THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407020151
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ABE GOLDBLATT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Portsmouth, which hasn't had a professional baseball team since 1969, still has a link to the national pastime.
He's Ken Young, president of the Norfolk Tides, a Portsmouth resident during the baseball season.
``I love it here,'' Young told the Portsmouth Sports Club members at its June meeting at the Holiday Inn.
Young lives near Portside.
``Very convenient, too,'' he said. ``I have no traffic problems. I catch the ferry boat to Harbor Park.''
He said attendance at Harbor Park, which opened last year, is beyond his expectations.
``Last year we drew over 500,000 fans, more than doubling the attendance when the Tides played at old Met Park.
``This season we're doing even better, with an average attendance of 7,335.''
Looking back, this is a a far cry from when the Tides played their first season in the International League at Lawrence Stadium in 1969. Season attendance was 67,292 although the Tides won the pennant under Manager Clyde McCullough. It was Portsmouth's first and only season in Triple-A baseball. The parent Mets moved the team to Norfolk in 1990.
Young purchased the team from the Mets last year.
``The success of the team has been the new ballpark,'' said Young. ``Harbor Park is not a minor league facility.
``Add another 30,000 seats and you have a major league ballpark. It's major league in every respect, with excellent viewing from every location, the animated scoreboards, picnic areas and an attractive concourse and concession stands.''
He said a mixture of show business and baseball have contributed largely to the increase in attendance.
``We have many attractions to make baseball entertaining, especially for children. The plan is working,'' he pointed out.
Young noted that 80 percent of the Tides ownership is local, which he called a positive development.
Western Branch pitcher Jimmy Anderson was the Sports Club selection as the area's outstanding scholastic baseball player. Anderson was drafted in the ninth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Al Rothenberg, who has been the referee for more than 30 world championship boxing bouts, will be the next Sports Club speaker on July 18. by CNB