It could be suggested that the Negress was following in Tom Glavine’s footsteps but slightly out of chronological order. She and a few other SABR members journeyed to Greenville, SC for a minor league game between the Greenville Drive and the Rome Braves. This is the South Atlantic League, low A ball where none of the players look old enough to be playing anything other than T-ball. Fluor Field is a replica of Fenway Park (the Drive are a Red Sox affiliated team). It’s nestled in downtown Greenville and is right across the street from the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum. Jackson’s story is so American regardless of how you feel about his being banned from entering the Hall of Fame. The small house where he spent the last 10 years of his life is the museum. The Negress met Jackson’s great grand-nephew who was wearing his uncle’s World Series ring. Jackson had the ring made from the watch charms that were the standard of the day. Outside of the small house was a local youth baseball team handing out goodie bags and cold water to the visitors. The kids were lively and cute. All were wearing those braided neckbands that are all the rage in the pros.
Boys at play in Greenville
Across the street, the Drive and the Braves played a game that was something of a typical single A mess with pretty good pitching on the Drive side. I had some butter pecan ice cream which was so rich it ought to be illegal. I also had a Jim Rice Bowl, which was tasty and almost healthful compared to other ballpark fare. I also had a Yuengling draft, which wasn’t exactly local but it wasn’t Bud.
Travels in beer and baseball concluded at Nationals Park when Steven Strasburg got torched by the free swinging Marlins on a sauna-like night. The Negress enjoyed two Leinenkugel Summer Shandys and a bottle of water, but not the game. For the first time in her recent memory, she bailed on a game early. Bigger adventures await.
