Share your memories from Al Lang Field

Friday marks the end of an era at Al Lang Field, when the Tampa Bay Rays are scheduled to play their last spring training game, against the Cincinnati Reds.

The game signals the end of a more than 90-year history between the city of St. Petersburg and spring training, decades that spawned countless ballpark memories for residents and visitors.

Share your memories here and we'll highlight them on tampabay.com and possibly in the St. Petersburg Times on Saturday.

Check the Times on Friday for a series of ballpark memories by famous baseball players.

Mitchell Klein yells "Jeter" during a Yankees-Rays game with his grandfather Jerry Charnow at Al Lang Field on March 2: Dirk Shadd | Times

Comments

[TampaDan]

There was simply no better experience that one could have in this area than to sit in section 109 at Al Lang on a beautiful cool, breezy March day, taking in a baseball game whilst simultaneously watching a sailboat race out on the Bay. One of the best forms of therepeutic relaxation I ever found. I shall miss that little ballpark very, very much.

[bob guckenberger]

My parents came to St. Petersburg in 1954 to watch spring training. We stayed in the Monticello Motor Inn on 4 th St. One day my mom and day went to Sunken Gardens and let me go to Huggins field to watch our beloved Yankees train. Ewell Blackwell was trying to make a comeback, and I looked in awe as he threw sidearm. From that day forward, I was a sidearm pitcher.

[H. Roy Adams]

Wow, so many great memories. My dad, Harold Adams (he was a true die-hard baseball fan) took me to many games each Spring and to Payson Field (now the Namoil complex)to watch the Mets practice. Standing around talking to greats like Tom Seaver & Gil Hodges at Payson, just before the Mets set the world on fire in 1969- how historic. It was a thrill to attend the very first game at the current Al Lang Field in 1977. In 1965, my dad took a picture of me with Hall of Famer, Gabby Hartnett during an old timers game at Al Lang Field. I did not know who he was at the time - but my dad was sure thrilled to meet him and snap a picture of our meeting. (I have a good digital copy of the pic-but no way to attach it). I'm sad to see Spring Training end - but we have the Rays, they belong to us, not New York or St. Louis. There will be much more baseball history and tradition in St. Pete!

[TCT]

my memory: sitting at al lang for a spring training game, in the beating sun, wearing a black long-sleeved top and black pants! not a brilliant idea! i think the rays won that day.

[Jim Armstrong, South Tampa]

I came to Tampa Bay 1988 as my final assignment before retiring from the Air Force in 1991. After walking up the tunnel to the seats behind home plate, my first reaction was "Wow".
With perfectly manicured grass and the bay behind left field, who wouldn't be impressed?
With all its history, it's a shame to lose it. Personally, I'd like to see the Rays stay in Tropicanna Field and the city bring in another team for Spring Training at Al Lang Field.

[Tom Romano]

I was a freshman at Eckerd College back in August of 1979 and I had played ball on some really nice fields, (Cooperstown to name just one), and had never heard of Al Lang field and didn't give it much thought. But then I had the opportunity to play a few games there, found out the history and was totally in awe. So much in awe that my first time playing there I was sitting on the bench, waiting for my time to go in and pitch and was looking around and thinking of all the great hall of famers that had walked where I was walking, sat where I was sitting and pitched from the very mound where I would be pitching. Then my coach told me to get ready, I was going in the next inning. Well, I couldn't find my hat, I couldn't find my glove, and the coach looked at me like I was some kind of freshman buffoon. It's a shame no other freshman will be able to get an experience (or better) like I had in the years to come.
Tom Romano

[LarryBurke]

My greatest memories of Al Lang Stadium were those of my childhood. Every spring you could find me down around the park,not usually as a paying customer,but outside along the seawall!
I was there with many other "contestants" eagerly waiting for the next chance to recover a foul ball that would be hit right into the drink of Tampa Bay! Living on the water myself, I had an advantage over most of my opponents who desired that stray ball as much as I did,but didnt enter the water with as many swimming skills as me.The balls would ricochet off the roof of the old Al Lang Field like rockets heading for the salty water. That is when I would put my expertise to work. When most of the others were jumping in feet first,there I was with my ability to dive in head first getting ahead of the wet pack! I would attack the balls with all the power of a very determined 11 year old boy who just wanted tokens of Major League Spring training.The "tokens" may be gone,but my memories will never be.

