News

June 10, 2010

Up, up and away: Hot air balloon fair planned for Kirby Park

Part of money raised to be used for marker for Babe Ruth homer.

By Bill O'Boyle boboyle@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
Bill O'Boyle on Facebook   |   @TLBillOboyle on Twitter

WILKES-BARRE – Hot air balloons will return to Kirby Park.

The money raised from that activity during a planned two-day festival in October will help three causes – one is the placement of a Babe Ruth marker to commemorate what the Sultan of Swat says was his longest home run.

Tony Thomas Jr. said he is working with the United Way of Wyoming Valley and the Pennsylvania State Showmen’s Association to hold the festival that will include two days of food, rides, fireworks and fun.

“The last time we had hot air balloons in Kirby Park was 1994,” said Thomas, a Wilkes-Barre City councilman. “If it’s a success, maybe the city will take the festival over and have it every year.”

Thomas said money raised will go toward the purchase and placement of a monument to mark the spot where Ruth’s homer reportedly came to rest during an exhibition game at Artillery Park on Oct. 12, 1926. The ball was reported to have traveled more than 600 feet.

Author Bill Jenkinson of Willow Grove has authored a book, “The Year Babe Ruth Hit 104 Home Runs,” that provides details of the Kirby Park blast.

According to a story that ran in the Oct. 13, 1926 edition of The Wilkes-Barre Morning Record, Ruth was at Artillery Park to play in an exhibition game between Hughestown and Larksville. Ruth played for Hughestown and he challenged Larksville hurler Ernie Corkran to throw him his best stuff - a fastball right down the heart of the plate. Ruth hit the ball that some say was still rising when it cleared the fence - a distance of 400 feet from home plate. “When I hit that ball, it felt as if it was going to be the best clout I ever took at one,” Ruth was quoted in the Record story.

Linda Ruth Tosetti, Babe Ruth’s granddaughter, said having the monument placed is of great importance to her and her family and to baseball and the region.

“That spot should be marked,” she said from her home in Durham, Conn. “It would be great to be able to have people walk up to it and look back to where he was standing and realize how long 600-plus feet is.”

Tosetti said she is free Oct. 8 and 9 for the festival dates and just might show up to help raise the necessary money.

“I’m excited to be a part of this,” she said. “And I’m not too far away.”

Thomas said there will be at least 10 hot air balloons at the festival offering rides for people. He said advanced reservations will be necessary and rides cost between $100 and $150 per person. Thomas said the balloons will rise at dusk on Friday and again at daybreak on Saturday.

“Sundown and sunup are the two calmest times of the day and best for hot air balloon rides,” Thomas said. “The rides last about an hour to an hour and a half.”

Thomas said wherever the balloons land, chase vehicles will be there to return riders to Kirby Park.

“When I took rides in hot air balloons (from Kirby Park), we landed in Wyoming near the Midway Shopping Center and the other time we landed in Plains Township,” Thomas said. “They go wherever the wind takes them.”

Thomas said coupons will be available to offer discounts for rides. He said proceeds of the two-day festival will be shared among the Babe Ruth marker fund, the United Way and the Showmen’s Association.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews