On Saturday, January 14, I was thrilled to attend the 78th annual (can you believe it?) Old-Timers and Active Baseball Association banquet. What a great way to spend a winter evening, enjoying a meal while listening to Neil Everett (ESPN SportsCenter), Mike Stutes (P, Phillies), Kevin Gregg (P, Orioles), Alex Hinshaw (P, Padres), and Tom Trebelhorn (M, Salem-Keizer) tell stories about their lives in baseball. The young pitchers (Stutes and Hinshaw) talked about the initiation rites they went through when they were called up to the majors. Stutes talked about the Hello Kitty backpack and red boa he was forced to wear all year, so recognizable that fans started coming to the park wearing boas too. Hinshaw talked about being messed with by his childhood heroes Barry Zito and Randy Johnson.
Gregg, a 10-year veteran, related the veteran side of player initiation and how he subjected new bullpen members to the old "taser gun testing" gag. Gregg also told his side of his famous "fight" with David Ortiz last July. I'll say this about that, I would be nervous in the box if Kevin Gregg decided he was upset with me.
Trebelhorn, former manager of the Brewers and Cubs, was a more polished public speaker. But his jokes were appropriate for the organization. They were definitely old-timers.
Everett described his unlikely ascension to ESPN, after spending time in Hawaii chilling out and doing local broadcasts. He made a case for being prepared when your chance comes.
Over 500 people attended the banquet, which was held at the Multnomah Athletic Club. Proceeds from the banquet and an annual golf tournament go to grants for youth baseball and college scholarships for worthy students.
Aside from the speakers, there were several other "names" in attendance. Jack Cain, former owner of the Portland Rockies was there. As was Dale Murphy, former Atlanta Braves great, who donated a signed Braves jersey to be auctioned off for charity. Scott Brosius, former A's and Yankees third-baseman, won the jersey with a $600 bid.
Milwaukie City Councilman Joe Loomis was also in attendance, and he spoke for a few minutes about their city's efforts to build a stadium and attract a Single-A team. He was wearing a Minnesota Twins necktie, and he told me he was originally from Minnesota. I knew I liked that guy.
This was the first such event I attended, and I confess to not knowing much about the organization before I went. Thanks to Barbara Pearson and the association for inviting me and treating me like a celebrity. If you want to learn more about the Association and attend next year's banquet or their golf tournament, go to:
http://www.oldtimersbaseballpdx.org/
Monday, January 16, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Milwaukie City Council Authorizes Phase 2 Stadium Study
During a January 9 special session of the Milwaukie, OR City Council, the council voted 3-2 to move on to phase 2 of a plan to build a Single-A baseball stadium. Before the vote, the council heard the results of Phase 1 and took citizen input.
The Phase 1 results were in three parts. First, Innovative Campaign Strategies presented an overview of their community outreach efforts, including the three Listening Lounge sessions and outreach to nearby businesses that might be affected by a new stadium. The company did not form any conclusions from the data it collected. Rather it presented an overview of questions and concerns. As usual, most of them revolved around cost, noise, and lighting.
Second, 360 Architecture presented a report on the feasibility of the site. This was a very interesting and well-thought out report that concluded that the site does provide enough room for a stadium if some design innovations are included. Ground water issues prevent the stadium to be dug into the site, and limited east/west dimensions may require a "green monster" wall in the outfield. They presented three orientations for the ballpark, one orientation to the northeast and two to the southeast. The second southeast orientation assumes purchase of additional property to the northwest of original space, allowing enough outfield space that a "green monster" wall would not be needed.
They also spoke to lighting and noise concerns. Lighting, they said would not affect neighbors, and light meters would detect no differences before and after the stadium was built. Noise would be within City of Milwaukie regulations until 10PM, and then PA systems could be turned down.
Third, a brief cost estimate was presented. These were very, very rough numbers, based purely on square footage calculations and estimates for utility work and relocation expenses of ODOT. This worked out to approximately $25M for building costs, another $2M for utility and street work, 25%-20% for consulting and architecture, etc., and 10% contingency.