[justin]

My favorite memory of Al Lang is going to the St. Pete Cardinals games with my Dad to see our favorite player, Tito Landrum and listen to Tommy Walton the singing vendor.

[justin]

My favorite memory of Al Lang is going to the St. Pete Cardinals games with my Dad to see our favorite player, Tito Landrum and listen to Tommy Walton the singing vendor.

[justin]

My favorite memory of Al Lang is going to the St. Pete Cardinals games with my Dad to see our favorite player, Tito Landrum and listen to Tommy Walton the singing vendor.

[DAVID LARSON]

IN 1958 PLAYING BASEBALL GAME AT AL LANG FIELD. I WAS PLAYING FOR NORTHEAST HIGH SCHOOL. I WAS PLAYING RIGHT FIELD. I HEARD OVER THE LOUD SPEAKER, WOULD A MR LARSON COME TO THE INFORMATION WINDOW. I KNEW MY DAD WAS IN THE STANDS. I GOT SO EXCITED. MY MIND RACED A HUNDRED MILES PER HOUR. COULD IT BE A COLLEGE SCOUT WANTING TO TALK TO MY DAD ABOUT ME. MAYBE A PRO SCOUT. WHEN I WENT INTO DUGOUT SEVERAL PLAYERS MENTIONED THEY HAD HEARD WHAT I DID. AFTER GAME I RACED HOME INSTEAD OF STOPPING AT TOOT-N-TELL-IT DRIVE IN LIKE ALWAYS DID BEFORE. MY DAD WAS TAKING A SHOWER AND HAD TO WAIT LONGER TO GET THE EXCITING NEWS. NEWS WERE A BUMMER. AN EMPLOYEE OF MY DAD STOPPED BY OUR HOME AND MOTHER TOLD HIM WHERE DAD WAS. HE WANTED TO BORROW SOME MONEY. SO MUCH FOR COLLEGE SCOUT OR PRO SCOUT. THANKS

[Sherri McKechney]

My memories of Al Lang Stadium include my son who at the time was 11 years old and wanted to be a batboy. At the time the St Louis Cardinals were there and he got his wish. He was the minor league batboy from 1993 with the St Pete Cardinals and continued with the Rays. I would sit in the stands everynight and then wait in the parking lot for this boy to finish his job making $6.00 a game. But it is what he wanted to do and his passion was baseball. That passion is still in him, that batboy is now the Minor League Equipment Manager for the Rays ...Tim McKechney. When we go to the games and see those young boys run out there to get the bat or give balls to the umpire it brings back so may wonderful memories. Al Lang stadium will always be a special place ... A new stadium there would be wonderful.

[Brendan]

I remember watching the televised highlights of a met game in 1967 or 1969 broadcast to New York. I thought what a neat place it must be to play a game with the palm tree swaying in the background. I moved to St. Pete in 71 and had the pleasure of seeing loads of spring training, St. Pete Cardinal, St. Pete Pelican and Devil Rays games at Al Lang.
I now live in the Midwest and would love to be sitting there on Friday soaking up the sun (or even the rain).

[Dennis Schrader]

I was nine years old when I snagged a lose ball during pratice at Al Lang Field and Mickey Mantle came by and signed it for me. That started the largest autographed collection in the world. I now have over 3,000 baseballs.
In 1956 Mickey Mantle hits a pitch off Larry Jackson over the left field wall into the bay. Yankees top Cards 4-3. Stan Musial contends, "no HR has ever cleared my head by as much as long as I can remember." Mantle hits another off Bob Mave March 20th that also lands in the water. Mantle won the triple crown that year. Somethings ya never forget.

