My new hometown team faced my former hometown’s newly relocated Boston Red Sox AAA affiliate last night at Harbor Park, Norfolk, VA. With a bit more clarity, my new hometown team (Norfolk Tides, I now live in Virginia Beach) played my former hometown’s (I used to live in Rhode Island) newly relocated (Worcester, MA via Pawtucket, RI) AAA affiliate (Worcester Red Sox) at the home of the Norfolk Tides, Harbor Park. I have a ton of history, actually I have a mega-ton of history with the Worcester Red Sox, formerly the Pawtucket Red Sox. Search my blog for Pawtucket Red Sox stuff and you will see why this game versus this Tide’s opponent was so special for me to attend. Of all the Norfolk Tides games, heck of all the baseball games collectively that I circled this year as “must-see,” the Worcester Red Sox series of games in Norfolk were top priority.

It was a beautiful night for baseball at Harbor Park, home of the Norfolk Tides. Humidity, gone. 70 degree temps, light breeze, clear skies – check. Sweatshirt weather, eh not yet. Harbor Park is situated right on the water, boats sailing in and out of the harbor, planes getting ready to land at nearby Norfolk Airport, the military ships and shipping agencies fill up the background of the park along the waterfront, very easy to get to, and for the most part, easy to park and walk to the stadium. Last night, the traffic did back up a bit getting to the park but I (and Rachel) eventually snuck my way into a tiny spot in a lot across from the main parking lot area. $6 to park, not bad. Not bad at all. Thank you nice parking lot attendant for accommodating us! We missed the first inning of the game, but no worries. It happens. They still play 9.

My first impression when Rachel and I finally made it into the stadium – wow, this place is packed. I had checked ticket availability around 1pm yesterday afternoon and it seemed like there were plenty of good seats. I’m glad we bought tickets ahead of time because the place was jam packed. Looking at the box score numbers for last night on milb.com, attendance was 9,312 and I believe Harbor Park capacity has to be around 12,000. So a near sellout crowd came out to cheer on the Norfolk Lumpia aka Tides on Filipino American Heritage Night versus the Woo Sox aka Worcester Red Sox.

Our seats were sort of in the middle of a busy row of spectators, so we decided to just stand, eat, walk around, stand some more, then find seats in a less crowded section of Harbor Park in deep left field to watch the game. No worries, this was just easier for us to be flexible with having dinner, checking out the souvenir shop, getting ice cream, etc. I usually like to get seats on the aisle, so I can get in and out easier. But with the crowd packed in like it was last night, a comfortable set of seats in far away left field was just right. And we got to see a heck of a game. And one of baseball’s most curious minor league baseball players, a true 4A player as they call them, Worcester Red Sox 1st Baseman, Bobby Dalbec.

So why is Bobby Dalbec still playing for the Worcester Red Sox? Because he is a major league caliber player playing at the AAA level who is a seasoned veteran who can step up to the big club at a moments notice. And because when he gets to the big club, he cannot stay in the lineup due to his lack of production. Dalbec has been up and down in the Boston Red Sox organization so many times, I have lost count. He has had short stints, he has had extended stints. He has played in 37 games for the Boston Red Sox in 2024. His stats – 11 hits, 1 home run, 43 strikeouts. He has played in 74 games for the Worcester club. His stats – 68 hits, 16 home runs, 112 strikeouts. He has hit home runs and yes, he has struck out. He has worn glasses, he has gone without glasses. He is a big physical guy but surprisingly athletic as a fielder and baserunner. He can DH, he can play first base, he can play 3rd base. He just cannot make that next step consistency wise at the major league level at the plate to stay at the major league level. He is a true 4A player, a player seemingly talented enough to be on a big league club, yet somehow cannot get enough hits to be on the roster. I wholeheartedly root for all the Bobby Dalbecs of professional baseball, heck I root for the Bobby Dalbecs in amateur baseball, collegiate baseball, and youth sports. Maybe an organizational change would do Dalbec some good, I don’t know. Like I said, I really do root for the guy.

After a fantastic and game winning rally in the bottom of the 8th inning, the Norfolk Tides held off the Worcester Red Sox to win Saturday’s game 6-3. I found myself cheering loudly for both teams. Rachel was a bit confused, since we now live in Virginia but I kept my applause loud and often for both teams. I even donned my Boston Red Sox Fenway Hat and slapped on my Boston Red Sox hoodie mid-game for good measure. Actually, there were a lot of Boston Red Sox jerseys, hats, sweatshirts, game jerseys all over Harbor Park last night. That was pretty cool to see and we (B-Sox fans) nodded to each other as we passed in the aisles and concession stand area of the park. Post game, we were treated to a very impressive fireworks show with awesome music and even better fireworks.

Rachel capture this fan photographing the fireworks, a very cool artistic photo if I don’t say so myself…

Overall, it was probably my favorite Tides game I have attended this season. Cheering for both teams just seemed right. After all, I have to be loyal to my Red Sox even though they were playing my new hometown’s Tides. The game itself was really entertaining. Between watching Worcester’s Bobby Dalbec’s mighty swings to newly acquired Vaughn Grissom (Chris Sale trade pre-season, ouch!) try to work his way back to the majors to minor league phenom Roman Anthony versus cheering for the new look Norfolk Tides (a lot of new faces post trades, callups), I was just in baseball heaven on earth there at Harbor Park. Rachel actually mentioned that it was one of the best games she had ever been to, which makes me happy of course. The Norfolk Tides will face the Worcester Red Sox today for their final home matchup of the season. And I am so psyched to have been a part of this hometown baseball experience which was so personal and special on so many levels.