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Yankees vs. A's |
Mariners vs. White Sox |
Braves vs. Cardinals |
Mets vs. Giants
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Monday, October 9
Thousands camp out to get M's ALCS tickets
Associated Press
SEATTLE -- Thousands of Seattle Mariner fans waiting outside
the Safeco Field ticket office cheered Sunday as ticket sales for
the American League Championship Series finally began.
They sold out in 90 minutes.
Folks who'd waited overnight and more -- some had been in line
since 7 a.m. Saturday -- rushed to the ticket counter, lugging their
chairs, sleeping bags and ice chests.
"This is what baseball is all about," said Tom Eloph, 24, who
put off paying his October rent for the chance to buy tickets going
for $40, $50 and $70.
Security guards estimated there were 5,000 people lined up by
the time the ticket windows opened at 10 a.m.
The 19,000 tickets available for Games 3 and 4, scheduled Friday
and Saturday in Seattle, were gone by 11:30, team spokeswoman
Rebecca Hale said. Tickets remaining for the 47,000-seat stadium
went to season-ticket holders and Major League Baseball.
You had to be there. Tickets were not available by phone or on
the Internet.
And after the Mariners' rapid-fire sweep of its wild-card run
against the Chicago White Sox, all were well aware it could all be
over Friday the 13th. Tickets for Game 5 -- which would be played
here -- will not be sold until it's determined a fifth game is
necessary.
The Mariners' opponent was being determined Sunday in Oakland,
in the fifth and final game between the New York Yankees and the
Oakland Athletics. The AL series will open in the winning team's
hometown.
Vigilant, sleep-deprived fans waved and chanted at passing cars,
many of which honked as they drove by.
"They didn't quiet down until 4 o'clock this morning," said
Stacy Smalls, 40, of Edmonds, decked out in a Mariners hat,
sweatshirt and jacket.
For some, camping outside the stadium was part of the whole
post-season hoopla.
"I thought it would be fun to wait in the freezing cold," said
12-year-old Marvin Rhone, who wore a green foam-rubber M clamped on
top of his head.
To entertain themselves through the long night, fans played
baseball and football in the streets, said Jeff Haufle, 38, who'd
been waiting since noon Saturday.
Security staff brought out pizza and turned on their office
television, near the box office, to help those in line pass the
time.
Even the weather cooperated -- it was a clear night, with lows
around 50.
"For October, you couldn't have asked for a better night,"
Haufle said.
J.B. Lusher, 11, who played Monopoly and ordered Chinese food
with his uncle, Farrell Lusher, during a wait that started at 6
p.m. Saturday, said he's looking forward to the "five-dollar
rip-off hot dogs" at Friday's game.
Some optimistic fans were already making pondering their
strategies for the next round of hot tickets.
"World series, I'm here again," said Brett Alberts, 20, of
Marysville, who'd been in line since 11 a.m. Saturday.
"Next time I'll be here two days in advance."
Since they started in the 1977 season, the Mariners have gone to
the playoffs just three times.
In 1997, they lost to Baltimore in the first round. In 1995,
they were eliminated by Cleveland after knocking off the Yankees.
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