[Nancy Toth]

Too many memories to recall but the most vivid are going to spring training games with my dad and brothers, Halloween (remember that??) then after having my own kids taking them to snag balls in the bleacher seats. What wonderful memories I have of St Petersburg - it used to be such a fun place!!

[John Yerby]

I cut my teeth on Spring Training at Al Lang Field last year...at the spry age of 45. What a time to fall in love with the game. I probably attended every home game for last years Short Season even watching the eventual World Series Champions. I will forever keep the memory of that wonderful time with me for all my days (as I live in New Orleans it's hard to get back there for baseball). I really wish there were some miracle in the wings to keep this stadium and it's history of baseball alive and prosperous into the foreseable future.

Good luck with the Ray's this year. I feel a really special season coming up!

[Beverly]

The thought of never attending another Spring Training game at Al Lang Field makes me so sad. Al Lang holds a special place in my heart, as it was the birthplace for my passion of baseball and will always hold special memories of my dad and me. My dad, a native of St. Louis, MO., took me down to the stadium when I was a little girl to see the Cardinals play. Now, 20 years later, we love watching the Rays play. Friday, we will go one last time to sit in the great seats in the great stadium with the great view.

[Cindy Neidert]

In the early 1900's my grandfather played as a catcher for a minor league team somewhere in Pennsylvania. His love for the game was planted in me at a very early age as we watched games on his little television in Ohio. When my family moved to St. Petersburg in 1960, he and my grandmother would come stay with us for a few months during the spring and grandpa and I would make our yearly treks to Al Lang Stadium. My most vivid memory is from the year I was 10. As we were sitting in the stands enjoying the game, grandpa suddenly became very excited and said there was someone he wanted to go see. He pointed to a man sitting on the end of an aisle and told me to stay in my seat, that he would be right back. I watched him as he maneuvered his way through the aisles and finally reached where the man was sitting. Grandpa tapped the man on his shoulder, they shook hands and the man motioned for him to have a seat next to him. For about 15 minutes they conversed, smiling and laughing, and then grandpa pointed to me and took something out of his wallet and handed it to the man. He signed it, gave it back to grandpa, and shook his hand once more before they parted. When grandpa returned to our seats he gave me back my 5th grade picture and showed me a signature on the back of it. He said, "Cynthia, this won't mean a thing to you right now, but you keep this somewhere safe and someday you'll appreciate it." I did what he asked and about 20 years later as I was cleaning out some old pictures, I came across it. The signature on the back was Casey Stengel.

[Robbie]

We moved down here in 1969 from Illinois, and I fondly rememeber my Dad bringing us to the Cardinal's games. What a thrill it was to be sitting in the bleachers with the bay behind left field. How beautiful. They happened to take a photo of the crowd in front of the staudium for the Program cover, and my dad was in the picutre. I thought, "how cool",everytime we went to a game and bought a program, and there would be my Dad in the picture. They used that same picture for years, and I wish I had a copy of it now! will certainly miss Al Lang stadium, and the Rays training there!

[Terry]

Nolan Ryan in a green Cardinal's cap on St Patrick's day facing Bob Forsch of the Cardinals. Every player on both teams was wearing a green St Louis Cardinals cap. Quite memorable.

[Rip Van Winkle]

thanks for the story David Larson ... I MEAN DAVID LARSON WHO LIKES TO TYPE WITH THE CAPS

that story was so good it will put me back to sleep for at least another 20 years

[DIZ]

I was a die hard Met fan until March 31, 1998. I loved going to see the Mets play in the late 70s and early 80s, even though the team wans't very good. Friends and family from cold NJ would come down in the spring to go to the games.But, the greatest performer of them all was Tommy Walton, "The Voice" (with his Village Voice apron). I'm sorry, but I live now in Port Charlotte, and we are thrilled to have the Rays coming next year.

