Rosenblatt Stadium will host its final College World Series beginning Saturday, June 19. You might have heard.
As the CWS prepares to leave the ‘Blatt for a new stadium 3 miles north on 10th Street, the nostalgia for Omaha’s “Diamond on the Hill” is at a fever pitch. But Rosenblatt has played host to hundreds of events during its history, not just collegiate baseball games. Sure, cable television cameras have been gracious to Rosenblatt and Omaha for the past few decades, but the ‘Blatt is more than just the CWS to plenty of people in and outside Omaha.
Steve Pivovar of the Omaha World-Herald recently finished a book that hopes to tell the full history of Rosenblatt. Pivovar and others published “Rosenblatt Stadium: Omaha’s Diamond on the Hill,” a 300-page tome presenting the stories, traditions, and photos related to Rosenblatt’s storied past.
Many Omahans know The World-Herald’s Pivovar from his coverage of Creighton sports. But he has probably seen as many or more College World Series games and other events at the ‘Blatt as anyone else around. So who better to kick off our White & Blue Review’s coverage of the 2010 College World Series than the author himself?
White & Blue Review: Can you give us a little background on where the idea for the book came from and what all went into putting it together?
Steve Pivovar: I started thinking that The World-Herald needed to do a book on Rosenblatt while watching coverage of the last home game at Yankee Stadium two falls ago. Rosenblatt is our Yankee Stadium, our Wrigley Field, our Fenway Park. It’s played an important role in the community, and I felt something should be done to tell its story. From there, it was a matter of convincing our people, especially our sports editor, Thad Livingston, that this was a worthwhile endeavor.
WBR: About how long did the book take from start to finish?
SP: I started working on the book after the end of the 2009 College World Series in terms of interviewing people. However, the business of putting out a daily newspaper often got in the way. The bulk of the work was done in March and April, especially April. A lot of long days, not only for myself but for Tim Parks, who designed the book, and a number of other people in our building who worked on it.
WBR: Did the Omaha World-Herald have all the pictures and other items that went into creating the book, or did you have to talk to other sources to get some of the stories included?
SP: In February, we asked our readers to send us pictures and other memorabilia and stories about Rosenblatt. We received more than 200 pictures and other items from the readers. We used many in the book. We wish we could have used them all. We also talked with a number of people who have been connected to the stadium over the years. We tried to obtain a mix of officials and just plain folks who love the place. We combined those interviews with information gained from The World-Herald’s files in putting the book together.
WBR: Was there any personal experience that you directly contributed to the book?
SP: I did an author’s note at the end that kind of sums up my personal involvement. My grandparents used to live a half a block north of the stadium. My wife and I dated there. My children grew up attending games there and tagging along with dad when he covered the Omaha Royals for 16 years. I’ve covered, by best estimate, about 1,700 games at the stadium and seen countless more as a fan. All that contributed to my personal feelings about the place but for the most part, I tried to let others tell the history of Rosenblatt.
WBR: Rosenblatt Stadium is known by most people as the home of the CWS, however it has been used for several other things throughout its history. What is an example of something that most wouldn’t be necessarily aware of?
SP: A lot of the book is devoted to Rosenblatt being the home of the CWS. But it’s been more than that over the past 61 years. More than 4,000 professional (minor league) games have been played there. In the 50s and 60s, the stadium hosted a number of major league baseball and NFL exhibitions games. Willie Mays played there. So did Ernie Banks and Billy Williams and Satchel Paige and . . . the list goes on. Bob Gibson started his Hall of Fame career there, shortly after graduating from Creighton. The stadium was a venue for concerts in the 60s and then again in the 80s and early 90s. Rock’n’roll Hall of Famers played there. It’s hosted everything from tractor pulls to weddings to tug of wars. In the 50s, 60s and 70s, it was used by high school teams throughout the area for games.
WBR: Everyone talks about the CWS as an amazing event, with a hundred thousand people attending games, a vast economic impact on the city of Omaha, etc. But it wasn’t always that way. The scope and exposure of the event wasn’t always so large. As someone who has gone to games for so many years, when did you first get the sense of the impending explosion of popularity of the event?
SP: The CWS started changing in the late 80s and early 90s. Television, especially ESPN, had a lot to do with that. Suddenly, players were coming in from all parts saying how they had grown up watching the CWS on TV and how they had dreamed of playing at Rosenblatt. The atmosphere outside the stadium started changing, too. People are amazed when I tell them that the atmosphere on 13th Street wasn’t always like that. For years, the CWS was our quaint little baseball tournament. In the last 10 to 15 years, it’s become a full-blown event. I know a lot of people come down to the Rosenblatt area during the CWS and never even go to the games. The event has evolved over the years into something that is very special. People tell me they’ve been to Final Fours and Super Bowls, and the CWS is still their favorite event.
WBR: What will the new stadium bring to the CWS and the city of Omaha? Would you rather it stayed out at Rosenblatt?
SP: The new stadium will be a lot more fan friendly than Rosenblatt. Wide concourses, wider seats, better view lines. It’s going to be a nice place to watch a ballgame. The stadium will also be a benefit to the city in that it further helps Omaha develop the area around the stadium. Would I rather the city have kept Rosenblatt? The traditionalist in me says yes. But progress is progress, and this is the next step forward for the event.
WBR: Which was the better atmosphere: Creighton in the College World Series or Nebraska in the College World Series?
SP: Creighton was the “first” home team to play at the CWS, and I think that made it a little more special. Creighton’s appearance coincided with the growth spurt the event was going through. I think anyone that was at the first Wichita State game in the 1991 series would tell you that it was pretty special. Skip Bertman, the old LSU coach, told me that was the first time he ever remembered the stadium shaking. Great game. Nebraska’s appearances were special, too. By then, though, the event had fully blossomed, so it might not have been as much of a big deal as CU making it. Remember, though, the first day the Huskers played in the CWS, the President of the United States threw out the first pitch. A couple of memorable firsts.
WBR: What will be your fondest memory as the CWS walks away from Rosenblatt and the impending demolition?
SP: Obviously, the Warren Morris homer to win the 1996 CWS has to be right near the top. That’s the only time a walk-off homer decided a championship, and I believe it’s one of the few times a walk-off homer decided a championship in the seventh game of either the major league or college World Series. Creighton’s appearance, as noted, was special. Bottom line, though, I love the event. I grew up watching it. I’ve covered it a long time. I feel honored to just have the opportunity to be a part of it. Nothing I cover excites me more than knowing the CWS is coming to town each June. Always felt that way, always will.
To get your own copy of Rosenblatt Stadium: Omaha’s Diamond on the Hill, you can purchase it online from the Omaha World-Herald, or locally at the World-Herald offices at 1317 Douglas St., the Bookworm at 87th and Pacific St., and Omaha metro Barnes and Noble locations. You can also purchase it at Rosenblatt Stadium during the College World Series.
