Postcard tour: First The BOB, then Chase but forever the home of Fonzie's slam

Chase Field has only been around about a dozen years, yet it has already hosted two glorious events.

First, it was a scene of major Yankee weepage, when the Diamondbacks overcame the Evil Empire and its cyborg closer in the seventh game of the 2001 World Series.

Then, it was the host for this year’s All-Star Game, a lovely Jeter-less affair won by the National League for the second year in a row.

The ballpark is famous for being the first retractable roof stadium with real grass, and it has a neat pool just beyond the right field fence.

The yard, previously known as Bank One Ballpark – or “The BOB” – holds a place in Mets history. The Wild Card Mets played the Diamondbacks in the 1999 Division Series, with the first two games in Phoenix. It was the D-Backs first trip to the post season.

Masato Yoshii faced Randy Johnson, and the game was tied in the top of the ninth inning. Buck Showalter allowed The Unit to stay in the game, at least long enough to load the bases and allow a reliever to tee-up an Edgardo Alfonzo grand slam, propelling the Mets to victory.

Kenny Rogers blew the second game, which, of course, would become a trend.

Having never been to Phoenix, I’ve got but one postcard of the ballpark, a gift from a friend who traveled out west. This one is pretty neat, with the roof open so we can see the turf. The ballpark has one of those roof signs, and it looks like there was a lot of construction going on at the time this photo was snapped.

But so begins our tour of non-Met ballparks. Next stop is Atlanta, where there are not as many warm and fuzzy moments.