Scoreboard still a fan favorite at Nat Bailey

(Nat Bailey Stadium - Vancouver, BC) - There are nights when this Nat Bailey Stadium tradition has its perks and other night's where three or four layers of clothing still has you feeling cold down to your core. But ask any of the hundreds of young kids who have operated the manual scoreboard out at the ballpark, and there is one common theme. Fun.

Every night, a checklist is run. 36 zeros, 36 ones, 30 twos, 25 threes, fours, fives, sixs and onwards... All in hopes that the right numbered panel finds its way into the right half inning slot. It's not rocket science, but is does have its challenges.

"I think fans forget that these kids are standing up some 400 feet away from home plate, looking through a crack the size of a hot dog and are trying to keep things in order. I don't think I would have the jam to try it, although it does look fun", says Rob Fai, broadcaster for the Canadians who like many out at Nat Bailey Stadium, relies heavily on the scoreboard to get his message across to the listeners on the local airwaves.

"I love looking out towards left-center field and seeing that old-fashioned scoreboard. I know sooner or later the Canadians will get a new more modern board, but for now, I love the retro feel that it adds to the stadium", adds Fai.

Some celebrities have even manned the board during its stay here at Nat Bailey Stadium. Colorado Rockies pitcher Jeff Francis worked the manually operated scoreboard during his off days while a member of the University of British Columbia Baseball program.

The board was designed to look like the old scoreboard out at the late Sic Stadium, south of the border in Seattle. Prior to its current location at field level down in the left-center gap, it used to be some 30 feet in the air over in the right-field gap. But time and the elements had the ownership for the Canadians looking to give it some more solid grounding brining it down to a level that fans and workers could appreciate it.

There is no doubt that in an era where everything is bigger, brighter and bolder - fans out at Nat Bailey Stadium still appreciate the nostalgia of the old scoreboard out in left field.

Nat Bailey Stadium isn't 'perfect', but the Canadians didn't need to read the 'manual' when it comes to keeping the tradition alive within the walls of Nat Bailey Stadium.