3/31/1998 Arizona Diamondbacks Inaugural Game vs Colorado Rockies, Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix, AZ


 23 years ago today...

March 31, 1998 - Phoenix, AZ

Arizona made it to the big leagues when the Diamondbacks made their Major League Baseball debut at the opening of Bank One Ballpark.
Arizona had hosted MLB Cactus League spring training since the 1950s, but the market only had a Triple A minor league baseball franchise until this date. The NBA Phoenix Suns were no longer the only professional sports team in Phoenix. This was an important day in Arizona sports history.
Bank One Ballpark was a grand new addition to downtown and the sports landscape. With seating for 48,500, the "BOB" as it became known, was the only ballpark at the time with its own swimming pool. The retractable roof and levered panels across the outfield allowed for an open-air park for early and late season, while being a model of modern air conditioning through the hot summer months.
The inaugural year opening day ticket was a unique souvenir, featuring a holographic image that reflect the roof opening and closing as you move the ticket side to side.
Colorado Rockies were the visiting team. We drove to the sold-out game with owners of the Dirty Drummer bar/grill who had invitations to a Coors-sponsored pregame party at Jackson's On Third, a sports bar a block from BOB. Peter Coors was there, well-known at the time for appearing in the brand's commercials, and he picked up the tab.
The Diamondbacks were a typical expansion team and sucked in year one. Owner Jerry Colangelo dumped the plan of growing the team with youth and went all-in on signing free agents to deferred-money contracts and making aggressive trades. The gamble paid off, as the Diamondbacks became the fastest team since its creation to win a World Series when they beat the Yankees in seven games in 2001, easily the most exciting and memorable sporting event I've ever attended. More to come in October entries of TSTT.
The Rockies won the inaugural game 9-2 over the Diamondbacks. Travis Lee had the team's first-ever base hit, and first-ever home run.
We are now entering our 24 year as season ticket holders, the first where our Opening Day ticket is electronic on on a phone app, rather than a hard ducat. This development of going to E-ticketing rather than paper tickets for sports and entertainment is making TSTT obsolete in the future.



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