At first, "Ballpark" seems to be an old-time sports fan's recollections of an extinct baseball field. [Songwriter Joe] Raposo astutely makes the first word "And" so as to commence with the concept that we've caught some old codger rambling on in midsentence.
Within a few lines it becomes clear that Sinatra is talking about something much broader than baseball or sports.
"There Used To Be A Ballpark" has an air of mystery and mystique that speaks to millions who never so much as threw a pop bottle at an umpire.
Will Friedwald
I don't care about the parks, but I'm moved by this song.
I remember how much I hated it when Candlestick Park, San Francisco, became "3Com Park."
Again, not because I'm a fan (I'm not). I just mourn the loss of romance in our language.
See to me, if you say to someone,
"Where you going?"
"To the game!"
"Where they playing?"
"...Candlestick Park."
...yeah. There's a romance to that name, a tang...it sings.
Now compare that...to this:
"Where you going?"
"To the game!"
"Where they playing?"
"3Com Park."
(Since then the stadium's been named, god help us, "Monster Park.")
2 comments:
I think for most people who remember, it will always be Candlestick Park.
Although the corporate Monster Park bugs me, I like the idea of a Monster Park like a dog park. I just hope they keep the big monsters separate from the little monsters.
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