One year later …
October 1, 2007 by Jason Guarente
Today is the one-year anniversary of the Barnstormers’ first championship. They defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish 5-2 at Clipper Magazine Stadium on a crisp Sunday night. Denny Harriger pitched a complete game and walked off into the sunset. Jeremy Todd, Reggie Taylor and Lance Burkhart all homered. It was one of the best moments in the history of professional baseball in Lancaster.
How do you remember it?
The Lancaster Barnstomers Championship of the Atlantic League is one of the best moments in my life. It reminds me of the times that I went to the Lancaster Red Roses games with my Dad in the Fifties and early Sixties. They were some of the best years in my life. When the Barnstormers swept the Championship Series from the Bridgeport Bluefish my first thought was “I wish you were to see Lancaster win the Championship one more time,Dad”. That’s how I will always remember it!
Love those Barnstormers!
Awww, wasn’t it great Boomer? To be there in the sea of red, blowing the car horn all the way down Prince St… just like in 1980 running down South Broad Street in Philly till 4 am then going back to celebrate all afternoon. I hope my kids remember that night and can reminisce with their kids about when the Stormers won the championship. This was OUR World Series that we will have forever !
Hey, I have a certain player’s hat from that championship… cool !
I remember getting pretty tanked and not being able to talk the next day from so much yelling.
Traveling to the away playoff and champ series games was awesome. Trip up to Bridgeport and staying in the same hotel as the team. Hubby having drinks with Frank Klebe and his wife in the hotel bar after the Friday night game. Then going to that game on Sat when it went long…..we had to leave…I never do that….but hubby had to get home to work on sunday morning!!! (6 am) About 20 minutes down the road we get a call from our friends who were following us in their car….that NORM made the error which won us the game…..We rode some serious adrenaline the rest of the way home…..lasted the whole way thru the final game and the sea of CODE RED…and the towels and the carrying of Denny off the field and the players high fiving the crowd on the victory lap….and JT getting MVP….the horns on Prince Street…the celebration at the Brickyard when hubby stood on a chair and toasted the players…Joe Pinto kissing me on the hand…Dave Collins giving me a hug…Geez it still is good to be a Stormer fan! Even a year later!!!
What a game. The electricity, the excitement, the energy. Wow what a difference a year makes.
Stormin…theres still electricity and excitement and energy here. That doesnt sound too positive!
Stormin… I really want to unload this ball before I lose it in my house ….
I loved the Championship last year!!! That was AWESOME!!! I was one blowing my horn down prince street and just to be around that kind of atmosphere made it all the more special. Way to go JT on MVP last year, he deserved it!!!
My memories of it are quite different from most people’s, but I have to say that it is something that will be with me for the rest of my life. To be a part of a championship team is/was a dream come true.
The post-celebration.. well that is something that I honestly don’t remember. *grin*
Thanks to all the fans and their support of this team/organization. You guys are the best.
Hmmmm…which player might that be?
I wonder AA…
Question for you Jason. When will the “Expansion Draft” for the Blue Crabs take place and are you going to do a post on “who should” and “who should not” be protected.
Could be for some interesting commenting. Thanks.
I’m not sure. I’ll have to check. The expansion draft was held in November when the Barnstormers were formed. That was the day they grabbed Ryan Minor (in a trade), Matt Beech and others. The Revs’ expansion draft was held in late December with the results announced in January. Travis Hake was obviously the most notable name there.
The Barnstormers won’t bring back 13 players from last season’s team, so it shouldn’t be difficult to decide whom to protect. Some of it will depend on the manager. Woods, Gonzalez, Burkhart, Hileman, Ambrosini, Parker, Stevens and DePriest are obvious choices off the top of my head.
I remember waving my towel like a madman, screaming like a girl, and begging God to make the umpire call strikes during Denny’s last strikeout. It is true that this is only Atlantic League baseball, but it was the first championship I have ever seen in person (other than High School football), so it was pretty sweet. I had real joy watching how thrilled the players were to win it, regardless of the league. THey celebrated like they were champions, and in our AL corner of the world, they were. I still remember the chants of “Reggie, Reggie” and “Denny, Denny”…goosebumps. The best sporting event I have witnessed in person in my lifetime.
I remember that night well. I didn’t have a dime on me and tickets were sold out. So naturally I hopped the fence and had to out ran a chubby renta-cop. When I got in the stadium magic was in the air! Everyone was smiling and being nice to each other. I caught the buzz and started sharing from my flask with a girl I sat down besides in the stands. We had a great time cheering on the team! We both kissed the bottle more than I can count. Before you knew it we were kissing each other! It was getting cold and I remember holding her close to my body to warm her up. Her name was Sarah and she smelled like strawberries! I think I told her every joke I knew. In the seventh inning stretch I got up to go to the bathroom and when I returned she was gone. I never saw her again.
I used to go to games now and then, scrounging up all the money I could find between couch cushions and on car floors just to buy a ticket and hopefully get a chance to run into Sarah again. Sometimes I would even wait by the gate to see if she would show up, but she never did.
I remember that game well. It was the day I found love. It was the game I trembled next to a beautiful girl.
Come find me Sarah!
Sounds like the words to a bad rock song Abe.
Sarah, if you’re out there, two words:
Restraining Order.
