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The Islandian Times
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Around the Town in the IPA
MARSTON NINE
Owner: Abe Doubleday of Doubleday Sporting Goods
GM/Mgr: Johnny Walters
Marston has a population of 95,000 and is situated on the Central Plains in East Central Ruthlandia approximately 75 miles from the Valerian Ocean. Its main industry is sporting goods equipment, sportswear and fashions. The Doubleday Family dominates the industry in Ruthlandia and its company headquarters is here. The family also resides in Marston. Grain processing plants are in abundance in the "Breadbasket of Ruthlandia".
Marston is famous as the site of the first organized baseball game in the Islands in the late 1890's. The first amateur club and the first industrial league team were formed here, both known as the Marston Nine. They played at Legends Field (circa 1903), which is the second oldest ballpark in Ruthlandia (Waleska is the oldest - 1902) and is built on the actual site of the first organized game. In fact, home plate is in the exact same spot as the original home plate for the first game. Every ninth seat in the stadium is painted red in honor of those two early Marston Nines. The other seats are painted black. Marston's colors are red and black.
The Marston Nine plays in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union's East Division and are owned and operated by the Doubleday family, headed by the board president, Abe Doubleday. They are distant relatives of the creator of American baseball, Abner Doubleday.
A special feature of Legends Field is the Ruthlandian Baseball Hall of Fame. It is located in the stadium and houses memorabilia from the country's amateur and industrial league past. The Marstonians sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at the traditional seventh-inning stretch, but they also have the ninth-inning stretch, when they give the home team a standing ovation, win or lose. If they win, the fans are treated to an exciting fireworks display, all accompanied by live organ music.
Live organ music is played throughout the game, a tradition still practiced in only a few other towns - Ozarka, Kenwood and Hillsboro. Marston fans are among the most knowledgeable and intense in the Islands. They watch every pitch and are mesmerized by the action on the field.It is a tradition at Legends Field to throw back any ball hit in the stands by the opposing teams. No self-respecting Niner fan would want to get a souvenir baseball that way. Every Sunday is Niner Day at Legends Field and every ninth fan through the turnstiles is given a free pass (or “Annie Oakley”) to a game in the next homestand.
At the concessions stand nothing special is served. All you get is baseball basics: peanuts, crackerjacks, popcorn, soda pop, cotton candy, ice cream, hot dogs and hamburgers. It is a family town and a family-oriented ballpark...no alcoholic beverages are served.
The great and legendary righthanded pitcher of company leagues, Johnny Walters is the manager of the Marston Nine.
LEGENDS FIELD (1903)
CAPACITY: 12,500
LF Line 320
LF 345
LCF 385
CF 375
RCF 405
RF 380
RF Line 345
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