The paltry attendance at the first two Pittsfield Colonials games I've attended are alarming considering the team, part of the independent professional Canadian-American League, is only two homestands into its first season here. Perhaps that my first game was played during a tornado warning (albeit a very sunny one) and the second one under irrepressibly cloudy skies has something to do with it. Also, school isn't finished yet. Hopefully the crowds pick up soon; otherwise, it seems there may not be a year two. Nonetheless, there are many things to like about the team. A randomly assembled list:
* The team uniform, a well-assembled throwback to the early 20th-century. Great fonts, great wide collars on the jersey, great blue-and-red color scheme, great stripes on the hat. This is, by far, the best thing about the team. And when marketing matters almost as much as the quality of play for all teams outside the major leagues, the uniform is very important. The hat has already secured the slot of crowning treat for myself for the summer.
* When I buy tickets at their downtown office, the staff says, "See you later at the game." And then you see them later at the game.
* Each ticket costs $6. The beer (Sam Adams) costs $4 and the ice cream (Ben & Jerry's) costs $3. It might actually be a better deal to buy a ticket and enjoy a couple of drinks at a Colonials game than doing the same at a bar.
* Nearly all of the seats at Wahconah Park are underneath an old wooden awning behind home plate and they have a charming, vintage appeal. Beyond the outfield wall are only trees, which is a lovely backdrop for fans. A not-so-lovely backdrop for hitters is the sun that sets in their eyes between 7:45 and 8 p.m. Also, the outfield wall is a bit ragged and the park dimensions ridiculously favor pitchers, to the extent that it was probably a strong factor when the Mets and Astros moved their Class A affiliates out of town, eight and nine years ago, respectively.
* Even though it's still the Colonials' first season, the Quebec Capitales are apparently their rival. So said the woman who sold me my first ticket. Even more surprising, most of the Capitales have French names. I suppose if you're a talented player in Montreal but not capable of reaching a U.S. franchise, the team is your only option.
* The Colonials' manager, Brian Daubach, seems to be doing his best to impersonate Tom Hanks' impersonation of Jimmy Foxx in "A League of Their Own" -- the first half of the movie, when he pees in the sink, not the second half when he bonds with the female players and rallies with them to the championship game. Daubach, who had four good seasons as the Sawx's designated hitter from 1999 to 2002, seems to have been chosen for the name recognition he brings. Otherwise, he doesn't seem very peppy or interested in mid-game advice or strategy as he shuffles to and from his spot as third-base coach. His comments to the Berkshire Eagle usually combine sports cliches in all of the wrong ways. Covering him must be very tough on the reporter, not that the Eagle has shown too much interest so far.
In short, you should go see a Colonials game very soon and enjoy. Here's the link to the schedule:
http://www.pittsfieldcolonials.com/schedule.html
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