Boys of Summer book Entry #37

June 22, 2004 - Dan
Guadeloupe State Park, TX

After a good night’s sleep, we were on the road again to see how close we could get to San Antonio. So far, Texas gets the highest marks for road conditions: excellent. The scenery becomes more lush the further east we go. We stop for dinner at Chili’s at Junction, Texas, where thanks to Bob’s friend, Jeff Clark, we have $30 in gift certificates. After an excellent dinner we drive to Guadeloupe State Park just in time to take some photos of the sunset. Then we rush to pitch our tent and make camp before darkness. Later we sing songs and play cribbage, Bob wins again. I slept very well.

Bob:

We took our first shot of what I think will be our poster for the film -- a silhouetted image of dad and I playing catch against a sunset in a field. The image sparkles in my mind. On the camera it was...good. Not “the one”, yet.

There are some serious bugs in this place (West Texas)! The funny thing is, the crickets or cicadas or whatever we have apparently have some kind of musicality to them, because they hum, buzz and chirp at different tones. They’re not the Beatles, but they are making some kind of music.

Anaheim 6, Oakland 1
WP: B. Colon (5-6)   LP: T. Hudson (7-3)

June 23, 2004 - Dan
Houston, TX

Bob woke me up at 6:30 and we were on the road by 7:45. We arrived at 8:30 in San Antonio and went to find the Alamo. Part of our route took us on the “River Walk” through downtown San Antonio. We arrived at the gates of the Alamo at 8:50. They opened at 9 a.m.

Inside the gates is a park that includes some of the original Alamo buildings. Our schedule did not allow us to spend much time exploring the grounds or San Antonio, but I saw enough to want to return when we’re not as rushed.

On to Houston and the Astros. We arrive at Minute Maid Field shortly before our first tour of the facility. The tour takes about one hour and is very interesting and informative. After the tour we have an interview with reporter, Kris Gutierrez of KPAC the Houston NBC affiliate. With that completed, we went on a second tour that included going on to the field during batting practice and an interview with Chad Harville, a relief pitcher who used to be with the A’s. We couldn’t have been treated any better. We were each given Astro hats and tickets to the game that night. The Astros lost to the Pirates 7 to 2. We continue our jinx on the home team.

Following the game are off on another adventure. We have been offered housing for two nights at Rudy Wrabel’s. Bob said Rudy found out about us through our web site and was a fellow A’s fan -- that’s all he really knew about the guy. When we arrived at the Wrabel residence, we were greeted by Rudy (19) and his younger brother, Stephen (15) and I’m wondering where the parents are and if they know about us.

After a few minutes we are introduced to Donna Wrabel, Rudy and Stephen’s mother. I have to say that I have never experienced such hospitality by complete strangers. A truly remarkable family and a warm and beautiful home. It has been a long day and I am off to sleep in short order.

Bob:

Park Number Two (of 30): Minute Maid Park

Pittsburgh 7, Houston 2
WP: R. Vogelsong (2-7), LP: P. Munro (1-1)

Wow. Okay, that’s probably an understatement. WOW. That’s better...

From the moment I walked in to the converted train-station through the time we left, I felt like baseball royalty in Minute Maid. Totally at home, perfectly comfortable and completely baseball. There was a feel and a sense of history, though the park is only a few years old. Much of that is due to the fact that it is built on the site of an original train station (Union Station) which dates back to 1911. In his wisdom (and much to his credit), owner Drayton McLane decided to keep the original form that he was building upon rather than impose some external idea. The motifs here are baseball and trains -- and they are a fantastic match.

Beyond that, the courtesy and generosity of the Astros staff was phenomenal. The tour guides, Jennifer and Gabriel, gave uniquely different tours of the same things, making two tours feel like two different adventures. And Todd Fedewa, the Astros PR man who made things go for us, did the rest:

*On the field/in the dugout access during Astros batting practice, *Astros ball caps
*An interview with (former Oakland A’s) pitcher Chad Harville
*Excellent tickets for the game hanging over the Astros bullpen in right center.

WOW.

And, again, that’s probably an understatement.
To the rest of MLB: let it be known the bar has been set.

A’s WIN 7-1 over Anaheim!