[eddie cardieri]

I'll never forget working construction on the beach in the hot summer sun, then diving in the gulf and heading to Al Lang for an American Legion Baseball game (Post 14)--we dressed in the dugout, took BP, then infield-outfield, and played 9 innings--summer of '72 we did this several times a week--what a great venue for high school age players back then!

[rick cooper]

Al Lang spring training games was something I looked forward to every year.It was a time you could go to the ball park and for $1.00 sit in the bleachers and bring your own cooler of ice cold beer and sit 5 feet from the bullpen and watch the best pitchers in baseball and talk to them with out any problems and get autografs.From Nolan Ryan to Goose Gossage and many more. I surly haved miss those days. This was in the 70's it was the best time in my life and the price was right.

[Joe Baal]

In the 1970's when we were young kids, our dad would pack the station wagon on Long Island and drive down to St. Pete to visit our grandparents for spring vacation. Of course, being avid baseball fans, this was the perfect time to come.

We have always been Yankees fans, and if the schedule allowed, we would catch them playing the Mets or Cards at Al Lang.

My brother Mike is two years younger than I am, and he was about 7 one particular time that we saw the Mets host the Yanks there. We arrived early and we rushed to the railing with autograph books and pens. A few players had signed when Yankee pitcher Rudy May strode by singing "Midnight Blue" to himself. And as he came upon Mike's arms sticking through the fence he suddenly grabbed him by the wrist and belted out "Wouldn't you give a hand to a friend?", startling the kid but giving us all a laugh as he then reached for the pen and signed his name before continuing to the field.

A few minutes later, Yogi Berra, then the Mets manager, was nearing us and the crowd around us surged forward to make contact with the legendary Yankee. This caused Mike to drop his book through the fence at Berra's feet. He leaned down and picked it up to hand it back to my brother. His little hand muffed the exchange and the book fell again. Yogi once again bent to pick it up and this time took the pen and signed it. As he carefully handed placed both in Mike's hands, he said "I'm glad you're on the other team, kid!"

I don't remember the score of the game, and the autographs are long gone. But that is still a vivid memory refreshed each time I visited Al Lang over the past thirty years.

[Mare St. Peters]

My best memory of Al Lang Field: 1979, a night game between NY Yankees & NY Mets. It was a sell out & my Father & I didn’t tickets. Walking by a gate, my Father overhead a guy say to the gate watcher, “Al sent me” & the gate watcher let the man in.
My father put his hands on my shoulders and maneuvered me over to the gate watcher and told him “Al sent me” & the gate watcher let us in.
That evening Garrett Morris, dressed in a Met uniform, was filming a clip for Saturday Night Live. Also in attendance, Bill Murray. It’s one of the best memories of have of him: a Father & daughter evening of NY baseball.

[Melissa Smith]

I grew up watching the St Petersburg Cardinals play in Al Lang Stadium many a summers with my late dad. One game I had recieved a baseball with team signatures!!! I went to the game on March 16, with the spirit of Dad, and the memories of the games we had attended.

[Steve Callaway]

I was a new pitcher in the Florida State league and was 8-0 until I got injured. I will always have a soft spot for Al Lang even after 5 years of the L.A Dodgers and 40 plus years later. I live in St. Pete now and always show off the field.

Steve Callaway

[Chris Cummings]

When I was a kid in the late 60's I was a die hard Mets fan. My dad was a fireman with the City of St. Pete and had his in's with meeting a lot of famous people. I remember one day we got to meet Casey Stiengle before the game and we watched the game following. During the game a fellow behind us had a heart attack and my dad jumped to his rescue and revived him with good ole fashioned CPR. That day my dad was not only my hero, but alot of other folks found him to be a hero too!

[john]

How convenient.....the Rays want to move away for Spring training and they want a "new" ballfield to replace the Tropicana Dome on the grounds of Al Lang Stadium.......hhhmmmmm. Follow the money.

