Heard it through the
Grapevine What a Blast! Bottle Collectors Hit a Grand Slam New Jersey’s Robert Strickhart reports: Here’s what happened. Marianne and I had often talked about going back to Cleveland as we had such a nice time there back in 2018 for the FOHBC show. We went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when we were there and had a great time. That night back in ’18, we went to an Indians game, where we were treated to fireworks after the game. Most of you know I have a passion for bottles, but baseball and fireworks were always way near the top of the list for me. (It’s been said that if I get cut, I’d probably bleed baseballs.) Anyway, I’ve seen fireworks displays all over the map that were very, very good, but when we were in Cleveland, the display was outrageous! It left a mark. Once I saw fireworks choreographed to the 1812 Overture… very cool. But in Cleveland, they hooked up with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and had fireworks to Led Zeplin, Hendrix and the Beatles. It was spectacular. So when the Baltimore show was cancelled for the weekend of Sept. 25, 2021, it was a no-brainer. We checked the Indians schedule, had the dog sitter lined up and we figured everyone else had the weekend pencilled in so, I figured we’d contact Ralph and Janet Finch as well as Adam and Phyllis Koch to see if they wanted to take in a game in Cleveland. Everybody was on board. Then we said, let’s see if Matt, Liz and Owen Lacy wanted to go. Yup. How about Louis and Lindsay Fifer? Yup. The Lacys’ cousin, Troy, his wife, April, and son Rowen? Yup. All in. How about Rick and Bernie Baldwin (aka Mrs. Tribe fan)? Sure? Ted and Hazel Krist? Sure. Sue O’Keefe? Absolutely!
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Antique Bottle & Glass Collector
What a group! From many states, collectors of many interests, and all brought together by one thing: A great hobby. Photo courtesy of Janet Finch
I got in touch with a nice young man in the Cleveland box office named Bobby (if you’re out there, Bobby, thanks again), and he hooked me up with a deal. It included $99 for a ticket in the luxury box, all-you-can-eat buffet (not just hot dogs but a full salad bar, barbecue, mac and cheese, pulled pork, pasta, pizza, beverages, ice cream, you name it!), fireworks and great seats over first base. The list grew slowly and we just kept adding tickets as people decided to go. It was really no hassle putting this together. I got a total number, had the box office print the tickets and we all met in Cleveland. Top it off, it was fan appreciation night. Along with the fireworks, everyone got a free towel and a very nice Cleveland ball cap. NICE! The game was great. A young pitcher named Eli Morgan pitched a one-hit gem into the sixth and the bullpen took care
of the rest. Jose Ramirez hit a couple of home runs offensively and the Tribe shut out the White Sox 6-0. Yes, the Sox had already clinched the American league Central division, but it was a really good game. The fireworks were not linked to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this time, but they did a nice job showing seasons’ highlights while the sky lit up. The Tribe will no longer be called the Indians after this season, they’ll be the Guardians, so it was sort of a historical game to boot. It wasn’t a bottle show, but it was the best and most important part of the bottle hobby, the people. Spending time at a ballgame with this group of 19 was well worth the 7-hour drive and Marianne and I had a great time. If I missed anyone, my apologies. I think I’m going to do it again, perhaps in Baltimore next time. Or just randomly or if a show gets cancelled again. So if you want in, I’ll get you a ticket.
