Ballpark has seen plenty of action in its 16 years

Editor's Note: This is the second installment of an occasional series that will explore sports venues throughout the state and revisit the most memorable moments. Today — Spring Mobile Ballpark.

Steve Klauke didn't build Spring Mobile Ballpark. The longtime baseball broadcaster has, however, spent more time in the facility than anyone else.

Since the stadium opened in 1994, Klauke has missed only four games.

He's had an office in the building for more than four years.

"I know every nook and cranny of the ballpark. I don't think there's a place I haven't been to before," Klauke said. "Certainly in the summertime, it's a home away from home."

And Klauke has the best seat in the house.

"I try not to take for granted the great view from my booth at the ballpark with the mountains in the background," he said.

Especially, Klauke added, early in the season when they're capped with snow.

The view from the corner of 13th South and West Temple is spectacular.

It's given Klauke a great vantage point to watch the stadium's history unfold.

Topping his list of memorable events is the first of two exhibition games between the Salt Lake Buzz (now Bees) and Minnesota Twins.

Salt Lake defeated Minnesota 4-3 in the afternoon affair on June 15, 1995.

"It was just an electric atmosphere that day," said Klauke, who noted that the first Salt Lake City appearance by a major league team in years drew a large crowd (14,596) and was preceded by a home run derby.

Future Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett participated in both events. He homered in the hitting contest and was 2-for-2 in the game before departing in the bottom of the third inning.

"I guess we couldn't find anything better to do on our day off," Puckett said of the Twins' brief stop in Utah. "Actually, I had a good time today."

So, too, did the fans.

"(They) were able to see an entertaining game and to see Kirby and the other major leaguers play," Buzz manager Phil Roof said after the contest.

"I'm sure they got their money's worth."

Twins manager Tom Kelly had similar thoughts after a return visit on the afternoon of May 13, 1999. Minnesota prevailed 10-9 in a seven-inning exhibition before a crowd of 7,764.

"It was one of those fun things that you go out and enjoy with the fans," said Kelly, who raised the ire of Salt Lake's players by saying that no one at the Triple-A team had earned the right to be promoted to the big leagues at that point of the season.

"Once somebody wants to step up over here, play a little bit and show that they can play consistent ball with some pizzazz, then maybe we'll move somebody," Kelly explained.