You can't fight city hall
Stadium's demolition a reminder progress has never been a bargain
Thoughts for the day
The end is near for Hagerstown, Maryland’s Municipal Stadium, as it is set to be demolished to make way for a new indoor sports facility.
The stadium was most recently home to the Hagerstown Suns, the minor league affiliate of the Washington Nationals that was a victim of minor league contraction.
Hagerstown won’t be without baseball. The independent Atlantic League has approved a team for the Hub City, along with a new stadium. Ironically, the Herald-Mail newspaper building was sold to make way for that stadium. My worlds collide.
I’m sure the new home will be filled with bells and whistles, but there was something authentic about venerable old Municipal Stadium.
Built in 1930, it lacks the facilities pro teams now require. It also lacks the extras fans have come to expect at minor league venues. But it was baseball, the way it used to be, before a minor league game became a trip to the amusement park. Bleachers, obstructed views, manual scoreboard and all.
History passed through those gates. Lefty Grove. Hack Wilson. Bryce Harper. Willie Mays played his first pro game in Hagerstown. Jim Palmer rehabbed with the Suns for a week. Negro League teams took the field. Even President George H.W. Bush went to a Suns game.
The city plans to repurpose some items from the stadium, but it is in a hurry. With the exception of the seats, there is no plan to auction anything off, leaving the rest of us with just photographs and memories.
I seem to be saying that a lot, lately.
The Six
No. 1
IAC/InterActiveCorp will stop publishing print editions for Entertainment Weekly, InStyle, EatingWell, Health, Parents and People en Español, WSJ reports. The publisher acquired the six magazines when it bought Meredith Corp. last year. The move will result in 200 job losses.
No. 2
Former opinion section editor James Bennet accepted full blame Tuesday for linking Sarah Palin's PAC to the deadly mass shooting in Arizona that critically wounded Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Bennet was testifying in Palin’s defamation trial against the paper. NPR reports.
No. 3
Mitch McConnel breaks with the RNC (The Hill): “It was a violent insurrection with the purpose of trying to prevent a peaceful transfer of power after a legitimately certified election. ... That’s what it was,” McConnell said.
No. 4
This crazy story first broke last year and continues to evolve: Hertz customers claim they were arrested, some jailed and even held at gunpoint after false theft reports. CBS News has the report.
No. 5
Lovie Smith was hired to coach the Houston Texans, but the hiring has a shadow cast over it. The Texans looked poised to hire Josh McCown — right up to the point that Brian Flores sued the NFL. It’s awkward and not fair to either man. PaperCity has the story: A Bungled Search Leads to a Coach Who's More Than Earned This Shot — and Some Unfortunate Baggage.
No. 6
The U.S. ended the drought and picked up its first gold in Beijing as Lindsay Jacobellis won her first gold in snowboard cross in her fifth Games. Meanwhile, Mikaela Shiffrin skidded out of her second event in three days. But the big story out of the Games are reports that a failed test in the Russian Olympic Committee team has delayed the team figure skating medal ceremony (ESPN). Say it isn’t so…
Quote of the Day
“This is my fault. I wrote those sentences and I'm not looking to shift the blame to anyone else. I just want that for the record.” — Former New York Times editorial page editor James Bennet
Follow the conversation
Don’t miss out, stay informed! In addition to subscribing to this newsletter, bookmark my website, subscribe to my Daily Cheat Sheet, and follow me on Facebook and Twitter.
My Website: cdsix.com
Facebook: Cdsixwrites
Twitter: ChristopherSix1
Podcast
Hate reading? Let me read it to you. Subscribe to the Pick Six podcast here, or wherever you get your podcasts.
About
Christopher Six is a passionate advocate of community journalism with more than 30 years in the media, corporate communications and marketing. An award-winning designer, columnist, illustrator, photographer and newsroom leader, he is a respected voice in journalism ethics. A veteran reporter, he has created and taught news writing seminars for community colleges and the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
Editor’s Note
Pick Six is published most Mondays-Fridays. Sharing of stories does not equal endorsement, however, personal thoughts and commentary on those stories are 100 percent my own.