NEW YORK CITY:
Note to Readers: Mark “Scoop” Saltmarsh, your humble correspondent here, and I continue my coverage of the New York Kings with highlights from a recent stadium tour.
Fan enjoyment.
That’s the emphasis Kings owner Alexander Bingley prioritized when opening the predominantly wooden Kings Park in 1895. Over the years, several renovation projects have replaced the wood with cement and steel to modernize the stadium’s stability.
“Our fans are hard-working New Yorkers. Young and old. Men and women. The world will always be full of stress and uncertainty, so I wanted Kings Park to be a place of respite,” Mr. Bingley said.
“Local supporters can devour a turkey on rye with a side of popcorn, and cheer on LBL greats while temporarily escaping seemingly endless news about economic hardships and world conflicts.”
Attending a ball game at Kings Park achieves the enjoyable experience goal established by Mr. Bingley.
Ownership has an excellent working relationship with local vendors, who provide visitors with a variety of food and beverage choices. For the youngsters, Cracker Jack and a lemonade, or for the adults Cracker Jack and a beer, have remained fan favorites for more than 20 years.
Sunlight reflecting off the morning dew on the field’s Kentucky bluegrass offers a serene view amongst the rugged urban landscape of Metropolis. The vast stadium can accommodate 8,000 fans via tiered seating shaded by roofs behind home plate, as well as open bleacher seats beyond the outfield fences.
Recently retired pitcher and all-time Kings wins leader Eduardo Chell joined us as our stadium tour guide.
Chell’s 21-year legacy as a Kings’ starter that included 709 games, 307 wins, and 2,852 strikeouts, won’t be matched anytime soon.
“Kings Park will always have a special place in my heart. I don’t know how many of my strikeouts were here, but the shadows of a late afternoon summer game were always a pitcher’s best friend.”
“Batters couldn’t see a good fastball up and in at that time of day. When they did, it was too late,” Chell chuckled.
Playfully reminding Chell, that he also leads Kings’ pitching in hit batters with 140, the fan favorite replied: “Ok, so maybe a few of those up and in pitches were too far up and in. You have to own the plate and make these hitters respect you. Backing them off is part of the game.”
Chell walked us to the centerfield barrier. “A thirty-foot high fence and 421 feet at the deepest part, this ballpark makes it tough for anyone dreaming of homeruns, especially righties.”
“Lefties can occasionally sneak a cheap homer inside the foul pole with just the 280 feet to the right field fence. It happens.”
Thinking about the current Kings’ outfield comprised of all left-handed batters, it makes sense that the lineup plays to the field’s hitting advantages.
Pointing to the right field corner fence, Chell smiled and reminisced: “When I first pitched here in 1896, the grass was high over there. Same with the overgrowth in front of the left field corner fence. My boys had hidden baseballs in there! Those extra balls may have contributed to a few outfield assists on extra base hits in the corners—why waste time looking for the baseball, when you can retrieve a ball hidden in the grass, get a relay throw in more quickly, and tag a runner out?”
I followed Chell to the batter’s box. Motioning to the home dugout, the retired hurler added, “Lots of memories there. Practical jokes. Tears. Laughter. Listening to Godfrey Barney’s endless fishing tall-tales. You can’t believe anything that guy says.”
Walking to the top of the pitcher’s mound, Chell looked lost in thought before saying: “I remember pitching in the minors on flat ground. Climbing atop this 15-inch mound mountain, I felt unbeatable throwing the ball.”
The evening light at Kings Park began to wane. The now former pro ballplayer Eduardo Chell and the 84-year-old Mr. Bingley both looked weary after the “walk down memory lane” exercise that was this tour of their home field.
The show of weariness was coupled with happiness in being able to share details and stories of Kings Park.
I’d describe it as enjoyment.
So, Mr. Bingley’s objective with Kings Park of bringing enjoyment was not just achieved with fans, but with current players, former players, media members, and everyone else that has the honor of entering the park’s gates.