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Thanks to the heroics of Matt Garza, Rocco Baldelli, Willy Aybar and David Price, the Rays claimed the spot opposite the Phillies in baseball's fall classic. A contrast of clubs, hometowns and yes... ballparks. They Rays reside at Tropicana Field, likely the last permamently-domed/artificial turf-laden park ever built. (Thanks to Peter King of CBS for the view.) The Phillies have the retro-designed Citizens Bank Park, which keeps you on top of the action -- albeit with some entertaining bells and whistles (watch the neon Liberty Bell when the home team smacks a home run!) And thanks to the thirst of the game's hierarchy, this is how we'll see the park during the fall classic -- night games only!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1zOCLQaq2JQM5LUrlUFhTHyIXWDAAfTO9wZx_UdHUFQjAvh3350Y1BGGpgdDcH5JJH6z87pVPYdwOfA2j1u2nYxEHbbExv4VcwVBEl_lbV0dhxhPsT6m_TZp9vsiWUgO3rGbugJQltL6l/w640-h480/082107+CBP+29.JPG)
For those who can afford the tickets (I attended the 1980 series at Veterans Stadium sitting in lower level reserved seats for $25 a pop, a quaint memory), but prefer something beyond the standard fare of hot dogs and Buds, may I suggest a pair of local landmarks:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoQkIzOJWyztNBX8tCKYbzpc4TnwCpsZ1RG0NIi3_p_-D0FSS7EwBLFiW6VL5lTu4iXQ_K1lB_JMUHYqU3yy3uCq7G_UDuHndBvxKutHPNWZB8JZW5O5hLqk9nl2FXJJpZq4GwE8ECBSl/w640-h480/berns.jpg)
Tampa's renowned Bern's Steakhouse, where it's probably still tougher to get a seat than at the "Trop." In Philadelphia, the word steak has a somewhat different meaning:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPtUC1xdl_ndzcS6vxr-QH_PyMakhDiQAFj02SApoxzlcpyf38pqbWxIZuDZ_x9JUIwA3cBiHE-X61MPLJ6sFCm9fFNPOQRES6MF4GHNSTZKLHrLWKRsA4swrChoIvt2qwkOl5JdIcvVl/w640-h480/082107+Phila+07.JPG)
The longtime cheesesteak rivals, Pat's and Geno's
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Bon appetit! And play ball!! Prediction -- Phils in 5.
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