Mississippi State University’s Dudy Noble Field draws baseball fans from all across the South, and the Louisiana State University-MSU series drew a special group.
“Baseball is fun, but you don’t really drive 22 hours to see a game. It’s about the friendships and the people, “ explained Stephen Priour of San Antonio, Texas, as he sat on the deck of a cabin in Mathiston.
Priour is retired from the U.S. Air Force, as are several members of the group that met for the LSU-MSU matchup on March 28, which the Bulldogs won 6-5. They’re known as the Rosenblatt Thirteenth Street Group. They meet at the College World Series of Baseball each year in Omaha, regardless of whose team is competing. And they’ve done so for more than 30 years.
“When the stadium was in a more residential area on Thirteenth Street in Omaha, people would rent out their yards for parking. Our group formed in Marilyn Brown’s yard and she reserved it for us every year until they built the new stadium. Marilynn let us take over her garage for a fridge, storage, picnic tables and cable TV,” said Ronnie Fulton of Brandon.
Now the group tailgates in Parking Lot D at AmeriTrade Park in downtown Omaha. Several Nebraskans continue to be part of the group but commitments and time kept them from attending this midseason reunion.
Given an opportunity to see the new Dudy Noble Field, which is being touted as the greatest baseball stadium in college baseball, provided a chance for a rare road trip away from Omaha and a gathering of the Thirteenth Street Group.
“I’m very grateful for good friends and great baseball and a good time. It’s a beautiful part of the country,” said Mike Walker. Walker is currently in Jacksonville, Florida, but has flown back from his air base in Germany several times to meet the group at the World Series.
The revamped Dudy Noble field lived up to their expectations and Left Field Loungers Paul Mahoney and Howard Lewis provided plenty of food and hospitality for them. Mahoney also tailgates at the College World Series each year and is known there for his Mississippi hospitality.
“The baseball is great, but it’s really just the icing on the cake now — it’s all about the friends and family,” added Gary Hayden of Corsicana, Texas.
