Trivia time: It so happens that Hiroshima was the first professional team that Alfonso Soriano ever played for. August 9, 2006 [LINK]
Last Friday's Washington Post had a story on the controversy over where to build a new stadium for the Hiroshima Carp baseball team. Location seems to be the main point of dispute, rather than who will pay for it:
But most Hiroshimans support rebuilding at the current location across the street from the Peace Park and the iconic Atomic Bomb Dome, the burned-out building still standing from the Aug. 6, 1945, U.S. bombing. When asked about the ballpark, many residents talk about the postwar days when the birth of the Carp, in 1950, and the construction of the stadium, in 1957-8, restored hope and self-worth to the people.
There was a photograph of Hiroshima Municipal Stadium in the National Geographic 15 or 20 years ago. It is symmetrical and very rounded, but with the main grandstand running parallel to the foul lines, with lots of foul territory and a small, uncovered upper deck. Trivia time: It so happens that Hiroshima was the first professional team that Alfonso Soriano ever played for.
Hopes that returning home would energize the Nationals proved in vain last night, as the Marlins beat them, 4-2. I suppose the loss of Livan Hernandez must be pretty demoralizing for the team. Apparently a deal tentative deal with the Diamondbacks was reached before the waiver-clearing trade deadline, but was kept secret while the details were ironed out. He said he was sad to leave Washington, and we are sad to see him go.
I've added a panoramic photo at the bottom of the Camden Yards page, and modified one of the earlier ones. Back to diagram updates soon...