Article and all photos by Joe Mock, BaseballParks.com
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BASEBALLPARKS.COM attends clinching game of the ’05 World Series
Attending a big-league game is a blast. Going to a post-season game is even better. Being present for the clinching game of the World Series is, well, priceless.
Here’s our pictorial essay on Game 4 of the 2005 Fall Classic, held at Houston’s Minute Maid Park. The first pitch of the contest is shown in the photo above.
What a zoo outside!
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Before you could even get close to the ballpark, you had to fight your way through the maze of satellite trucks. It seems every TV outlet in the Western Hemisphere had two things: its own dish beaming signals skyward; and a makeshift “studio” where its anchors could appear and interview guests with Minute Maid Park in the background.
Telltale signs
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I mean, we all need signs to tell us where to go to find things, like rest rooms, concession stands, tickets for family and friends of the White Sox. We even need signs to tell us how to find heaven!
Along Crawford Street
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Before going into the ballpark for the big World Series game, I took a stroll along the Crawford Street side of the stadium. There really is a lot to see there, so make a point of stopping by this side of the park.
It was quite obvious that the retractable roof at Minute Maid Park was open. This was a matter of great controversy in Houston, because the team felt that keeping the roof closed (and the crowd noise in) helped the Astros roll through the first two rounds of the post season. The team intended for the World Series games to be played with the roof closed, but just a few hours before Game 3 (the first World Series game ever played in the State of Texas, by the way), Bud Seilig decreed that the roof had to be open while the games were going on. Astro fans were not happy, especially since they dropped Game 3 to fall into a 3-0 hole going into Game 4.
The shot on the right shows the statue of Jeff Bagwell that stands in the plaza along Crawford Street. There’s also one of Craig Biggio making the pivot.
Definitely not a regular-season game!
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Of course, no one attending Game 4 of the World Series was confused enough to think this was a regular-season game. Other than the obvious things (tickets that were extremely expensive, the satellite trucks, etc.), there were some interesting indications that this game was definitely not a run-of-the-mill affair. For instance, beer was $10. Also, part of the pre-game ceremonies involved introducing the all-time “Latino Legends” team. Interestingly, Alex Rodriguez, who was born in New York City and raised in Florida, is on this team.
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This shot gives you an idea of the multiplicity of idiosyncracies at Minute Maid Park. Note the grassy incline in dead center field, the short Crawford Boxes in left and the up/down/in/out of the outfield fence.
Here comes Lights-Out Lidge
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Brad Lidge had been the unhittable closer for the Astros all season long. Something went awry in the post-season, though, and the final game of the World Series was where this really came to the fore. When Lidge entered the scoreless game in the 8th inning, he promptly gave up what would end up being the World Series-winning run, an RBI single by Jermaine Dye.
The final out
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The White Sox were nursing that 1-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth. In came closer Bobbby Jenks. He induced Orlando Palmeiro to ground weakly to short, and the shot on the left above shows the final out of the Series being made at first base. Let the celebration begin!
Thanking the loyal fans
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A few minutes after that final out, the Astros players started filing out of the dugout to wave to the fans. This gesture was to thank them for their strong attendance and intense loyalty during 2005. The scoreboard, showing the final score of 1-0, echoed that same sentiment.
Post-game activities
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A disappointed Phil Garner, manager of the Astros, faces the music. He’s being interviewed by ESPN’s Karl Ravech on the left. On the right, the White Sox players hoist the World Series trophy for all the world to see.
And with that, another year of baseball has gone into the history books.