The Beginning of the End?

Tonight was Opening Night for the Eugene Emeralds. The summer tradition of going to Em's games is incredibly important for me and is a big reason why I am such the baseball fan I am today.

There was a very disturbing article in this morning's Register-Guard about the future of the venerable ballpark where the Em's play, Civic Stadium. As it stands right now, the Em's will most likely be moving to the new University of Oregon PK Park. The vacancy of a facility, like Civic, on such profitable land will undoubtedly condemn it to destruction.

After going to Wrigley Field and seeing how an old ballpark can suit the needs of modern baseball, I am very disappointed in the prospect of Civic not being used for baseball and the mere possibility of it being torn down. For years, the Cubs have fielded lackluster teams. Yet, people still go out to the "friendly confines" to watch the game. There is just something special about old ballparks.

There are certain places that are considered sacred in this world. For baseball fans, there are a couple obvious ones (Wrigley, Cooperstown, etc.). Civic is on that list. It is the baseball version of the Taj Mahal or the Pyramids at Giza. There is such a special meaning to the essence of the game at Civic. To see it not used for baseball or, even worse, torn down would be to lose a great treasure that made the game of baseball our national pastime.

Going to a game at Civic harkens you back to when things were simple in life. No cell phones, laptops, or technology. Just a game. A simple game that has stood the test of time to endure as a principle foundation for America. PK Park will be very flashy with artificial turf, video boards, blaring music, and overpriced items. The simpleness will be gone.

I like to think of it like this. When you go to Ellis Island or the Alamo, you can stand amongst history. But when you go to a game at Civic, you can live in the history. The way you see baseball being played is exactly how it was played back in the 1920's or 30's.

I urge all of you to experience once what has made me so passionate about this sport. The very first baseball game I went to was at Civic. So much of my personality and uniqueness as an individual was crafted at that ballpark. To have it be gone would be a great loss.

Always take on a 3-0 pitch ;)