the tan, the bleacher seats are the place to be. I was grateful for the chance to pass on the sunscreen for a day.
Souvenirs: McKechnie Field has a nice shop that's open to the public year-round. Shirts, hats, balls, stuffed animals and other gear is plentiful. I've never been a Pirates fan, but I nearly pulled the trigger and bought a armful of tempting items.
Up next: It's last call for me at Clearwater's Bright House Network Field.
On deck: A wrapup report card on all five ballparks.