After the Phase 1 results were presented, members of the community voiced in. The comments ranged from sane and restrained to outrageous and name calling. One citizen claimed there would be so much goose poop on the field that no one would use it. Another accused the council of having "a man thing going on." Although council meetings usually draw only staunch supporters or opponents, the rabid reaction of some of the opponents to the stadium (a few people even snarled when a man wearing a "Friends of Baseball" jacket rose to speak) made this reporter doubt that a stadium will ever get built in the City of Milwaukie.
Finally, the council itself discussed the issue and voted. I was impressed by the intelligence and sensibility of all the council members. They shared legitimate concerns and seemed truly engaged in trying to find innovative solutions for the problems the city faces. Though Councilers Dave Hedges and Mike Miller wanted to delay authorizing Phase 2 until issues with Tri-Met and light rail were settled, Mayor Jeremy Ferguson and Councilers Joe Loomis and Greg Chaimov voted to move on to Phase 2.
Phase 2 will involve more public outreach, facility feasibility (figuring out what the ballpark would actually consist of), deciding on an acceptable range of uses for the multi-use facility, doing a real cost analysis, and negotiating with ODOT for the property swap and with the Northwest League for a team.
Phase 2 should be completed by the end of April, at which time a report will be presented and the board will decide whether to put a ballot measure out to the voters.
Here's a link to the report presented to the council.
The Phase 1 results were in three parts. First, Innovative Campaign Strategies presented an overview of their community outreach efforts, including the three Listening Lounge sessions and outreach to nearby businesses that might be affected by a new stadium. The company did not form any conclusions from the data it collected. Rather it presented an overview of questions and concerns. As usual, most of them revolved around cost, noise, and lighting.
Second, 360 Architecture presented a report on the feasibility of the site. This was a very interesting and well-thought out report that concluded that the site does provide enough room for a stadium if some design innovations are included. Ground water issues prevent the stadium to be dug into the site, and limited east/west dimensions may require a "green monster" wall in the outfield. They presented three orientations for the ballpark, one orientation to the northeast and two to the southeast. The second southeast orientation assumes purchase of additional property to the northwest of original space, allowing enough outfield space that a "green monster" wall would not be needed.
They also spoke to lighting and noise concerns. Lighting, they said would not affect neighbors, and light meters would detect no differences before and after the stadium was built. Noise would be within City of Milwaukie regulations until 10PM, and then PA systems could be turned down.
Third, a brief cost estimate was presented. These were very, very rough numbers, based purely on square footage calculations and estimates for utility work and relocation expenses of ODOT. This worked out to approximately $25M for building costs, another $2M for utility and street work, 25%-20% for consulting and architecture, etc., and 10% contingency.
After the Phase 1 results were presented, members of the community voiced in. The comments ranged from sane and restrained to outrageous and name calling. One citizen claimed there would be so much goose poop on the field that no one would use it. Another accused the council of having "a man thing going on." Although council meetings usually draw only staunch supporters or opponents, the rabid reaction of some of the opponents to the stadium (a few people even snarled when a man wearing a "Friends of Baseball" jacket rose to speak) made this reporter doubt that a stadium will ever get built in the City of Milwaukie.
Finally, the council itself discussed the issue and voted. I was impressed by the intelligence and sensibility of all the council members. They shared legitimate concerns and seemed truly engaged in trying to find innovative solutions for the problems the city faces. Though Councilers Dave Hedges and Mike Miller wanted to delay authorizing Phase 2 until issues with Tri-Met and light rail were settled, Mayor Jeremy Ferguson and Councilers Joe Loomis and Greg Chaimov voted to move on to Phase 2.
Phase 2 will involve more public outreach, facility feasibility (figuring out what the ballpark would actually consist of), deciding on an acceptable range of uses for the multi-use facility, doing a real cost analysis, and negotiating with ODOT for the property swap and with the Northwest League for a team.
Phase 2 should be completed by the end of April, at which time a report will be presented and the board will decide whether to put a ballot measure out to the voters.
Here's a link to the report presented to the council.
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