The Columbus Clippers

Saturday: A beautiful day for the first baseball game played in Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers.



The opening day ceremonies were full of fanfare. A color guard posted the colors. Local, state and federal dignitaries walked onto the field to be introduced to the fans. Of note: all of them received a smattering of applause, except Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy, who was loudly booed.

Bob Feller, the great Cleveland Indians pitcher, was there to throw out the first ceremonial pitch. Feller is 90 years old, so he needed some help with that pitch. I once met Bob Feller and got his autograph for my mother, who kept a Bob Feller scrapbook in her younger years.


Columbia Gas supported the construction of the new ballpark, and in return we were given naming rights to the left-field foul pole. Our sign is not as prominent as others in the park, but others gave much more money to the cause. That's just the way it works.




Then there was the real first pitch, thrown by Jeremy Sowers...

Not a good way to start the game. That single led to the first run of the game, and the Clippers ultimately lost by a score of 3 to 1.