[Mark Messenger]

I recall one St.Pete Cardinal game I attended with my father. We sat 1st base side and watched the game. About the 3rd inning, an older man sat in our section and spoke to a player in the dugout. My dad asked me if I knew the man. I said "no". He told me it was The Splinter. Dad struck up a conversation with him. I shoot Ted William's hand that night. I'll never forget that stadium nor that night.

[Erick]

Well times are changing and if the development of the new stadium falls thru which it probably will lots of citizens are against it. I hope they renovate Al Lang into a 20,000 seat multi-sport venue primarily used for soccer, it could be used in the offseason for outdoor concerts, art shows, car shows, graduations etc...

[Steve]

We moved to St. Pete from NJ in 1974. In 1975 my dad took me to a Spring Training game between the Mets and the Cardinals. The Cards won and I wanted a Cardinals hat. My dad informed me that I was a Mets fan. I have been ever since. Back then fans could go on the field on certain days. We have pictures of Yogi (in a Mets uniform), Seaver, Grote, Matlack. Three years ago Dad and I went to our first Spring Training game at Al Lang together since the 70's. Yogi was there!

[De Loiselle]

My favorite times at Al Lang Stadium were going with my Uncle Arthur who has been an umpire for many years (he umpired for Carlton Fisk when he was in Little League in Charlestown NH). My uncle knew every cat call to call during a game, what fun! Today my Uncle still umpires for girls High School games, he is 84 yrs old. The other good times were playing in the empty stadium during the Grand Prix first years, and going to concerts. What ever happened to the guys who used to catch balls outside of the stadium, The times did an article on Buddy Merchant years ago, I believe he held the record for the most balls caught. Gonna miss sharing baseball and the beautiful sun of the water....

[Nick]

Use it for soccer??? Give me a break............Mine as well be shuffleboard

[Rick]

Al Lang is beautiful place to watch a game overlooking the water. Let's keep this wonderful tradition alive and build a new waterfront stadium on the grounds of Al Lang. Lot's of people I know are in favor of this. There's so much baseball history here for St. Pete, plus this will have an enormous positive impact for the city and community.

[mlmintampa]

When my family first moved here we saw each of the Pinellas Spring Training parks; Al Lang, Jack Russell, and Dunedin Stadium. Amazing that of the three, only Dunedin (Knology Park) is still hosting their team.
As for Al Lang, as a Tampa resident, I almost want people in St. Pete to drop the ball and push the Rays into downtown Tampa. But baseball deserves to be played there. It's a treasure and to keep the Rays from redeveloping it would be a crime.

[Erick]

Nick I would rather have 2 franchises in ST.petersburg MLB and MLS

Tampa has 3 NFL,NHL and arena football

[Mike McSweeney]

Used to work at the Mahaffey Theater. Best lunch spot in town was on the roof of the theater during games. Bring a bag lunch, soft drink, folding chair, it was the best way to spend a lunch hour. Made you feel like it was your private Luxury Box.

[Melissa Bried]

Like an earlier blog, I too was at the game @ Al Lang in the 70's when they were filming a segment for Saturday Night Live called "Baseball been a berry berry good to me" starring Garrett Morris in a NY Met uniform. I was there with my husband & about 8 or 10 friends sitting in the front row between 3rd & homeplate when Morris was running (jogging) around the bases with the camera on him. We were all hootin' & hollerin' at him when he looked over at us as he was rounding third. He ran over to us & grabbed one of our nice cold draft beers (I believe it was from Jim S. if I remember correctly), downed it, handed the cup back to us in the stands & continued on to cross homeplate. The cameras were rolling the entire time but of course his straying from the basepath didn't make it onto SNL but that's OK because we all remember it ! My other great memory there is watching my beloved Yankees every spring playing the Mets and Cards. One day as Graig Nettles was leaving the field & walking to their bus alone, I asked him for his autograph. He asked who to & I gave him my sons' name, Ryan & he wrote For Ryan, best wishes, good luck & signed it & then HE thanked ME ! Ahhh, the good old days ! I believe the Rays need to stay at the Trop & let the city find another team to grace that awesome field every spring !!!
From a Baseball Fan

