Kernan is out here in Anaheim for the Red Sox-Angels series, far away from chill of the Northeast. In the continuing Ballpark Tours series, here’s a look at Angel Stadium.
Get here, whenever you can and if you have little ones, this is the place. And if you like to look at beautiful people, this is the place.
Just walked completely around the grandstand and it’s a beautiful walk. The concourse is wide and filled with concession stands, and you can get all types of food. It’s ballpark food but it’s still decent. What’s really amazing about this place is all the flowers. There are flowers everywhere.
Behind the rocks in centerfield are big planters with small palm trees in the center surrounded by large yellow marigolds. The flowers are as big as baseballs and surprisingly they are all intact. In many parks the flowers would be ripped from their stems and thrown as baseballs.
The fans are civilized here.
Beyond the rocks is a neat little display called Little League Days. It includes cute as a button huge pictures of many Angels when they were in Little League, including Chone Figgins. What’s really neat is that it also includes the players’ fav kid meals. Figgins was his Grandma’s Pineapple Upside-Down cake.
Young Jared Weaver actually played on a Little League Angels team in Simi Valley, Cal. The best picture of all is Mike Napoli in Hollywood, Fla. taking a wicked swing in T-ball, hands separated and eyes on the ball.
This is the best press box in the country too. NY legend and FOXSports.com columnist Mark Kriegel is sitting nearby and is heart is still in the Big Apple. He watched the Shea Goodbye ceremonies and noted that the most interesting aspect of the post-Collapse II party was that all the old Mets got bigger — except El Sid.
On the Mark again.
Food is everywhere here. There is a Mexican Restaurant in CF that features the Big Bang Burrito for $7.50. Carl’s Jr. Burgers, California Pizza Kitchen and Farmer John hot dogs are highlights too.
The weather is perfect. Parking is easy. The food is ballpark fresh. The sightlines are great. Everyone is happy in SoCal. Life is Good.
Angel Stadium is a winner. Out of 30 ballparks, mark it as my No. 2.