Curve. Not your typical name for a baseball team. But the Altoona Curve is NOT your typical minor league team. Not by a long shot. (And Peepaw and I have been around baseball long enough to know!)
Baseball…It’s In Our Blood
Yup. That’s Peepaw…back in the day.
Yes, Peepaw and I have spent a good share of our summer evenings at baseball games for more than half a century. First, to watch our two sons as they played the game they love. (And Peepaw was also their coach on many of their early teams.)
And both of our sons continued to play all through college. (So we followed their teams all over the country too.)
Now these days? We’re watching our three grandsons as they follow their dreams.
In fact, our oldest grandson just signed his letter of intent to play college baseball too!
Yes, we do know a thing or two about baseball…and about the stadiums where our favorite game is played. So that brings me back to the wonderful stadium the Altoona Curve calls home.
Play Ball…Curve Style!
Last summer we made plans to head to Altoona PA for a first-hand tour of the incredible Mishler Theatre.
My research showed me that Altoona also boasts a Minor League baseball team called the Curve, a Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburg Pirates. We assumed the team got its name from the curve ball thrown by pitchers…but we were wrong. Turns out the Curve name comes from the famous Horseshoe Curve , an amazing railroad National Historic Landmark in the mountains near Altoona. Plus, we were overjoyed to discover the Curve was playing a home game stand at Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona while we planned to visit! So of course, we added an evening baseball game to our Altoona schedule.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Our night at the stadium was hosted by Explore Altoona, and Altoona Curve Baseball. But, as always, all comments and my reviews are mine and mine alone.
We were invited to arrive early, even before the gates were opened to the public. We were warmly greeted by Mr. Mike Kessling.
Mike is the Director of Marketing, Promotions & Special Events…and he is PERFECT for that position! It was clear from the first moment we met that he absolutely LOVES his job.
Mike escorted us up to the press box for a bird’s eye view of the entire stadium, and just one look at Peepaw’s face should tell you he was in HIS happy place, for sure!
The view from there was spectacular!
Many Curve players have gone on to great success in the Major Leagues.
The franchise has much to be proud of…both on and off the field!
We even got to peek into the broadcasting booth as the announcers were going over their notes in preparation for the game! Then Mike escorted us down to the ground level where he showed us to our seats before he headed back upstairs to oversee all the game preparations.
Peepaw and I strolled around the still-empty concourse, and one thing became crystal clear. PNG Field is the cleanest, most welcoming ballpark we have ever seen!
Every single seat is wiped down before the gates are opened! Yes…every seat!
Meet my new friend Steve. He was the usher in our section. (We shared many jokes and laughs during the game.)
Let’s EAT…Curve Style!
As soon as the gates opened to the public, I headed up to the concession stand to check out the offerings. Because nothing is more fun than watching baseball…unless it’s sampling ballpark food while watching baseball!
One item quickly caught my eye on the menu board. A “Shirley’s GOB.” What the heck??? Of course I was intrigued as to what a GOB was, since I never heard of such a thing! But before the clerk could even explain it to me, this friendly EMT who was working at the game that night ordered her to give me one and to put it on HIS tab! (I discovered later it’s known elsewhere as a Whoopie Pie.)
Let me just say again, in all of our travels, Peepaw and I have never met friendlier folks than we met on that summer trip! (And NONE of these kind folks had any idea I would be writing about our Curve baseball adventure.)
Of course, Peepaw was anxious for some “real” food. So he followed his nose to the grill. The home of the famous CURVE Burger!
Unfortunately, he scarfed down his beautiful burger before I could get a “money shot” of that sandwich. So I asked my new friend Dantae if I could take a photo of his Curve Burger. Luckily, he was happy to oblige before he demolished HIS sandwich.
I wandered around, visiting with other senior citizens who are employed as ushers and concession workers for Curve games. They all agreed they LOVE their jobs. And most told me it doesn’t even feel like a job since they get to enjoy those beautiful afternoons and evenings at the ball park.
When I asked for recommendations on what I should order for dinner, one sandwich was mentioned repeatedly…especially by a friendly gal named Linda. She said “Get the Philly Cheesesteak!” So off I went to the concession stand in the outfield, in search of that famous sandwich. And boy, it was worth the effort!
First, meet Chef Bill, the architect of that fantastic Philly Cheesesteak sandwich.
And sharing that counter with Bill was his wife Brenda. She happily cut my sandwich in half for easier eating.
When I told Brenda I would be writing about our wonderful Curve Baseball experience she reached under the counter and presented me with a HOME RUN baseball from a previous game! (That ball now proudly sits on my desk back in the Heartland.)
Our seats behind home plate that night were awesome.
And of course, I struck up a conversation with the gentleman in front of us.
This friendly “local” is Jim. Turns out his Aunt Helen worked at the Mishler Theatre in Altoona for thirty years, so we felt like family! What a great guy, and what a wonderful conversation we shared on that beautiful summer evening.
My Philly Cheesesteak sandwich was absolutely worth all the rave reviews from the local fans like Lindareally . It was the best one I’ve ever tasted. It was 100% Meemaw Approved!
Family FUN…FOR EVERYONE!
Now, about the atmosphere in that ballpark. An evening spent at PNG Field is about much more than baseball. It’s the fans, it’s the food, and it’s the FUN!
It’s a family friendly environment for sure. In fact, there is even an amusement park (complete with a roller coaster) in the outfield! And you can’t miss Loco, the Curve Mascot. He is beloved by everyone, both young and old.
And remember Mike from the front office? When I say he wears many hats I’m not kidding. That’s Mike…in a Mario costume!
Yes, this was a fantastic evening. And the baseball game was great too! The Curve beat the Akron Rubber Ducks! That was the icing on the cake for sure.
What a fantastic evening!
So if you find yourself near Altoona, PA be sure to check to see if the Altoona Curve has a home game while you’re there. I promise you will NOT be disappointed. In fact we would love to go back…and take the rest of our baseball loving family too!
What a great time at that beautiful ballpark…
FYI…The 2024 Altoona Curve FIRST HOME GAME is Tuesday, April 9th. And there will even be postgame fireworks that night too! And, wait for it, you can enjoy Buy One-Get One FREE deals on tickets, hot dogs, and small popcorns that night! Like I said…there is always something for everyone…And some darn good baseball-watching too!
Ashley says
I have been waiting for this story all year!!! Chef Bill and Brenda are my parents. I also work there and my 16 yr old son will be starting his first job there this year! We are so glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit and thank you for telling the world about your experience. Making the night enjoyable and memorable for the fans are why we love our jobs! Working for the stadium and The Altoona Curve is the best jobs I have (besides being a mom)! Hope you come back for another game.
Meemaw says
Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to write such a wonderful review of my post! (I’m sorry it took so long for me to publish this post, but I was diagnosed with a mini-stroke last fall and that set me back for awhile.) I’m doing great again these days (Thank God) and we would LOVE to come back again. And you can rest assured I’ll be heading to the outfield for another one of those awesome cheesesteak sandwiches if we do! Wishing you and your entire family all the best!!
XOXO
Meemaw