On The Road With the Isotopes… To Memphis (Day One)

Jack Kerouac wrote of the spiratually enlightening powers of the road, and nowhere is this more true than along the Pacific Coast League trail, which winds through some of the great cities in the country.  One of those cities is Memphis, which is also home to one of the League’s great ballparks, AutoZone Park, home to the Redbirds since 2000. Throughout the next four days, the ‘Topes Tattler will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the Isotopes’ four-game road trip to Memphis to give a glimpse of exactly what a road trip in the PCL is like. 

Make no mistake, travel in the PCL is neither glamorous nor particularly enjoyable. The ‘Topes had to be at Isotopes Park at 5:00 AM to catch a bus to the airport where the team would catch a 7:10 AM flight to Dallas.  There, the Isotopes had a two-hour layover before catching a connecting flight to Memphis, arriving at their hotel at 2:30 PM.  After a quick change of clothes, most of the team was at the ballpark (which is within walking distance of the hotel) by 4:00 PM in time for tonight’s 7:05 PM start.  The bottom line is it’s a long day. 

It helps of course that Memphis has one of the best set-ups in the entire Pacific Coast League and AutoZone Park is one of the circuit’s best yards.  The hotel is an easy walk to not only the park but also historic Beale Street, where restaurant and tavern choices abound.

Plus the ‘Birds’ organization, like the Isotopes, does things the right way, ensuring that everyone who visits AutoZone Park, be they players, fans, or visiting front office personnel, has an enjoyable experience.

Throughout the series, we’ll have frequent updates and plenty of photos so you can keep up with what’s happening with the ‘Topes in the Volunteer State!