Wild Night at 'The Joe'

The Natinal Anthem at Joseph R.Riley, Jr., Park. In the center,
between the trees you can just make out a patch of the Ashley River.

Tonight was my first "100 percent capacity" event since the big pandemic shutdown in March 2020. The Charleston Riverdogs announced this week that all seats at Joseph P. Riley, Jr., Park are now available for purchase. The game with the Down East Wood Ducks wasn't a sellout, but there were a lot of fans and they were boisterous. Thirsty Thursday with $1 beers all night probably contributed to the size and liveliness of the crowd.

The stadium was opened in 1997 and is named for Charleston's longest-serving mayor who was also a big booster for baseball in the city. "The Joe," as it is known, is also home to the Citadel's baseball team. It's on a marshy bend on the Ashley River, and it's easy to reach where I-26 empties into the city's streets.

Sunset across the marsh outside the ballpark.

When I arrived there were lines at every turn. Lines of cars going into the parking.lots. Lines of fans at the ticket windows. I and other advance ticket holders were directed to quicker entry at the Marsh Gate where we waited in a short line for security check. Inside the ballpark, there were lines every which way. There were lines to order food, lines to pickup orders, and one big, long line for ID checks and wrist bands.

I was hungry, but I couldn't get near the food until the sixth inning when the line was short at a kiosk that had boiled peanuts (the park was sold out of regular peanuts), funnel cake fries and one last corn dog. I took the delicious corn dog and a cup of the boiled peanuts back to my seat and missed only a half an inning.

Almost all these people are standing in one line or another in the food court.

It was good to see things back to "normal." A lot of the stadium precautions are still in place, like cashless concession stands, but there is no mask enforcement for fans. Employees still have masks and the team recommends masks for fans who haven't been vaccinated. There will be a vaccination booth outside the ballpark on Friday for anyone who wants a shot.

Charlie T. Riverdog works the crowd. The "T" stands for "The."

The usual minor league antics between innings, like the musical chairs/bouncy horse race, were out on the field again. Many teams have been limiting the shenanigans to the stands or making them virtual. And it was nice just to be around people again. The section where I was sitting managed to get on the big screen during the YMCA dance. Lucky me, I was one of the receivers in the t-shirt toss.

Meanwhile, out on the field, there was a good Low-A baseball game between the Riverdogs and the visiting Down East Wood Ducks. The Tampa Bay Rays returned this year as the team's major league affiliate, following about 15 seasons with the New York Yankees. The Wood Ducks have been with the Texas Rangers since 2017, but were moved from A-Advanced to Low-A this year. 

On opposite walls, tributes to past players from The Citadel and the Yankees.

The Wood Ducks jumped out to an early lead, but things got exciting in bottom of the eighth. With two out and two runners on, Diego Infante, a pinch hitter, fought back from an 0-2 count to 2-2, and then hit a home run to tie the game. The Wood Ducks scored two runs in the 10th inning with some aggressive base running and wise at bats to retake and keep the lead. Final: Wood Ducks 6, Riverdogs 4.

All is calm after a big night at The Joe.