Baseball and Libraries

Library night at the Bluefish 011
Originally uploaded by Michael Golrick.

Last night I had an incredible opportunity. It was the opportunity to throw out the first pitch at the Bridgeport Bluefish baseball game. September 1 is the anniversary of Bridgeport's "Orator Jim" O'Rourke who is in the baseball Hall of Fame (Coopertown). It was also "Library Night" with staff from the Bridgeport Public Library and the neighboring Fairfield Public Library in attendance. I had the opportunity to throw out the first pitch.

I took a bunch of pictures, and Jill even got a couple of me. There is something about a baseball game, even a minor league game, when you are there in person.

The baseball field is just down the street from the main library facility. Our address is 925 Broad Street, while Harbor Yard is at 500 Broad Street. Whenever I go there, I park in my spot at the Library and walk under the highway.

The Bluefish have helped to re-vitalize downtown Bridgeport. Over the past eight years or so, they have brough almost 750,000 people from all over the state into the City.

I stayed through the end of the eleventh (yes, 11th) inning. Unfortunately the Bluefish lost in the 12th. They are still leading the Atlantic League's Northern Division for the second half of the season. If they win, they will enter a playoff, and, with any sort of luck, they will end up the winners. They are the winningest team in the eight year history of the Atlantic League.