WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER . April 11, 2006: Todays' Photograph of the day brings back the glory of the inner city ballpark, that oasis of green amongst the towers and the nitty gritty and the spires of commerce that lets the city breath. Such a ballpark is the Rutgers-Newark fastpitch softball field site of an old-fashioned Sunday doubleheader in the sunshine yesterday, with downtown Newark as its stage.

We've Got  green grass sunshine.  Let's Play Two -- Ernie Banks. Rutgers Scarlet Knights play Rowan College Sunday in a "an old-fashioned Sunday doubleheader."  Photo, WPCNR Roving Photographer.

We've Got Plenty of Room Come on Out.

By Fastpitch Johnny

Give me the old-fashioned Sunday Twin Bill

Left over from the Fifties when baseball mattered not the till.

When Mel and Vin remarked into mikes in their booth redoubt.

"If you're driving in the area,

We've Got Plenty of Room, Come on out!"

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When the Openers match Kings of the Hill

AVirgil Trucks and Allie Reynolds who'd give the big Sunday crowd a thrill.

In  the Nightcap, in long shadows, a rookie like Tiant would debut

Matching a long reliever, El Tiante in one chance for the Tribe's rotation breakthrough.

You got one game per scorecard so you had to buy two with grids too small.

It was two games for the price of one, the only true bargain I ever recall.

Soggy hot dogs for lunch and soggy hot dogs for dinner  was a fans' banquet

Camaraderie in empty upper decks made an endless day of serendipidous companions you met.

As ace matches ace, pitch for pitch  on carpet of green in neat parallel mow,

Sharp shadows creep between mound and home as The Opena's innings progressed inexorably

Sun bronzes bleacher baskers, while winds chill deck denizens in shadow

Pennants whip-snap with cheer above grandstand. Goose-eggs align on towering scoreboard stately.

The "Pock" of stomped drinking cups by bored miscreants punctuate the nightcap's  languid pace.

Gorging on ball, eating our fill of cracks of the bat, nifty picks, and pitching changes

The fateful shadows of the game, extending, quenching our thirst as we drank in the game's changing face.

Shadows are long now, starters long gone, the closer tries to nail it down. Another of the game's challenges.

Drinking fill of creamy crisp beer's head, we chat with neighbor like sages of Homer

Pleased when judgments are confirmed, roaring together on the clutch hit gamer.

Eager to commend and second guess and leap to our feet when a bad call enrages.

Every play is discussed and analyzed, with new found companions newfound friends better than any girl friend.

Shadows cover the outfield now, a bowl of sunshine basking the last bleacherites

Laying a patina of dusty gold hue over dark outfield walls

Lighting up wrappers and cups in now vacant bleacher wells

Zhyphers of the past wisk papers and dust devils across outfield sentinels as Nightcap ends and glowing tower lights.

A split, a split! Opener's heartbreaker is forgotten with a mighty collective shout!

Down the ramps to street, talking Jackie's winning hit. A last look at Elysian Field green,

The game in its cathedral beckons and holds an always-with-you scene,

We've Got Plenty of Room, Come on Out

Comisky Park, Chicago, 1975. Photo, WPCNR Sports