Baseball dreams
A suggestion for the Valley’s many baseball fans, if Cooperstown is too far away this summer or tickets to the defending World Series champs are budget-busters. Take a short drive to Visalia’s Recreation Park, home of the Visalia Rawhide (Single A professional affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks).
My baseball buddies and I were enchanted from the first pop of a 90-plus fastball lashing leather to the final loud-speaker crack of the whip heralding the signature “Rawhide” musical theme. In between is the timeless and immaculate grassy field, the old-school stadium announcer, fan giveaways, made-to-order hot dogs and ice-cold beer.
Two distinctive features make this cozy ballpark unique. The first is a seat-level grassy berm stretching down the right-field foul line, perfect for picnic tables and for young fans scrambling after foul balls. And down the right-field concourse is Visalia’s Wall of Fame featuring plaques of franchise notables. Included are tributes to Don Drysdale (a former owner) and to Vada Pinson who later starred for the Cincinnati Reds.
After the Rawhide defeated Lake Elsinore by a final of 6-3, we all agreed it was very cool to “buy local” at Recreation Park, Visalia’s own “field of dreams.”
Dave Dull, Fresno
This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 6:21 AM with the headline "Baseball dreams."