Wrigley Field - Chicago 1940

This postcard went through the mail in January of 1940.  The sender was in Chicago and tells their friend that the temps are negative 14!

Great American Ballpark, Cincinatti Ohio 2025

Here is a quick look at an end of the season game I took in at Great American Ball Park in Cincinatti Ohio!

Thrillville Thrillbillies Southern Illinois Miners 2024 and 2012

I have been catching baseball games in Marion Illinois for some time.  I was FINALLY able to catch the newest team, the Thrillville Thrillbillies recently.  In this video, we catch the new team, and talk about the former team, the Southern Illinois Miners!

Mini Golf at World of Golf Florence KY April 2021

 AND, the same day we played golf at World of Golf in Florence, we played mini golf!  Here is a short video of us having fun on their mini golf course!

World of Golf Florence Kentucky April 2021

 I put this video on youtube recently.  My best pal Rick and I went to World of Golf in Florence Kentucky and played some golf!  This was my VERY first time playing!  Rick has been doing it for years and loves it.  In fact, I have to admit that I have made fun of him for doing it, but I ended up developing a real respect for it.

World of Golf is a cool place too, with a lot going on for it.  I am sure we will be back!

Tennessee Smokies Baseball June 2012

 I put up a video I found and edited from my collection....  going back almost a decade!  Here is just a brief video at a Tennessee Smokies event from 2012.  I filmed from the window of the hotel next door.

I used to really be into baseball, and if you care, you can check out my defunct blog I used to keep on baseball-

kentuckybaseball.blogspot.com

Victory Field, Indianapolis Indiana

                                                                                    

 I found this old postcard of Liberty Field in Indianapolis recently!  It really made me miss baseball!  I know most minor league parks did not have a lot going on this year.

Hoppin' Vines and Delicio in Cincinnati Ohio

 In Kenwood (Cincinnati) we stopped by the bar/food and pizza place that has Duck pin Bowling!

It is actually a couple of businesses in one location.

I wanted to get a pizza here at Delicio, as they have unique, COAL ovens that cook the pizza!

We ordered some wings, a salad, and a unique buffalo pizza.  All drinks must be ordered from the bar, but the service was still great and the drinks were nice.  You pick your own seat and the main dining area has a very casual vibe.

AND, they have duck pin bowling!

Biblical Miniature Golf- Lexington KY

My mother in law wanted to go play mini golf when she found out there was a Bible themed course nearby!  So, we went!

Here are a few pics....  its not exactly a Gatlinburg caliber mini golf set up, but it is still pretty cool.

We did the 18 holes of the old testament.  There are two other 18 hole courses.....  I am sure we will be back to do those soon!

33 Brick Street in French Lick Indiana

While in French Lick, we stopped by 33 Brick Street, the restaurant associated with French Licks most famous celebrity, Larry Bird!

They had a LOT of memorabilia from Bird's career, and they had some cool jerseys signed by other athletes.

It is a bit gimmicky with all of the sports stuff, but, unlike similar sports places, the food was GREAT!

We had some really nice meals with generous portions and very fair prices.  I had soup and salad thinking that it would be a small  bowl of each, but that wasn't the case.  The food was GREAT too!

Our waitress was very sweet and kept our glasses full.

My only complaint is that they don't have any merch!  I probably would have picked up a shirt or something, but nothing was available!

The food was very nice though and I am sure we will be back!

The Coliseum, Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, Kentucky

The postcard notes on the back- The Coliseum, Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, Louisville, Kentucky.  Completed in 1956, the gigantic Coliseum has a maximum seating capacity of 20,220 and this auditorium is one of the largest in the world.
The new state fairgrounds cover an area of 375 acres and the entire cost is $16,000,000.

Columbia Fireflies- Columbia Georgia

Our first stop when we entered Columbia Georgia was at their new single A ballpark, Spirit Communications Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies!

We wouldn't be around for their game on this evening, and that was eating me up.  I really love catching a game at a nice minor league park.

Even if I am not able to catch a game in a nice town like Columbia, I still want to visit the park!

So we stopped by.  We parked, and made our way up to the venue.  We actually passed a couple of friendly staff who directed us to the team shop.

We did not catch her name, but an extremely friendly lady was running the store.  She talked about how much she enjoyed working at the park, and being a part of the team.

I picked up my usually items, some stickers, a pin, a shirt. etc.  I have picked up some of the Lego like Oyo figures at some parks, but they did not have them here.  Anyone else collecting the team mascots?


The staff was very nice about having the park open, and they told us to feel free to check out the field and take some photos!

This is just a great park in a very friendly city...  and I can't wait for my next visit to Columbia- I'll have to catch a game next time!

