Spring Training Memory: 2009

Today, I punch the rewind button to 2009 and one of Florida's "lost ballparks."  Osceola County Stadium in Kissimee was the Astros pre-season home for 31 years, until they joined the Nationals in a larger, plusher venue in Palm Beach.  On March 18th, 2009, I caught the 'Stros hosting the Yankees -- below, a big swing by Shelley Duncan, then a promising power hitter and today, about to begin his second season managing the Yanks' top farm club at Scranton-Wilkes Barre. 



Above:  Johnny Damon getting ready for his first Yankee season -- which would inaugurate the new Stadium with the franchise's first World Series title since 2000 -- who'd have expected that title to be the Yanks' last one until now??



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