Brian Hoffman
From the July 13, 1994 edition of The New Castle Record
Don’t buy me anything for my birthday. For my anniversary, a friendly wave will do. Send me a Christmas card, but don’t worry about the gift.
I’m hoping Christmas comes early when the folks in Salem Vote on the proposed new baseball stadium next week. The polls will be open Tuesday, July 19, to see if the public is in favor of building the new stadium. Only Salem residents get a vote, although the stadium will be a huge benefit to the entire valley.
I’m in love with the architect’s sketch of the ballpark. It appears to be all but perfect for the need, and then some. The drawings are on display at several Salem locations, including Salem Municipal field, City Hall, and the Salem Civic Center.
The park, if it is indeed built, will be on a stretch of land between the Salem Civic Center youth fields and the football stadium. I’ve been going over there for months and walking around, envisioning a ballpark in my mind. One day I took a batter’s stance, in the snow, at the spot I had pegged as home plate. Still, I tried not to get my hopes up.
Now, less than a week away from the vote, I have my hopes up. I’ll be real disappointed if the stadium referendum doesn’t pass, and that artist’s rendering has a lot to do with it.
In my wildest dreams I didn’t imagine our ballpark could look that good. The press box, where I’ll spend close to 70 nights every summer, looks out on the Roanoke Valley with a view that cries out for a paint brush.
I went to the Salem Fair and rode the ferris wheel to check out the view. I climbed to the top of the football stadium to get an idea. It’s a perfect place for a ballpark in every way; parking, beauty, accessibility, you name it.
All I want for Christmas is to be able to go tot hat ballpark next summer. I’ve been campaigning, shaking hands and kissing babies and wearing a shirt with the artist’s drawing. I’m not big on politics, but this is a cause I believe in; baseball.
You see, I love baseball. One of the things that excited me about Salem, Va. when I first came here to go to college was the fact that the town had a minor league baseball team. I had never seen a minor league game before I first came upon Salem Municipal field in 1971, but I’ve seen many since; well over a thousand, thank you.
Personally, I was always happy with Salem Municipal Field. It isn’t new and it has a lot of poles to look around, but it has a homey feel to it. The kids have an nice area to play behind the press box and the media gets free food. What else is there?
Well, according to the Professional Baseball Agreement, that just isn’t good enough anymore. And, for the third time since I’ve been here, there is a real threat professional baseball will leave the valley. This time Kelvin Bowles can’t ride in from Franklin County on a white horse and buy the team. He was ready to sell it.
Without this stadium, Salem and the surrounding area can kiss professional baseball goodbye. But I don’t think that’s going to happen. The people have too much sense.
Salem mayor Jim Taliaferro, a great civic leader in his own time, wants this stadium to happen. He’s not even a baseball fan, but he knows what’s good for the economy.
Jim once told me if you can’t tee it up, he isn’t interested. In other words, his favorite sports are football and golf and that’s about it. I can count the number of times I’ve seen him at a Salem baseball game on my fingers and most of the time he was there to throw out the first ball.
Still, Taliaferro understands the importance of keeping the team here. An independent company did an economic impact study that backed that up.
I’d like to think the people of Salem, baseball fans or not, would realize this and overwhelmingly approve the ballpark. Being a baseball fan isn’t a criteria. There are plenty of things I’m not interested in, but I realize they’re important to the overall quality of life.
If the park is approved, I’d like to suggest a name. On the site you have Salem Stadium for football and the Salem Civic Center for indoor events. How about, for the baseball facility, “Salem Park?”
It doesn’t say much, but it says it all. It will be a “park,” with green grass and warm evening sun and folks relaxing at the ballgame. It will be a place people will love.
It will be, if the folks in Salem say they want it with their votes next Tuesday. And if that happens, it will truly be Christmas in July for this baseball fan.
-Prepared by Shelly Koon