Charleston RiverDogs- Charleston South Carolina

The Charleston RiverDogs weren't playing while we were in town.  We still stopped by their park, hoping to patronize their gift shop, and maybe peak at their field.  Unlike most minor league parks, they were not open to sell stuff on the non-game day we went by.  We did get a couple of pictures though.

Greenville Drive in Greenville South Carolina

Where does the time go?  EIGHT years ago, we stopped in Greenville, and we were able to catch a Greenville Drive game (here is where I mentioned that on my old baseball blog, and here is where I mention visiting another minor league ballpark in the area).

Obviously, this is a great baseball town.  We stopped by their team shop on our recent roadtrip (the team wasn't in town while we were there).

There was a very sweet lady running the place.  She said she has been with them for several years.  I told her a job in minor league baseball sounds like a dream job, and she said that it was.

I picked up a lapel pin and a few other small items while I was here.  They had a small Lego style figure of their mascot that I could not pass up (I LOVE that minor league teams are selling these).

Anyway, I know we just stopped briefly here, and I didn't even get a good look at the field on this visit, but I like this organization, and I wanted to mention them.

Fort Negley- Nashville, TN

We spent a couple of hours at Fort Negley just outside of downtown Nashville on our recent road trip. 

I won't get too much into the history of the Fort, but it is a very significant Civil War site.  When the Confederates pulled out of the area during the war, the Union moved in pretty quickly and set up defenses, including this fort.

Over the next 150 or so years, the Fort has been neglected, restored, etc., etc.

The site has some very interesting history, in addition to it's use during the Civil War.  During Reconstruction, the site was a meeting place for the KKK.  In the 1930s, the WPA made efforts to restore it.  It seems that only over the last decade and a half have realistic efforts been made to restore, preserve, and interpret the Fort.

I am almost embarrassed to admit that we were here back in 2010 to see a minor league baseball game at the now abandoned Herschel Greer Stadium.  At that time, we really enjoyed visiting minor league ballparks, and our interest American history and the Civil War wasn't what it is now.  Anyway, here is what I wrote about that park in 2010.  I have included a photo of the abandoned and vandalized ballpark now, taken from Fort Negley right beside it.

There is a very peaceful mile or so walking trail you can take around Fort Negley.  We noticed several walkers and cyclists enjoying the paths.  We also noticed that there are some farm critters here (they are fenced in).

Charles Town Jockey Club Inc. W. Va.

Here is another spectacular old linen postcard we bought while in Charles Town West Virginia.  The back says-

"This track constructed in the Fall of 1933 and operated by the Shenandoah Valley Jockey Club.  In the Fall of 1933 and Spring Meting in 1934, since which time it has been operated by the Charles Town Jockey Club, Inc.  This track is a 3/4 mile oval located in the north most end of Shenandoah Valley, 60 miles northwest of Washington D.C., and 26 miles west of Frederick, Maryland on route #340, in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.  It is a modern plant in every respect and of Spanish design and in its beautiful setting overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains and directly facing the picturesque Harper's Ferry Gap, and in close proximity to the famous Virginia thoroughbred breeding center.  Two meetings are held annually, May and December of each year."

Charles Town Turf Club Inc. Charles Town W. Va.

AND another nice old, unused postcard-

"This track, constructed in the fall of 1933, is a 3/4 mile oval located in the north most end of the Shenandoah Valley, 60 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. and 26 miles west of Frederick, Maryland on route #340, in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.  It is a modern plant in every respect and of Spanish Design and in its beautiful setting, it overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains and directly faces the picturesque Harper's Ferry Gap and is in close proximity to the famous Virginia thoroughbred breeding center."

The Greenbrier- White Sulphur Springs, WV

If you travel a lot, and are interested in legendary roadside America places, you know of the Greenbrier.

The super luxurious resort is possibly one of the most historic buildings in America, and it has witnessed a lot.  Many Presidents have hung out here.  It was used as a hospital AND a relocation center for US enemies during World War II.  AND it was home to a very famous and at one time mysterious bunker for the government.  More on that later.

The place is name dropped all the time.  I was watching a show on TV the other night that mentioned it.  I just finished reading a book on Robert E. Lee- he spent a chunk of time at the place after the war.  My buddy Rick who loves golf described it as somewhat of a golfing mecca the other day.

We stopped by to visit for a few hours on our way home from Lexington Virginia.

After we parked and walked toward the building, we felt overwhelmed.  It is huge.  The grounds are perfect.

We walked in and noticed many small shops.  Its almost like a mall in some ways, and it is also somewhat like its own little town.


It seemed like we ended up walking through an infinite number of lobby/sitting room type areas, each one very different from the other.

Everyone of the areas was colorful.  Boldly colorful.  Check out the photos.

We also noticed a lot of very well done murals.

Luckily, we were able to take the bunker tour, and we were able to have a nice lunch here.