Tag: sports

Why I loved Jerry Coleman.

Jerry Coleman in Padres broadcast booth.
Jerry Coleman in Padres broadcast booth from http://www.newstimes.com.

I loved the cheerful voice of Jerry Coleman.  The good humor, dignity and optimism it conveyed during Padres broadcasts were an important part of my life.  I listened to that voice for over thirty years.

Jerry Coleman was a remarkable man.  He was both a genuine war hero and genuine baseball superstar.  There was nothing phony or inflated about his life achievements.  And he remained humble.  He didn’t have a trace of conceit.  He simply loved life, his family and country.

In a world where many self-centered people are hungry for fame, and make fools of themselves to achieve it, I think it was the humility of this truly legendary man that made him so loved by ordinary San Diegans.  That and his simple good humor.

I never met him.  But losing Jerry Coleman feels like losing a friend.

Rest in Peace hero Jerry Coleman, 1924-2014.

Hang a star on that hero! Thank you for everything Jerry!
Hang a star on that hero! Thank you for everything Jerry!

A great hero.

A great player.

A great broadcaster.

A great man.

Flowers mark the passing of San Diego's beloved Jerry Coleman.
Flowers mark the passing of San Diego’s beloved Jerry Coleman.

Chargers kicker Nick Novak at Kids Newsday.

chargers kicker nick novak at kids newsday

Our leisurely walk through Balboa Park has been interrupted by a great pic I got this morning!

Outstanding kicker Nick Novak and other Chargers players were out on busy street corners to help with Kids Newsday, which raises money for Rady Children’s Hospital! They were handing out newspapers filled with cool articles written by kids while collecting donations from passing motorists.

In this photo, Nick is being interviewed by a Union Tribune journalist in Mission Valley. You can see other participants holding yellow signs across the intersection.

Lawn bowlers enjoy Sunday in Balboa Park.

san diego lawn bowling club in balboa park

Every weekend, folks dressed in white are out on the bowling green near the west end of Balboa Park. The San Diego Lawn Bowling Club must have a pretty good membership, because I’ve seen scores of players all out enjoying the sport at the same time.

I usually linger for a couple minutes to watch a game unfold. Excellent accuracy is required to win.

A game has ended and the scattered balls are collected.
A game has ended and the scattered balls are collected.
Keeping score on a lazy, sunny weekend day.
Keeping score on a lazy, sunny weekend day.
Sign provides info about free lawn bowl lessons.
Sign provides info about free lawn bowl lessons.

Stickball tournament players in Little Italy.

stickball player prepares while lineup is written

A stickball tournament was held Sunday in San Diego’s Little Italy, one block from the Festa event! The playing field was a city street in front of the Firehouse Museum. Lots of people watched from the sidewalk, sitting on lawn chairs and the curb.

Here’s a team wearing spiffy uniforms, getting ready to begin a game. A player practices his swing while the lineup is written with chalk on the street.

stickball batter swings away in little italy

Here’s a player from the opposing team swinging. If I recall correctly, he hit the rubber ball into a treetop, and it dropped for a single. Another player hit the ball onto the porch of a condo down the street. That guy was called out.

When I departed, the team in the spiffy uniforms was losing badly.

UPDATE!

Here are a couple more photos from a different Saturday morning in late summer…

A player misses and is called out to the dismay of his team.
A player misses and is called out to the dismay of his team.
Lady swings and crushes the ball a long distance down Columbia Street!
Lady swings and crushes the ball a long distance down Columbia Street!

Pig wearing baseball cap is food king.

phils bbq stadium food king pig

I saw this funny sight and had to take a photo. It’s a sign in the form of a pig.

Phil’s BBQ serves barbeque in the Park at the Park during Padres home games. Seems they were winners this year of the Stadium Food King Challenge, a tastiest food contest put on by USA Today. Phil’s tri-tip sandwich beat out the Diamondbacks Sororan Dog, the Brewers pulled pork parfait, and the Royals Cheesy Brisket-acho for top honors.

Here’s a pic I took another day…

Giant pig with Padres logo and baseball cap seems trapped behind bars at Petco Park!
Giant pig with Padres logo and baseball cap seems trapped behind bars at Petco Park!

Jerry Coleman memorial statue at Petco Park.

jerry coleman statue at petco park

Another very well-liked person in San Diego is Padres radio announcer Jerry Coleman. His accomplishments have been so impressive, he’s got a statue and memorial at Petco Park, just inside the east entrance to the Park at the Park.

