I have a little history to tell you about Memorial Stadium that started back at Dunn Field in Elmira, New York.
I grew up in Elmira at the time when the Baltimore Orioles farm team played there. The manager at that time was Earl Weaver. Also at that time my step-father, Pat Santarone was the groundskeeper at the stadium replacing his father who was the groundskeeper there for years. Earl Weaver was a close friend of the family.
Well in 1969 when Earl Weaver went to Baltimore to Memorial Stadium, my stepfather went along and became the groundskeeper for the Orioles there. The times were great at the ball park. Pat and Earl used to grow tomatoes down the left field area They always had a contest to see who could grow the biggest peppers and tomatoes.
Pat retired in 1991 after 22 years with the Orioles. Pat continued to be a consultant for the construction at Camden Yards for the playing field insisting that it be a grass field. So it is today and a great field it is.
I just thought that I would bring you those memories of mine. I still go back to Elmira each summer and go watch games at Dunn Field. It is such a grand park.