I don’t know if I have mentioned in one or more of the posts here that my wife, Kim Charlson, is the Director of the Braille and Talking Book Library at the Perkins School for the Blind. Well, she is and because of that, I get a heads-up on any event that her library is holding. Recently, the BTBL at Perkins held an authors event featuring authors who have written books about the Red Sox. In addition to hearing two authors talk about their books, I got to meat Carl Beane, the voice of Fenway Park and Johnny Pesky, a former member of the Red Sox whose number 6 was just retired during the last game of the 2008 season.
Carl volunteers at the Library reading books on sports for inclusion in the BTBL’s collection and Johnny was there because he was co-author of one of the books.
In addition to all of the talk about books, my friend Rick and I got to talk about the Seeing Eye Single Tour and Rick pulled together a wonderful sound track of baseball songs that were played over the sound system before and during the event. The crowd sang along with Take Me Out to the Ball Game and Sweet Caroline.
Before the event got started, I got to have my picture taken with Johnny. It turns out that both of us are originally from Oregon and we both are big fans of Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Elsberry, another Oregon boy. As you can see in the picture, my mouth is a little open. That is because Johnny was asking my advice on women. After losing his wife a couple of years ago, he is courting a woman, again from Oregon, who he dated before he was called up to the majors.
All of those who attended the event were able to get their picture taken with the 2004 and 2007 World Series trophies. I had to take a moment to look them over by touch before I allowed the photographer to snap the shot. I ask you, how many times are you going to have that chance? The trophies themselves are about two-feet tall and a foot and a half across. The base is a cross-section of a baseball surrounded by a series of flag poles crowned with triangular pennants. The polls in the front are shorter than those in the back creating a kind of open arch effect.
After the event, but before everyone left, I got a chance to take a look see at a World Series ring. Carl Beane let me hold his 2007 ring and explained all of the stones and their arrangement. He tells me that he now keeps his 2004 ring in a lock box at the bank but brings it out from time to time because he says that like your first child, your first World Series ring is special.
Now I have a couple of new books to read, a couple of new friends in Carl and Johnny and a few new stories to tell my friends and family over the years.
One of the many things Rick and I wanted to accomplish during our Seeing Eye Single Tour was to make contact with the public about what we were doing. To this end, Rick sent out hundreds of copies of a press announcement about the tour.
The first person to bring the tour to the public’s attention was Joe Castiglione, the voice of the Red Sox on WRKO and WEEI. He went through the press release during the eighth inning of a game between the Red Sox and the Royals. We tried to get the attention of the home team broadcasters at all of the parks we went to, but none of the others returned our email messages or mentioned us during the games we attended. I did get a short mention on the local station in Pawtucket Rohde Island during the Paw Sox game I and a number of my buddies attended before the tour, but that was about it.
We did have a lot of success when it came to internet radio and podcasts in the disability arena. Paul Edwards interviewed us for ACB Radio’s Tuesday Topics, Marcia Dresser interviewed us for Council Connection, the Bay State Council of the Blind show for their Radio Reading Service and ACB Radio program, we were interviewed for the Talking Information Service in Massachusetts, Robert Acosta had me on as a guest on his Sports Talk program on Access World and Larry Wanger interviewed us for his podcast, Disability Nation.
Only one time were Rick and I in the same place during one of these interviews. The interview for Disability Nation took place over the telephone with Rick at his home and me at mine and our interviewer at his New York studio. The interview with the Talking Information Center was live and took place over the telephone from our hotel room in Washington D.C. and our interviews on Tuesday Topics and Bob Acosta’s Sports Talk took place over Brian’s lap top using TC Conference from Talking Communities. The interview for Disability Nation took place before the tour and the rest took place after the tour. All-in-all we were kept pretty busy.
I can’t explain why the mainstream press didn’t pick up on what we were doing; they certainly had time to write about many other things that had little or no social significance. I guess I remain disillusioned with the fourth estate.
For now, I hope that you enjoy listening to our interviews and that you continue to check out what these internet broadcasters are doing. I have added all of them to my personal listening list.
Please see below a complaint Rick and I sent off after our visit to Orioles Park in Baltimore. We offer this to all of you as an example of how a complaint can be lodged in a way that compliments those aspects of a stadium visit worth praise and outlining those aspects that are in need of change and how that change can take place.
