Save Tulsa Baseball

[RecycleMichael]

I went to the City Council Meeting tonight and witnessed the passing of a resolution between the Mayor and Council that expressed support and love for the Tulsa Drillers to stay in Tulsa.

I am usually too lazy or afraid to speak before the council on most issues, but this one was special to me. The actual resolution has no standing and was as unofficial as the failed resolution the week before on non-support of the river tax. I knew what was said didn't matter, but I just wanted to say something to a bigger audience than just you guys here on TulsaNow.

I spoke briefly, just saying I was in support and wanted the Tulsa Driller management to know that we love them and don't want them to leave. I babbled some nonsense about how the river plan was spending a lot of many to build community gathering spots and we already had a good one called "the ballpark".

Baseball has been one of my favorite pastimes. I have never lived more than three miles from the ballpark in Tulsa and have gone to at least a dozen games a year for the last 25 years. My first jobs were at the old ballpark, doing everything from batboy to grounds crew to hawking programs to sodas (I had a loud, bellowing call of ICE COLD POP!).

My son's middle name is after a baseball player and I have always said if I when the powerball lottery the first thing I would do is buy the Drillers and change nothing. I really love baseball and the Tulsa Drillers.

The next game is Tuesday night and I plan to go and tell everybody who works there that we want them to stay in Tulsa. Come join me and help me sing that song.

I am sure they would be successful with a stadium in the suburbs because they are such a class act. But they have such a long and illustrious history of baseball in Tulsa and I think would not be the same if they moved to a different town. I am a "regional is good" guy on most things, but I just don't want to share the Drillers.

When the home team scores a run, I want home plate to be in Tulsa.

[Aa5drvr]

They had an easier time with this resolution this week, than they did with that River Vote one last week.  

[Renaissance]

Amen, brother.  My dad and uncle used to take me to the season opener every year.  I remember one opener, I think it was 1988, where they had people sitting 5-deep in the outfield because they didn't realize there was no limit on the number of general admissions tickets sold!  

I pitched peanuts there in high school and college, for $0.25/item sold.  My buddies and I would go and move down to behind home plate if we could find some seats, and eat sunflower seeds and heckle the opposing teams' hitters.

Drillers Stadium may be unremarkable architecturally, but it's remarkably full of memories.  I can support a move within Tulsa, but I'm horrified that they might leave the city for green suburban pastures (literally).  I can't go to council meetings, but I will busy myself writing anyone I can.

[pmcalk]

RM--I think that's a great idea--an unofficial "keep Drillers in Tulsa" night.  Obviously, numbers is what will keep them in the city, not resolutions.  But you did a great job speaking tonight.  What time is the game?

[RecycleMichael]

The game on Tuesday starts at 7:05 and the gates open at 6pm. There are free tickets at area advertisers like QuikTrip, Mazzios's and Arby's.

http://www.tulsadrillers.com/

I am going to get there early and try to talk to people before they enter the ballpark.

I don't have a plan together yet, but a few of us have been talking about trying to make some positive statements about how much we want the Drillers to stay in Tulsa.

If anyone would like to volunteer to help us on Tuesday, send me a private message on my e-mail, recyclemichael@yahoo.com.

[cannon_fodder]

RM, if you were so inclined you could probably get permission from the Drillers to set up a table and get people to sign a petition if you worded it carefully.  It could say nothing bad about a jenks move, but "encourage the city of Tulsa and/or Tulsa developers to assist the Drillers in a downtown or riverside ballpark in Tulsa."  Something like that...

The Driller's are a business, they want whatever will make them some $$$.  This Jenks thing might be leverage to get Tulsa in the game, and an "oh well" if they end up moving.

One way or another, a petition delivery at a meeting is always dramatic.  And it would give you some direction/plan instead of being the mad man ranting about something or other at a public event.  I always assume they work for Jebus.  []

If they will not give you permission or you do not want to go that route, you could carry a clip board.  Outside the stadium is definitely public space and a proper forum for a political voice.

[abryant]

FYI..This site went up earlier this week.

www.savetulsabaseball.com

[Kiah]

quote:Originally posted by recyclemichael

My son's middle name is after a baseball player . . . .

Oh, Lord.  You didn't name the poor child Mookie, did you?

[Kiah]

Let's see Jenks match our baseball heritage . . . .


Tulsa Baseball, Indian Territory
(from the Beryl Ford Collection)

[cannon_fodder]

Wow, I would so party with those guys.  Especially the guy with the fedora in the back... though I'd watch my wallet closely.  Awesome picture.

