Always Home Games
Some people may not know it but there is a very nice, secluded baseball field in the North Bay. Unfortunately you need to commit a felony to call it your Home Field. This field is located inside San Quentin Prison, home to the San Quentin Giants. Oh, and what a home field it is. Dirt infield with no bad hops. Nice grass outfield with short home run distances down each foul line, just watch out when robbing(pun intended) a homer as the fences are lined in barbed wire).
A few years back when the Giants were building Pac Bell Park they decided to find a tax writeoff in the way of San Quentin, by donating jersies to the inmate's baseball program. A generous donation by way of the band Metallica helped with the field upkeep and thus a baseball program thrives inside the prison. Over the past few years the Benders have braved the elements and put all on the line for the love of Baseball.
It is quite an experience t
o play inside a maximum security prison. From the entrance where they tell you they don't negotiate for hostages then slam the door behind you, to the "passionate" inmate fans who had a great time finding colorful wordings for our team name and players. Let's see Ty they nicknamed the "Ballerina", Mike a "spinner" and Erik they felt not only looked like eminem but probably tasted like an M&M as well. Nice. As it turns out the baseball there is quite competitive and we have had some great battles over the years. They have always had solid teams which were fundamentally sound. And their ace was Chris "Stretch" Rich who is about 6'6" tall with a nasty "Bender" and he used to pitch back in the day at St Johns U, that is until he killed his wife with a baseball bat(no joke!). 
The Benders have played .500 baseball against the SQ Giants with some great games and great plays along the way. Players to hit Home Runs in the Yard have been Gary Kirven #10, Paul Najera #2, Lucas Brunette #4 and 
Erik Wanner #19(who also had the nerve to pull a hidden ball trick on a murderer, don't drop the soap meat!). Star pitchers have been Ty "the Ballerina" #33, Eric Hand #36, and Rob "Noxious" Ellis #34. It has been an adventure playing in the home of such lovlies as Chuck Manson, Scottie Peterson, and Dick "Night Stalker" Ramirez but hey it was all for the love of the game. Maybe we'll be back.....as visitors of course..... 
