Chase Field home of the Arizona Diamondbacks

Chase field

Chase Field actually opened as Bank One Ballpark on March 31, 1998. It was the second park behind the Toronto Skydome to have a retractable roof. During its inaugural season it attracted more than 3.5 million fans, and it passed the million mark in only 22 games, faster than any other ballpark that had opened that decade. The fans were rewarded in 1999, becoming the quickest expansion franchise to reach the postseason. We were very fortunate to watch the Diamondbacks play at Chase field on a beautiful Arizona spring evening, comfortable temperatures and an open roof. The retractable roof is necessary to control the extreme temperatures of summer. Generally the roof is kept open during the day in order to allow sunshine on the grass and then is closed on hot days about 3 hours before game time to cool it down with the giant air conditioners.

Open windows and retracted roof

Country night at Chase

Players and fans don cowboy hats for Country night

Notice the dirt track between the pitcher's mound and home plate.  Up until Comerica Park, Chase Field was the only park to have this dirt track, reminiscent of the old ballparks

Another great night at the ballpark

The Diamondbacks won the World Series in 2001. Following the horror of September 11, 2001, the World Series was delayed for 1 week. Jack and I had previously planned a trip to Sedona and Phoenix with another couple for sightseeing, not baseball. Because of the delay and the way the series went we were actually in downtown Phoenix the night the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees in game 7. We considered trying to get a ticket but there were rumors of counterfeit tickets and some seriously high prices so we elected to watch it in a bar with the locals. It was a great victory for Arizona! We were lucky to witness it.

The D-Backs won the first 2 games at home, the 2^nd in a complete game by Randy Johnson with 11 Yankees striking out. However, when the teams returned to New York, in typical Yankee style, the pinstripes won 3 games in a row. They were going for their 4^th consecutive World Championship. The D-backs had other plans, however. Returning to Phoenix, the Diamondbacks beat the Yanks 15-2 to tie the series. In game 7 the Yankees carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 9^th. It seemed inevitable that the New York Yankees would win as the nearly untouchable Mariano Rivera came in to close the game. With 2 outs, Luis Gonzalez hit a flair into left field that scored Bell to culminate the 2 run 9^th and give the Rattlers the Championship. Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling earned co-MVP honors.

Luis Gonzalez and Jack

Chase Field hosted the 2011 All-Star Game. The NL won 5-1 behind Prince Fielder (by the way, his representative child Princess still needs a sponsor!) 

Princess is from the Phillipines and is in need of a sponsor.
www.unbound.org/MyOutreach/JodiJackP

The day before, our own Robinson Cano, won the Home Run Derby.

We love Robinson Cano, now a Seattle Mariner

How about a dip at the stadium? Chase actually has a swimming pool in right center field that can be rented out for parties at the game. Now that is novel. The pool is 415 feet from home plate, or 60 feet further than down the right field line at the Giants AT&T to reach McCovey Cove.

Anyone for a swim?

Why would all these people sit in these seats that really are not that good with all those open seats around them?

Notice the sign