 |
| Cuevas speaks to the crowd at Rosenblatt Stadium after the final Omaha Royals' game there on September 2, 2010. |
*****
Cuevas Spends Last Day at Rosenblatt, Honored at Werner Park
Longtime groundskeeper will see his name adorned on a single-game suite at the new ballpark
PAPILLION, NE – Jesse Cuevas, one of the most well-known baseball figures in Omaha, spent his last day at Rosenblatt Stadium Wednesday, ending a 41-year run as an employee at the ballpark. To honor Cuevas, the Omaha Storm Chasers have announced that one of their new suites at Werner Park will bear the longtime groundskeeper’s name.
“Jesse Cuevas means Omaha baseball to me,” said Alan Stein, President of the Storm Chasers. “We are thrilled to be able to honor Jesse’s contribution to the community by naming one of our luxury suites in his honor.”
After hanging up the rakes and water hoses for the final time, Cuevas said he’s grateful for the Storm Chasers’ decision to name a suite after him, though he’ll be sad to say goodbye to Rosenblatt.
“It’s tough,” he said. “My brother and family and I grew up here, worked here, lived here practically. It’s like saying goodbye to Mayberry.”
When asked about his favorite memories from Rosenblatt, Cuevas lists the Omaha Royals’ 1970 and 1990 championship seasons and his close relationships with Triple-A managers like Jack McKeon and Mike Jirschele. He probably won’t miss the long hours staring at weather radar, but he’ll be able to enjoy baseball as a fan for the first time since 1969, when as a 9-year-old he’d get an occasional day off.
He’s also excited to be able visit Werner Park, joking that he’ll come out on a night that rain is expected, just to walk around and watch the Storm Chasers’ staff – many of whom have never pulled tarp before.
“It’ll be nice to be a fan again,” he said. “I’ll probably buy a beer and a popcorn and yell at Jirsch
(Jirschele). I’ve never had to pay for a ticket, though.”
According to Stein, he won’t have to worry about that any time soon.
[end of release]
*****
Cuevas gave a passionate send off to the Rosenblatt Stadium after the Omaha Royals played their final game there last September 2. Here's a video presentation of his speech:
And here's a video showing him holding home plate after the game:
*****
Finally, the Omaha World Herald ran a story today about the final City Council vote to sell Rosenblatt Stadium to the Henry Doorly Zoo. The vote was 6-0.
