The baseball season is almost underway and we’d like to celebrate by sharing this slick infographic that shows how closely related baseball is to live music and how The Beatles used ballparks to make their rounds in the U.S. in the 60’s.
As a Cubs fan, I will point out a couple things that struck me. It’s quite insightful to note how the impact of the Beatles on the teams in whose ballpark they played.
For example, it was interesting to see that when the Sox were one of only three team that lost their next home game after the Beatles played at Comiskey. And the Cubs won their game against the hometown Giants in 1966. Hmmmm…?
Remembering Rosenblatt: Concert Venue
The other thing I’d like to add to this baseball park exploration is a cool story I discovered while chatting with a fellow concert fan Paul in Dallas.
During our chat Paul told me about his excellent website Remembering Roseblatt and how the venue was a popular spot for touring bands back in the 70’s and 80’s. I loved reading Paul’s account of his first memories of seeing the Beach Boys and The Police, and here’s a snippet from his Remembering Rosenblattpost about beach balls and port-a-poties:
The Beach Boys
Finally, my shot came one summer in the early 80s. The Beach Boys were coming to Rosenblatt and my brother, nine years my senior, offered to take me along with his friends. I would have been twelve or thirteen at the time. I remember many things about that first concert experience and few of them had to do with the music. In particular, this was my first exposure to people openly consuming large amounts of alcohol and it was my first time ever smelling marijuana. I remember thinking how all of it made people just a little bit crazy.For big concerts like this that weren’t affiliated with a baseball game, they would set the stage up on the warning track along the wall in right-centerfield. Concert goers would spread blankets out all over the outfield turf and party it up for an hour or two in anticipation of the show starting.
I’m not sure who thinks to bring beach balls to Rosenblatt events, but it seems there were always plenty on hand even back in the 80s. Waiting for your turn to volley the rainbow colored sphere is a great way to keep your mind off the anticipation of the opening number…
So thinking of Paul’s story, the impact of the Beatles on ballparks and the history of another shuttered sports stadium/concert venue, I’d like to know what the impact has been or will be of Dave Matthews, Roger Waters, Paul McCartney and the other bands that have played Wrigley in the past couple of years.
How are other concert fans experiencing live music at other historic ballparks? Have the Cubs (or other teams) won or lost more after these artists have played there?
While you’re thinking about the answer to those questions, check out our Live Fix Radio episode that highlights the Beatles Chicago tour stop in 1965.
Special thanks to Paul for sharing his story and to Flipflopflying.com for the rad infographic.
