CWS & Rosenblatt Stadium: A love story.

Posted by Nick Verlaney on Jul 4, 2010 in Baseball | 2 comments

* Happy 4th of July everyone. If you know any servicemen/women, please thank them for all they do. Happy 234th birthday, America.

-Note: I wrote this blog while listening to Clocks by Coldplay. I would recommend you read it doing the same as it provides the perfect soundtrack to the blog.

-Rosenblatt Stadium.  So much history. So many memories. For 61 years, Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium has been the final stop on the way to College Baseball immortality. For 61 years, Rosenblatt has been the only true mainstay of college championship athletics. For 61 years, Rosenblatt has provided the people of Omaha, Nebraska a reason to entertain each other under the sun during the month of June. For 61 years, the teams that have come to play in the College World Series have looked in awe as they made the short trip up the hill to “the Blatt;” their Field of Dreams. For 61 years there has been drama, late inning heroics, and inevitably, late inning heartbreak. For 61 years, Rosenblatt remained an icon of what is right in sports: fair play, great fan support, and unbelievable effort. For 61 years, ‘the stadium on the hill’ was looked at as a palace. For 61 years, you could almost hear the past voices of great teams, players, and even the old stadium itself. After 61 years, the magic and mystique is hanging up its cleats, never to crown another champion. BUT, in its final act of greatness, it gave us one hell of a swan song. One could say it was a fitting ending to a love story spanning, you guessed it, 61 years.

- Google Maps says that Rosenblatt is approximately 8.6 miles away from my house, but if you could see the fireworks shows from my deck, you would swear it was in my backyard. Rosenblatt has become an icon, not only for the teams that visit every year, but also for the surrounding neighborhoods. Rosenblatt has helped provide economic stability to families in the area for a long time through something as simple as selling parking spots in their yards. Rosenblatt has also provided what the downtown Omaha area needed after most of the city moved out west to newer venues, a reason to come hang out and celebrate with people from all over the country for a week and a half. Rosenblatt’s CWS tenure spanned 3+ generations, 5 wars, and music from Buddy Holly to Kanye West. From a fans perspective, that is why that old, worn down stadium has become so special. In a world where everything is changing and constantly updating, the one thing that College Baseball, fans, and the Omaha community could count on was Rosenblatt, good baseball, great food, and an amazing atmosphere. You combine all of those things and it is no mystery why the CWS thrived in Omaha.

- The final College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium finished in an epic Tuesday night, as South Carolina, who lost its opening game in Omaha, won in a comeback victory, 2-1 in the bottom of the 11th inning against UCLA. The Gamecocks came out of the losers bracket to win 6 games in a row, including 2 against in-state rival Clemson, to hoist the Championship trophy for the first time in school history. South Carolina Center Fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. won Most Outstanding player, and it was fitting, as he is the type of player that has excelled in Omaha over the past 60 years- hard working, talented, and humble. A real blend of old school work ethic and new school excitement. The team exemplified your classic “backs against the wall”, “do or die”, “us against the world” type of sqaud. They were gritty, tough, and most important; CLUTCH. Congrats to the Gamecocks, and thank you for sending the Blatt out in style.

- The 2010 edition of the CWS lacked many familiar faces: LSU, Texas, Stanford, Cal-State Fullerton, and Miami. Omaha was instead presented with Horned Frogs, Gamecocks, Bruins, and Sooners. Even so, the classic CWS moments of brilliance were still there. And while for many the emphasis was on the stadium and not so much the games, here are my top 3 moments in order:

1) Whit Merrifield’s College World Series winning hit in the 11th inning.

2) Matt Curry’s grand slam in the 8th against FSU to send TCU ahead.

3) Over-the-head basket catch by Florida center fielder Matt den Dekker.

- From a fans perspective, I never enjoyed the College World Series more. Thanks to the many people who gave me a reason to go enjoy the last party on 13th street; it was quite the spectacle. Tailgating in the parking lot was awesome (thanks Anna &  family!). You run into some truly great people there, including friends you haven’t seen in years, and 2 great LSU fans who were as excited to be back as ever (even though LSU didn’t make it this year). It was great to bond/party with a particular group of interns whose secret super cool shenanigans will be held under wraps. It was also good to meet up with up with some of the oldest of friends under the beer tents.

- I did manage to escape 13th street to attend a couple of games thanks to a couple of friends. I was lucky to be there for 2 great games. The first, the elimination game between Florida State and TCU. FSU had command of the game going into the 8th inning, up 7-2 and looking ready to take on UCLA for a shot at the title. That was until TCU’s hitting, combined with poor relief pitching by the ‘Noles, turned the momentum of the game in TCU’s favor for good, due in part to a grand slam that sent the crowd into pandemonium. I had seen a grand slam at the CWS once before, but this one was special because it was most unexpected, especially given how the game had gone. TCU, long before the grand slam, had become the 2010 “Darling of Omaha”, i.e. the team most of the locals followed. They were scrappy, tough, energetic, fun to watch, and most of all gave back to Omaha.

“We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the folks in Omaha. You guys were absolutely phenomenal and were a big part of our run through the series. It’s the fans and the people of Omaha that make the College World Series the best event in all of sports. We were overwhelmed by the support we got and are greatly appreciative of it! We’ll be back!” – TCU

-The second game I attended was game 1 of the Championship series between South Carolina and UCLA. First, I must brag that I had first row seats behind home plate (thanks again Kaci!), easily the best seats I have ever had at a sporting event, let alone the last championship series for the CWS at Rosenblatt. I was in heaven. So were the Gamecocks. They commanded the game behind GREAT pitching and timely hitting, winning 7-1. Here are some pics to show how close I was to the field:

- I hope that you got to enjoy the CWS this year. It was a great event, and something I will never forget. I’m sure the new downtown ballpark will be amazing, but it will be lacking a lot of the magic that made the CWS the celebration it has become. For the fans, baseball, and the city: here is a cheers for Rosenblatt, a field of dreams.