The Buffalo Bisons just wrapped up their 25th anniversary season in Coca-Cola Field but today is another milestone in the franchise's history. On Aug. 30, 1987 -- 25 years ago today -- the Bisons played their final game in War Memorial Stadium.
It was a memorable, sunny Sunday afternoon against the Nashville Sounds, a game the Bisons gave up two unearned runs in the ninth to suffer a 7-5 loss. The last Buffalo home run was by third baseman Eddie Williams. The last out was a grounder to second by Don Lovell. The final winning pitcher was Tonawanda native and Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Famer Bill Scherrer, now a special assistant to the GM for the Chicago White Sox living in Arizona. The attendance was 25,412.
I was there that day in the third-base stands. That's my ticket to the right from my archives. It had been a great summer after college of hanging out at the old ballpark with the lobby behind home plate, the pizza stand in foul territory down the right-field line past the box seats and the short-porch general admission seats behind the right-field screen.
I remember Sinatra's "New York, New York" after the final out and "There Used to be a Ballpark" as we walked out for the final time, full of memories but looking forward to the move downtown.
Courtesy of the archives of Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer Pete Weber, click below for some sounds from that game.
Weber and John Murphy with legendary scout Cy Williams of South Buffalo
Weber calls the final out
Weber's final signoff from the Dodge Street side for WBEN
Weber also tweeted a link to an incredible YouTube video a fan sent him of that final day. Great shots of the Earl of Bud, Mayor Griffin, Bob Rich. Jr., the Butcher, the terrible Buster Bison costume of the day, Williams coming around second on his home run, the "Home Plate Dancers" (1987 Fans of the Year), the stands and the press box (the broadcaster is actually Nashville's Bob Jamison).
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