Have you ever sent off such a complaint and did you ever receive a response, positive or otherwise? Share your experiences and opinions.
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Hi Monica,
Please forward this formal complaint to the appropriate business folks at the Orioles. We hope this complaint is viewed constructively and as a business matter.
Brian Charlson, who is blind, his Guide Dog Bethel and I attended the August 24 and 25 games at Camden Yard. I have low vision and use a white cane and low vision devices. We purchased our tickets through the box office soon after the on-sale began for single game tickets.
We requested that our seats 1.) be as close to the playing field as possible, 2.) be protected from foul balls and broken bats, 3.) have space to accommodate Brian’s Guide Dog and 4.) have sight lines above standing spectators so that I can effectively use my low vision devices.
We were sold tickets in the wheelchair seats of Section 70 for the August 24 game and Section 64 WC seats for the August 25 game. Please explain why these seats were offered to us. We trusted that the seats sold would meet the criteria above, especially considering how early they were purchased, The seats were not close to the playing field and did not have sight lines above standing spectators. There was ample space for the Guide Dog and we were so far from home plate that presumably that is how we were protected from foul balls.
I visited Fan Assistance to request info on how to file a complaint and was greeted by Colleen and Janet who handled the situation superbly. We were
relocated to seats behind home plate for the August 24 game.
The seats originally sold to us were inappropriate to meet our needs that we clearly articulated. I have a hard time believing that these were the best seats available when we bought our tickets. The August 25 date was far from sold-out and many more appropriate seats remained unoccupied at game time.
It is not true that all of those who are blind or with low vision can sit anywhere in the stadium.
We belong to the American Council of the Blind and are developing Model Ticket Policies to assist venues like Camden Yard to properly accommodate those who are blind and with low vision. I am the chair of the Task Force that is developing these Model Policies.
We request answers to the following questions:
1.) what policies are in place with regards to selling tickets to the blind and those with low vision?
2.) Can we meet face to face to discuss our Model Ticket Policies and explore how the Orioles and ACB can collaborate to refine and implement these ticket policies?
3.) Why were we sold the tickets we were?
Also, most who are blind and with low vision listen to the commercial radio broadcast of the play by play while in-stadium. The radio broadcast was
unnecessarily delayed approximately 5 seconds making it very difficult to track the action. Please advise who we should contact to file a formal complaint about the radio delay?
Again, the assistance we received from day of game personnel, particularly Colleen and Janet was superb and extremely professional and much
appreciated.
We look forward to a formal response to all the questions listed above. We believe the model ticket policies we are drafting to be extremely pragmatic
and reasonable. We hope that we can meet to discuss them with the Orioles during the off-season, particularly in light of our experience and this complaint.
We look forward to hearing back from you regarding this complaint.
Sincerely,
Rick E Morin
Brian Charlson
Listen to Bob Shepard Introduce the Players Before the Game
We will always remember seeing the last game between the Red Sox and Yankees in the old Yankees Stadium. Even though we lost the game 4 to 3, it was special.
We lead for most of the game but Papelbon gave up a hit at the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded. I guess that the Yankees were destined to win the game.
It was only the second time that Papelbon let an inherited runner score so I can’t help but give him a break. Our other middle relief pitchers were the guys that loaded the bases.
Attending an historic game you can’t help but go away feeling that you got your money’s worth. Even Bethel enjoyed herself.
Listen to Take Me Out To The Ball Game at Yankee Stadium
Our second Yankees/Red Sox game was an afternoon game and we had the same seats out in Monument Park. This time the sun was a real problem. There was only a little shade against the center field wall so Bethel and I sat with our backs up against the wall just under the plexi-glass. Rick was in the direct sun and came away with a sunburn.
It was a great game but the Red Sox lost in the ninth inning. I guess that every once in a while, the Yankees need to win one.
Because we have made a point of letting you in on the quality of the ball park food, let me tell you that Yankee Stadium food stinks! The hot dogs were limp, the lemonade was weak and the water wasn’t very cold. We did like the peanuts.
After the game we went out to dinner with friends from The Bronx. They took us to an Italian restaurant that had very good Veal and Chicken Parmesan and pasta. We ran out of time before we ran out of things to talk about and found ourselves without time to get dessert. We did get cookies and bread from a near-by bakery so they will have to do.