I remembering listening to Jerry when I was a kid. At the time he did the Padres radio play-by-play, and was teamed with Dave Campbell who provided color commentary. Today, at the lively age of 89, he takes part in the broadcast during day games.

Jerry, also known as “The Colonel”, was named major league baseball Rookie of the Year in 1949 as Yankees second baseman. In 1950 his defensive plays made him most valuable player in the World Series.

As a Marine aviator, Lieutenant Colonel Jerry Coleman interrupted his baseball career to serve in the Korean War. He flew 120 combat missions and received two Distinguished Flying Crosses. He also flew during World War II, making him the only major league baseball player to serve in two wars.

Jerry, famous for his enthusiastic phrases “Oh, Doctor!” and “You can hang a star on that baby!” was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2007.

The face of a true American hero.
The face of a true American hero.

Statue of Padres batting champ Tony Gwynn.

statue of padres superstar tony gwynn

A good argument can be made that the most-liked person in San Diego is Tony Gwynn. He’s one of the friendliest, most good-natured guys you’ll ever find, not to mention one of the best hitters ever in the history of baseball. He was voted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame the first year he was eligible. He’s also got a great statue in East Village at the center of Petco’s Park at the Park. You’re looking at it!

Tony Gwynn, affectionately called Mr. Padre, played 20 years for the San Diego Padres, winning eight batting titles and five Gold Glove awards. He appeared in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game 15 times! Today he’s the head baseball coach for San Diego State University.

Tony Gwynn statue with Showley Bros. Candy Factory in background.
Tony Gwynn statue with Showley Bros. Candy Factory in background.
Inspirational words of Tony Gwynn's father.
Inspirational words of Tony Gwynn’s father.

A quote from Tony’s father Charles appears on the statue’s base:  “If you work hard good things will happen.”  These words inspired one of the greatest hitters in the history of professional baseball.

UPDATE…

Here are a few closer photos that I took years later, after the tragic passing of Tony.

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Kids enjoy tiny ball field at Petco Park.

small kids baseball field at petco park

Downtown residents and visitors to East Village have access to a great public resource. Green grass, shady trees, a large playground, and views of the city can all be freely enjoyed (when the San Diego Padres aren’t playing a home game) at the Park at the Park!

Situated beyond Petco Park’s outfield, surrounded by sleek city buildings, this public park has a small ball field which is perfectly sized for children. In this pic, taken near the end of the baseball season (the Padres were in San Francisco), a family is seen walking across the diamond. Those patches of bare dirt testify to the popularity of the park during the summer and long baseball season.

Here’s a pic taken on 2/8/14 during Padres FanFest…

Kids enjoy small baseball field during Padres Fanfest.
Kids enjoy small baseball field during Padres FanFest.

Here’s a pic taken on 7/6/14 during a Sunday afternoon Padres game. This year Bumble Bee (the tuna company) is sponsoring the kids baseball field, with promotional signs on the outfield fence.  A new food concession stand has been added just beyond right field…

Folks watch a game at the kids ball field in Park at the Park.
Folks watch a game at the kids baseball field in Park at the Park.

And finally a pic taken when no one was around…

Scoreboard beyond outfield of tiny baseball diamond sponsored by Bumble Bee.
Scoreboard beyond outfield of tiny baseball diamond sponsored by Bumble Bee.

Padres fan gear vendor outside Petco Park.

padres fan gear vendor outside petco park

Late this morning, loads of Padres fans anticipating a great baseball game were entering Petco Park from its east side. Before filing through the gate and past the cool new Jerry Coleman memorial, they passed this colorful vendor. All sorts of Padres gear was on display for supportive fans.

Sunny summer days of baseball are full of life, sounds, smells, color and pageantry. Going to a Padres game in San Diego is always a fun experience, win or lose!

Padres fans converge on Petco Park for another baseball game.
Padres fans converge on Petco Park for another baseball game.

I took a couple more related pics at the beginning of the 2015 season…

Any vendors at this entrance on opening weekend of the 2015 season are hidden by lots of excited fans!
Any vendors at this entrance on opening weekend of the 2015 season are hidden by lots of excited fans!
This smiling entrepreneur set up shop on a sidewalk a couple blocks from Petco Park.
A smiling entrepreneur set up shop on a sidewalk a couple blocks from Petco Park.