ABE??? ABE COBB IS THAT YOU??
Oh my God I can’t believe it! A friend told me someone was on here looking for a Sarah and I had a small glimmer of hope that it might of been you! I’ve thought about you everyday. Sorry I disappeared that night. It’s a long story. I ran into an old roommate and we had old issues that had to be talked about on the spot.
I also went to games hoping we would run into each other. I sort of gave up. I didn’t know what you thought of me. I had a little to much to drink and well, was a little bit more open to my surroundings than I usually am.
So I want to see you!! EEEEK! How can we meet up???
Tough day for the Phillies. Now there’s a lot of pressure on Kendrick to win Game 2.
Jason,
Those Rockies look to be on a mission! The Phils have been playing with their backs against the wall most of the season, so I’m betting that they come back strong.
Should be a heck of a series, the best IMO and I’m a Yankee fan!
Mike
Tough day for Sarah. She almost got away!!
Jason,
Not only did your website surpass your imagination with how many users posted comments and the volume of those comments, but it can now be advertised as a “long lost love portal.” Not too bad for a baseball site for a minor league independent team.
NO WAY! This is awesome! It’s great to hear from you! I can’t believe it!!
I figured you had a good reason for not coming back that night. I actually got a little worried about you.
How about this Friday? Do you know where Dipco is (Lancaster Dispensing Co.)? Lets meet up there at 9:00pm. Does that work for you?
Abe
The Rockies remind me of the 2003 Marlins, who also started poorly and then raced to the finish. Colorado has to be feeling invincible right now.
Also, for those of you who like that other league: Beckett was lights out. If I had to pick a WS winner, it would be the Red Sox.
Me and Mrs Barney are heading down to the Phils game tomorrow. Hopefully we can bring them some luck. No matter what it’s been a great ride.
This is so funny… “The Abe and Sarah Story”
Friday is coming quickly and Sarah has yet to respond to Abe’s invitation. Is it possible that Abe has once again let Sarah slip through his fingers?
Join us tomorrow…. as Abe cries out “SARAH!” in his best imitation of “STELLA!”, goes down on his knees, and cries out to the heavens, “Lord, why me?”
Come on Phillies rebound from the loss and take the Rockies.
You guys are funny!!
Abe, sorry for taking so long to get back to you, I have to get on my friends laptop to get to the internet.
Friday sounds perfect!!!
There is something I have to tell you though…..
I bet Sarah’s in love with Bosco. Pack, sorry about those Gators. Last Saturday was a tough one for a lot of us, especially in the Big 12.
Saturday Red River Shootout should be interesting. I am going with Oklahoma by 17.
Stormin,
The Gators could not muster anything in the first half. Their many penalties were their down fall. (Same story with my NFL team, the Steelers.) The Gators can usually overcome their abundant penalties, but not against the solid Auburn Tigers.
I thought of you when the Sooners lost last week, but like the Gators, they are not out of it with only one loss. They have to take care of business this weekend.
LSU vs Florida will be interesting. I have not really seen LSU against decent competition, so I dont have a prediction. And if Joiner, the starting safety is out due to legal problems, I dont think it will be a good day for the Gators. But I am optimistic like vs Ohio State last year. They can win. UF just has to play a solid, mistake free football game and they can be victorous. I hope it will be a good game.
GO GATORS!!! GO SOONERS! Meet you in a BCS bowl, hopefully.
Stay tuned to “As the Clip turns”………..
…..will Sara get back with Abe????
…..will Sara tell Abe about her boyfriend who plays for the Central Penn Piranha and is taller than Cylo and wider than Downtown???
…..will Abe tell Sara about his addiction to funnel cakes????
…..will Abe tell Sara that he is a lonely, part-time groundskeeper who has been out of work for 3 years now????
…..and what was the joke that Abe told that sent Sara away??
Sarah,
Looking forward to hanging out tonight. What was it that you have to tell me? Is it good or bad? Don’t tell me you have a bag attached to your side for when you have to go to the bathroom? (hahaha just kidding).
Pack, if I remember correctly, the last joke I told Sarah was this.
Whats the difference between a vacuum cleaner and a Harley Davidson? ….
Answer: the size of the Dirtbag!
All Harley owners can meet Abe at 9:00 pm. tonight (Friday) at the Lancaster Dispensing Company. Tell him that your name is “Dirtbag.”
Please take video or pictures.
I have nothing against Harleys. I just think motorcycles are for people with little logic on life. I do understand that motorcycles are an outlet for people who need to feel like they belong or want to be a part of something. Harleys in general seem to attract a low self esteemed class of people who want to feel like it’s ok to be who they think they are. It’s a shame that they feel the need to connect with a class that typically has horrible style and a class that desires to be connected with bad ass status.
But what do I know. I’m Mennonite and mainly travel by scooter.
Abe, heehee you are two funny! You’re such a cutie
Well I guess I might as well tell you now what I said I had to tell you earlier. No use dragging things along.
My name is not really Sarah Larson. It’s Larry Steiner.
Multi-personality disorder and transvestites…
This sounds more like an episode of the Jerry Springer Show rather than “As the Clip Turns”.
I enjoyed the last turn in the “story of Abe and Sara, er Larry.”
Actually, the whole saga made me laugh.
Humor is never useless.
Thanks.