What Was On Second?

If you’re a ballpark/former use geek (who me?), be sure and check out JD’s updated Before and Afters of Nationals Park. She has documented what used to be located at what is now the playing field of the ballpark.

In case you’re not familiar with this, Half and M is the intersection for the Navy Yard Metro stop. One block south is Half and N, which is right in front of the centerfield gate. What used to be Half and O is now second base or thereabouts. A red brick warehouse, seen at her May 4, 2006, Looking Southwest photo is the trivia answer to - What was located at home plate?

(Note: As JD explained to me, "Be aware that the "Home Plate" sign was not correctly placed--home plate was actually up against the red brick building, but at the groundbreaking they didn't want people going that far into the construction zone, so they fudged it a bit.")

I’ve been to five Nats games this season and I still can’t get over the surreal feeling I get when I walk on the new pavement for the streets around the ballpark. I compare that to all those Saturday mornings when I walked around the construction site. I can still see the crumbling structures, the streets full of pot holes, and remember telling myself, don’t be surprised if they don’t meet their Opening Day deadline.

By the way, I first met Jacqueline in 2006 near First and N. It wasn’t hard to figure out who she was. We were the only ones wandering around…