| April 10, 1997 was a significant day in the history of the Akron Aeros. This day signified the opening of Canal Park and the Inaugural Season of Akron's pride and joy, the Aeros. For Carl Kieffer, this day meant a little more. You see, Carl was born and raised
here in Akron. For the past 65 years he has been an avid baseball fan. Not a day went by
without him thinking or dreaming about the sport he thoroughly enjoyed. In those years he
has enjoyed most of the teams that have been in the area, but three remain on the top of his list: the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds.
It all started on July 31, 1932. On a typically hot summer day in Cleveland, Carl attended his first ball game with his uncle, Walter. He was eight years old and was excited to be at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Everything about the game was enjoyable, except the final outcome: Philadelphia Athletics 1, Cleveland Indians 0. |
During the next four years, his interest and love for the game grew. Walter became a pitcher for the Akron Yellow Cabs, a semi-pro baseball team. Although Walter had high hopes of trying out for the Akron Yankees of the Middle Atlantic League when they played at League Park, plans never materialized. But living in Akron gave Carl the chance to see two of his greatest loves--his uncle and baseball. However, Walter was stricken with cancer and passed away in 1940.
Several years went by--actually several decades--before Carl would get the chance to experience the thrill of a pennant-contending team. The year was 1994. Not many people were lucky enough to get tickets for one of the greatest moments in Cleveland Indians' history--Opening Day, 1994. But Carl was one of the lucky ones. On April 4, the Tribe revealed to the baseball world their new ballpark, Jacobs Field. This was a field to be modeled by several other teams after its construction. The game itself was nerve-wracking, coming down to the wire in extra innings against the Seattle Mariners. The Indians plated the winning run in a 4-3 triumph.
Today, Carl and the City of Akron can say that they have their own field of dreams. On April 10, 1997, the Akron Aeros began their Inaugural Season at Canal Park. Carl had tickets for that game against the Harrisburg Senators, as well as the rest of the Aeros in 1997 home games.
According to Mr. Kieffer, the high point of the regular season (in addition to the opening of the new ballpark) was June 19, when the Aeros hosted their parent team from the North, the Cleveland Indians. He feels that this will be the biggest thrill in downtown since V.J. Day in 1945. Carl has witnessed a lot of baseball over the years, and he feels that "bringing the families and individuals from Akron and the surrounding counties to see the Aeros play when the umpire yells PLAY BALL!" will allow Akron to show its pride.
Today, Mr. Kieffer is the President of the 206 member Akron/Canton Council of the Navy League of the United States. The world-wide, civilian organization is dedicated toward educating citizens on the importance of the naval and maritime forces and supporting the men and women of the sea services (the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and the U.S. Flag Merchant Marine) and their families.
Carl is married to his beautiful bride of 50+ years, Betty, and has two sons, Mark and Bruce.
As the 1997 season came and went, several lasting memories had been made, including Opening Day at Canal Park and the June 29 game against the Cleveland Indians. You would think that after 67 years of being a baseball fan, this type of excitement would get old to Carl. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. He wakes to each new day with the vigor of a 10-year-old, waiting for that 7:05 p.m. start time so he could cheer for his three favorite teams. Oops, sorry. You had better make that his four favorite teams!