[Roger]

I was in Little League in the '60s and I remember having a seat during spring training with my dad on the row directly over the dugout that seated the 1969 Miracle Mets. I handed down a baseball to the player on one end and I watched as my baseball went from player to player as each team member signed his name. There were no egos so arrogant they were expecting their xignature to put money into their bank accounts; they were signing that ball for a 13 year old kid who loved to play baseball. What happened to baseball?

[Eva]

In 1948 when I was 13 years old, the rookies of the Yankees stayed at my father's Goddard's Lodge on St. Pete Beach. The wife of one of the rookies and now I don't remember their names--offered to take me along with her little children to a training game at Al Lang. Knowing little about baseball and even less about dress--I guzzied up in platform heels with rhinestone inserts, a slinky skirt and a nylon see-through blouse. I pulled my hair into a fancy pony tail and got as much purple lipstick on as I could. I met the wife at the car and she had on bobby sox, plaid skirt and a sweater. She didn't blink an eye when she saw me. As I climbed the bleachers I thought that the attention I was causing was because of my beauty! I will always remember the kindness of that lady--even though I have forgotten her name.

[Rick Doty]

Our Mens Senior Baseball Team, the Clearwater Pelicans played in the MSBL Fall Classic Championship Game in November 2002 against the Florida 47's at Al Lang Stadium. Our team was well known with X MLB players such as Mike Marshall, Ron LeFlore, Bombo Rivera, Frank Wells & Rodney Scott -- and numerous X minor leaguers played on the Pelican teams. We lost in the Championship game 7-3 - but it was a great memory that will never fade...

[Meg Scarbrough Prewitt]

Our father and mother, Bill and Buntie Scarbrough ran the concession stands at Al Lang Field for approximately 22 years...from the mid 50's until 1976, two years after my father died. Al Lang Field was our life, our whole family (cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmother as well as friends) worked there and our lives happily revolved around spring training, summer ball and winter league. We have just finished compiling our documents of our history with Al Lang Field and I guess it was done in a timely manner. Even though we do not live in St. Pete any more, we will miss what has been an institution in the city for so many years. Farewell to a great friend of us all.

[Brett Moorehouse]

I remember watching the Cards and Mets play there. During one game I ran into Garry Carter in the stands after the 6th inning; he was done playing for the day. I recall the singing vendor and Hub Kittle throwing balls and various small items to fans so the Cards didn't have to take it all back to St. Louis. I saw a young, up and comer named Danny Tartabull at Al Lang. I remember the endless giveaways; I once won a mini Pete Rose bat and was booed by the crowd when I picked it up. Finally, I recall the famous Sid Fynch giving his farewell speech at Al Lang following his cover story in SI (April 1 edition, 198x).

[Tom]

I have 2: the 1st one was spring of '86. Cards had just went to the Series and Mets were determined to go that year (obviously they did). Young pitcher named Dwight Gooden and wiley vet Jauquin Andojar dueled like it was October. I think the only hit off either was a soft liner by Terry Pendelton.

Later, when I had kids, the players went on strike ('94). When they came back in '95 there was a lotta skepticism and lots of boo's in the bleachers. I went to the opener-Cards vs. O's. After they both came out, Ozzie Smith and Cal Ripken spent at least an hour walking up and down the sides signing anything anyone stuck out. That showed not only class by 2 Hall of Famers, but also that the game was STILL about the fans.

[Drew]

When I was little, I went to Rays baseball camp. Kenny Kelly took me under his wing and it was great. Too bad he never made it in baseball or football. Being on that field made me feel like a Major Leaguer though