2007 - Echoes of Change Tour

June 23 thru 26, 2007

6/23/07 – Sarasota Red vs Vero Beach Devil Rays – 5-6 – Box Score
6/24/07 – Twins vs Marlins – 7-4 – Box Score
6/25/07 – White Sox vs Devil Rays – 5-4 – Box Score
6/26/07 –  Nationals vs Braves – 2-6 – Box Score

Each stadium on the 2007 tour marked a turning point—whether it was a team packing up, a ballpark nearing its swan song, or a franchise having a bit of an identity crisis:

• Holman Stadium (Vero Beach): The Dodgers' final spring in the storied “Dodgertown,” where palm trees and nostalgia swayed in the breeze. After this, it was goodbye orange groves, hello Glendale strip malls.

• Joe Robbie Stadium: In the middle of yet another name change and still trying to decide whether it was a football stadium awkwardly hosting baseball or vice versa. The Marlins were basically couch-surfing by this point.

• Tropicana Field: Home to a team about to rebrand itself out of the Devil—literally. The “Devil Rays” were soon to become simply the “Rays,” as if that would suddenly make everyone forget the catwalks and concrete.

• Turner Field: A fine park with a short shelf life. The Braves were already eyeing the suburbs and a fresh start in what would become Truist Park. So long, Olympic flame.

And while the stadiums were in flux, The Odyssey rolled on, steady as ever. This was year six of growing interest, expanding horizons, and embracing the whole beautiful, messy baseball universe—not just the major league corners of it.

Now, go enjoy the photos and our ever-loyal Secretary’s take on the four-day adventure. As always, he’s got piles of evidence—and a few wisecracks.

Here are da links!

• Photos Album - features some of the pictures for your viewing pleasure.

• Secretary's Report - if ever there was erudite writing, it is here.