When we got back to Ken’s we had just enough time to set-up for Tuesday Topics;, a interview show on ACB Radio. We were the featured guests and I needed to set-up my new Air Card so that my computer could access the internet without the benefit of a Ethernet or wireless connection. It worked and the interview went off without a hitch.
Another night found us without time to get to that cheesecake or the cookies we had from the bakery. I guess that they will just have to wait for another day.
It was great to see a game between the Red Sox and the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Our seats were just over the center field fence in Monument Park and in front of the bullpens. There was a net over our heads and plexi-glass to see through.
One of the best parts of the game was the grand slam by Dustin Pedroia. The ball landed on the net over our heads and then skipped off into the Red Sox bull pen right at the feet of Jonathan Papelbon. That was the closest Jonathan got to a ball in play that night. We won 8 to 2.
After the game, Rick used his binoculars to look at the pitchers in the bull pen. Papelbon saw him looking and waved at him. Rick waved back and it topped off a very fun evening.
Listen to our discription of our seats in center field of Yankee Stadium
It was back to the train station and back to NYC this morning. We had another McBreakfast and made our train without any problem.
Upon our arrival, we had our first negative interaction with a taxi driver. The first taxi driver in the queue said that he would take Rick and me but not my dog. When he was told that Bethel was a Seeing Eye dog and was allowed by law to enter a taxi, he said that he would take the dog if it were in a cage. Again we told him about the law and the other passengers waiting in line backed us up. He gave in and we made it to Ken’s place without any additional hassle.
We dropped off our stuff and headed out to get a real New York deli sandwich. Rick had his mind set on a corned beef and pastrami and I wanted a Rubin. Using the Trekker, Rick found that there were over 500 restaurants within a half-mile. We decided to just head up toward Time Square and see what we could find. I am sure that we must of passed at least a half-a-dozen delis, but we finally ended up at Roxy’s. Rick got his corned beef and pastrami but the grilled Rubin sandwich I expected came open-face, something a New York friend said was a “true Classic Rubin”. Both were more than we could eat at a single sitting so we took them and a couple of pieces of cheesecake back to the apartment for later.
By the time we made it back to the apartment, we had traveled 20 blocks and my feet were feeling it! By this point I had a blister on the heel of both feet and a cut across the top of my left big toe. Again we set off for the subway and a quick ride out to another ball park.
This was not just any ball park, it was Yankee Stadium. We had arranged for a tour of Monument Park where there are plaques for each of the players who had their numbers retired and additional memorials for important people and events that played a part in Yankee history. The Yankee staff were not at first able to take us out to Monument Park right away so they gave us passes to the Pinstripe Club, a private club people hang-out in before games. It was cool and the staff and fans were pleasant.
We did get to Monument Park where Rick read me a number of the plaques and memorials. Our seats were between the center field fence and the bullpens near Monument Park. Rick had a great view through some plexi-glass. For the results of the game and other facts, check out the Game Five post. The fans in New York were the best! They were pleasant and had fun with the Red Sox/Yankees rivalry. I had been lead to believe that they would give us quite a bit of hassle, but we had no problem at all.
Listen to our report on the Nationals VS Dodgers game
Tonight’s game between the Nationals and the Dodgers was great fun. We got to boo Manny again and had the pleasure to watch the Nationals beat Manny and the Dodgers. Sorry Dodger fans; we are not Manny fans anymore.
It was a close game from start to finish. The Nationals won 2 to 1 in less than three hours. Other than getting the third out with men in scoring position a number of times, the biggest thrill was having a foul ball passed at high speed between Rick and me. Wouldn’t you know it; Manny was the man at the plate (smile).
The food was good and we were seated in a section where staff brought the food to you. They make good hamburgers, hot dogs and cotton candy. Rick didn’t eat much of that but he did find time to take a picture of me stuffing my face again.
We received t-shirts as we entered the park and gave away one of our t-shirts to the usher for our section. I guess they have a t-shirt give away every Tuesday. Why can’t the Red Sox do something like that?
Now for the regularly scheduled game between the Orioles and the White Sox. The Orioles lost this time with a score of 8 to 3.
The game lasted for more than four hours and took place in hot humid weather. Our seats were in the shade or under overcast skies so we didn’t feel it the way we did the day before.
The walk home was hot and sweaty. When Rick and I got back to the room it was hit the sack and down for the count. That explains why this post is late. How do you explain why the others have been (smile).