[Renaissance]

Now THAT is style.

[restored2x]

I'm a little surprised (gleefully so) by the reaction to the Drillers possible move. I had no idea that Tulsa loved it's team so much.

Being from Baltimore and losing the Colts to Indianapolis many years ago - I can understand it. I still follow and root for the Orioles even though I haven't lived in Baltimore for 32 years. I grew up on great baseball (Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, Davey Johnson, Jim Palmer - and Playoff Series and World Series within walking distance of where I lived.

Baseball is in my genes, my blood and my heart.


Guess I'm surprised because:

1. When I go to the games, the attendance is less than I'd think for a city that loves and supports it's team.

2. I hardly ever see a bumper or window sticker in traffic supporting the team. I only know of one billboard for the Drillers.

3. There are so few in-depth sports reporting stories on the team on local news. So much more about college football.

4. Very few people I have met in the 14 years I've been here actually go to the games or support the team.

It's good to see passion - even if it is too few people and too late in the game.

If both BA and Jenks want the team, and the city (Tulsa) does nothing - the team will probably relocate. Maybe its time to accept the fact that the Drillers will become a "local" team and not just a Tulsa city team.

Personally, based on the "support" I've seen - that might not be a bad thing. A move would attract new fans, new sponsors, and a city that is truly behind the team - not just for nostalgia's sake - but get behind the team by putting their behinds in the seats.

If Chucky moves the team - I'll still go to games. Maybe more often if there's other new, cool stuff around the new park.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Kiah

Let's see Jenks match our baseball heritage . . . .


Tulsa Baseball, Indian Territory
(from the Beryl Ford Collection)

Top left guy looks like DoubleA.

[restored2x]

From Fox 23 News website

http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=7f317fd0-6f89-4fd0-981f-6dc17b9df62d&rss=77

"Ironically, just today the "Sports Business Journal" ranked Tulsa in the top ten cities in the country for minor league sports.  The magazine ranked Tulsa eighth because of it's rich tradition as a minor league baseball town."

Wow. Top Ten.

Would a move from city proper into the county affect that? Or would it still count if the team is in the metro area?

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by restored2x

I'm a little surprised (gleefully so) by the reaction to the Drillers possible move. I had no idea that Tulsa loved it's team so much.

Being from Baltimore and losing the Colts to Indianapolis many years ago - I can understand it. I still follow and root for the Orioles even though I haven't lived in Baltimore for 32 years. I grew up on great baseball (Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Boog Powell, Davey Johnson, Jim Palmer - and Playoff Series and World Series within walking distance of where I lived.

Baseball is in my genes, my blood and my heart.


Guess I'm surprised because:

1. When I go to the games, the attendance is less than I'd think for a city that loves and supports it's team.

2. I hardly ever see a bumper or window sticker in traffic supporting the team. I only know of one billboard for the Drillers.

3. There are so few in-depth sports reporting stories on the team on local news. So much more about college football.

4. Very few people I have met in the 14 years I've been here actually go to the games or support the team.

It's good to see passion - even if it is too few people and too late in the game.

If both BA and Jenks want the team, and the city (Tulsa) does nothing - the team will probably relocate. Maybe its time to accept the fact that the Drillers will become a "local" team and not just a Tulsa city team.

Personally, based on the "support" I've seen - that might not be a bad thing. A move would attract new fans, new sponsors, and a city that is truly behind the team - not just for nostalgia's sake - but get behind the team by putting their behinds in the seats.

If Chucky moves the team - I'll still go to games. Maybe more often if there's other new, cool stuff around the new park.

EVERYONE just RELAX, and take a few deep breaths.

Feel better?  Driller-induced Panic attack subsiding?

FYI, Baseball, Football, and Basketball franchise owners have a long-perfected extortion technique to vacumn tax-payer money to get concessions from some Goobermint Authority, and also to build new Stadiums.

It has been going on all over the U.S. for at least the past 25 years.

After getting a virtual free-ride for decades from loyal fans, a club owner suddenly announces that they must have a new _________ stadium, or else they'll move the club.  

SO MUCH for so-called LOYALTY.  It's a ONE-WAY Street, folks!

Many cities cry "THE SKY IS FALLING", and pay this Gray-Mail to Club Owners

Don't fall for it.  Driller Stadium costs the Drillers all of $78,000 per year in fees and concessions stand percentages.  That is a miserly pittance.

Who else would be so DUMB as to give them such a sweetheart deal free ride??

Oh, of course, County Goobermint.

So, everyone, Just RELAX.